Paper Panache Workshop:
Working with Directional Prints________


The "Keep It Vertical" Technique
      The instructions below will teach you how to "keep it vertical" while making the sample block at right. Select a "Vertical" or a "One-Way" print for the background area, and another fabric for the hexagon. In this sample I used a One-Way print and, in my judgment, it looks "right side up" with the triangular motif pointing upward. I will add arrowheads to the pattern to ensure that my fabric always points up as I sew.
      See the link to the practice pattern at bottom. Print it out on a lightweight sheet of blank paper, cut it out and follow along!

Make a Practice Sample

	1 Trace the printed sewing lines onto the back side of the pattern. (This step is shown for demonstration purposes so you can see what we're looking at. Later, after you have done this a few times, you may find it sufficient to look for the lines through the paper or to pay attention to the shape as you fold it over.)
	2 Note the arrows on the printed side of the pattern, and turn the pattern over so that you will be drawing the rules in the same direction. Using a colored pencil, draw vertical rules parallel to the left edge and work across. These lines were drawn the width of the ruler, but the important part is to be sure that at least one line runs through each piece of the background.
	3 If you are using a "One-Way" print, draw arrowheads on the rules to show which direction is up. (You can ignore this step if your print is not one-way.) When finished, the pattern should look like this. Be sure you can tell the difference between pattern lines and the vertical ruled lines.
	4 Pin the hexagon fabric for piece #1 in place (that is, right side out on ruled side of pattern). We will now proceed to add piece #2 (the triangle at the top of this picture). With your thumbnails, crease each end of the first seamline.
	5 Fold on the seam line. This picture shows the reverse of the triangle we will be covering, the arrowheads and rules we drew, and the seam allowance from piece #1.
	6 Turn the pattern slightly so the ruled lines run straight up and down. Lay the fabric you are using right-side up, with the print also running in the vertical direction. If it is a One-Way print, check that the fabric points in the same direction as the arrowheads that are showing.
	7 Keeping rules and fabric vertical, place the pattern on top of the fabric. The fabric beneath should extend above the fold of the pattern, creating the seam allowance. There should be enough fabric beneath to cover the shape (the triangle in this case) plus its seam allowances. (In addition, if it's not too much to consider at this point, try to choose a place on the fabric that allows for the least waste--unlike this example.)
	8 When the pattern is placed where you want it, hold the fabric and pattern together firmly and move it to the machine. (In this picture the pattern is unfolded, but it may be easier to move the unit with the pattern folded like in Step 7.)
	9 Holding fabric and paper firmly together, open up the folded pattern if you haven't already. Do not let pattern move...slide it under the presser foot and sew the seam exactly where it is.
	10 Remove from machine, fold the pattern back again and trim the seam allowance. Turn to the right side, flip open fabric, press, and trim any excess fabric away, leaving a 1/4" seam allowance around as usual.
	11 Here is the first piece added on the right side of the pattern. The print is reasonably vertical and it points the right way up. Repeat steps 5-10 to add the five remaining pieces in the same way.
	12 How did you do? If some pieces look a little too skewed, that's okay...this was your first effort, and it gets easier with practice. Pssst...Can you find my mistake in this block?!