Quilting Books
Best Foundation Paper Piecing Quilting Books
Foundation paper piecing (FPP) books teach sewing fabric directly onto a printed paper pattern for sharp points and complex geometric blocks.
All foundation paper piecing books
Paper Piecing with Alex Anderson
Alex Anderson
Alex Anderson introduces foundation paper piecing fundamentals — printing or drawing patterns, sewing on the paper's reverse side, and removing paper after stitching — through a set of beginner-scaled blocks. Explanations focus on the mechanics that trip up first-time foundation piecers, like seam order and fabric placement. Suited to quilters moving from traditional piecing into paper-pieced precision blocks.
See detailsThe Quilter's Paper-Piecing Workbook
Elizabeth Dackson
Elizabeth Dackson's workbook-style guide pairs foundation paper piecing instruction with practice patterns meant to be worked through in sequence, building comfort with seam order and points before tackling more complex designs. Coverage includes pattern printing, fabric conservation, and paper removal. Structured for a quilter teaching themselves foundation paper piecing from scratch.
See detailsPlayful Little Paper-Pieced Projects
Tacha Bruecher
This compiled collection, edited by Tacha Bruecher, gathers small foundation-paper-pieced block and mini-quilt patterns from multiple designers, emphasizing quick, whimsical designs over large bed quilts. The small scale makes individual blocks approachable practice pieces. Good for foundation piecers who want variety in a single volume rather than one designer's style throughout.
See details
50 Little Paper-Pieced Blocks
Carol Doak
Carol Doak, a longtime paper-piecing author, offers 50 small-format foundation-pieced block patterns spanning stars, novelty shapes, and geometric designs, each sized for quick practice or use in a sampler. The small scale keeps fabric waste and stitching time manageable per block. Well suited to quilters building foundation piecing speed and confidence one block at a time.
See details
Radiant New York Beauties
Valori Wells
Valori Wells applies foundation paper piecing to the New York Beauty block, guiding quilters through the curved piecing and multiple partial-seam points that make the pattern distinctive. Instructions address fabric selection for the arcs and points along with paper-piecing order. For quilters with some foundation piecing experience ready to take on a more advanced, dramatic block.
See detailsAs an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn a commission from other links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best foundation paper piecing quilting book?+
Look for the book marked "Teresa's Pick" at the top of this page — that's NiftyFifty founder Teresa Drummond's personal recommendation for foundation paper piecing. Below it you'll find 5 more books covering the same category from different authors and angles.
Do I need more than one foundation paper piecing book?+
Not usually. Most quilters do fine with one solid reference for a given technique — pick the one whose author's teaching style clicks with you, work through it, and only add a second if you outgrow the first or want a different perspective.