: Choose high-contrast fabrics to make the geometric shapes pop. Historically, these blocks use a background (neutral) and a "dark" fabric. Cutting the Shapes : If using traditional piecing , add a -inch seam allowance to your templates. If using EPP , cut fabric roughly -inch larger than the paper template to allow for folding. Basting (for EPP) : Center the paper template on the wrong side of the fabric.

Are you working with or hand-sewn English Paper Piecing for this project?

: Specific block assembly instructions, like those found on YouTube , can help with tricky corner joins.

: Many quilters use the Dear Jane software or books to print exact templates for each block.

Based on the context of quilting and the block "Aunt Hallie's Bag" (often associated with Dear Jane-style quilting, block J-4), here is how to prepare a piece for assembly. Preparing the Piece

If you are working on a traditional 4.5-inch finished block or using English Paper Piecing (EPP), follow these steps to prepare your fabric:

Fold the edges over and secure with either a glue pen or thread basting.