No matter what you call it -- foundation piecing or paper piecing -- it's a traditional method that's had a dramatic rebirth since the early 1990's. Miniature quilt enthusiasts were among the first to "rediscover" foundation piecing, since when it's done correctly blocks are perfect every time, no matter how small their patches are. Get foundation basics behind you first, read a few tips, then jump right in and make an easy log cabin block.

_{Illustration © Janet Wickell}

Before I started piecing this block, I thought it might be time consuming. What a nice surprise to discover the block was not difficult at all and went together quickly. It's perfect with 1920's and 1930's reproduction fabrics, but will work with any fabric you decide to use. Give this pretty tulips block pattern a try.

_{Photo © Janet Wickell}

When you buy new fabric you can be pretty sure of its content, except maybe in those rare instances where a merchant puts "off" fabrics on a desirable, but empty, cardboard bolt. Taking extra steps to identify fabric is something quilters do when we buy fabrics from an eBay seller or when we pick up random pieces at an antique mall or flea market. Sometimes we know it's cotton, but sometimes we're just not sure. A fabric burn test can help you identify the fibers.

I think most people who join quilting block exchanges do their best to make sure the blocks they mail are accurate, but it's very common to see variations when all the blocks from different quilters are grouped together. You can chalk it up to different levels of expertise, and to slight variations in quarter inch seams. Or to variations in different brands of rotary rulers. And sometimes it's our own quilt components, not the work of others. Whatever the reason, it happens, but there's an easy way to fix blocks that don't quite match.