What is Foundation Paper Piecing?

Foundation Paper Piecing or FPP is also known as  Paper Piecing.   It is the process of creating a quilt top by sewing materials together using paper as a foundation.   

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Using paper as a foundation for quilts dates back to the 19th century.  In England, during the Victoria Crazy Quilt period, these gorgeous quilts made from delicate fabrics like satin required the use of a "foundation" to give them strength.  Ladies would use a variety of materials as the foundation: newsprint, catalog pages, or even old letters.   

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Modern FPP began in the 1970's when Quilters began tracing or copying their designs on to the paper directly.   

Today, the foundation is specially designed paper that allows users to achieve accurate

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Making quilts using FPP, allows Quilters to achieve intricate shapes with accuracy and allows for detailed quilt designs.  

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FPP is not to be confused with EPP or English Paper Piecing.  EPP is the process of using a material as a foundation and the fabric is then tacked or glued to the foundation templates.    The templates are then sewn together.   The classic shape of EPP is a hexagon, but other shapes are used.