Paper Piecing: A Pattern for Success

Download a printable Cowgirl Pattern from Pazzles.

Download a printable Cowboy Pattern from Pazzles.

Adapting Paper Piecing Patterns

Materials and Tools:

copies of Cowboy and Cowgirl pattern
various solid and print papers
repositionable and permanent adhesives
black fine line permanent marker
chalks and chalk pencils
Chalkin' Easy tool by Pazzles
hole punches of various sizes

Adapting a Paper Piecing Pattern

1. Make a copy of the pattern you want to change. Reduce or enlarge the pattern to desired size.

2. Determine what pieces of the pattern need changing. (If you are working with a pre-cut paper piecing kit trace the pattern piece you need to change onto paper.)

3. Draw changes to each pattern piece with pencil. (For instance, these same pattern pieces can be altered from a western theme to a retro "go-go" theme, by simply changing the sleeve or pant style).

4. To ensure symmetry, fold the pattern in half and cut out along sketch lines of one side only. This will make both sides identical.

Instructions for Paper Piecing

1. Roughly cut around each pattern piece. Use temporary glue to adhere pieces to colored papers. Cutout paper and pattern piece at same time without tracing.

2. Remove pattern piece from paper as you assemble design. Save for later use.

3. Take note of the pieces you will need two of, as well as which pieces will need to be reverse-cut.

4. Next, slide picture guide into sheet protector. Glue pieces to each other on top of sheet protector. Use the picture guide to help with gluing order and placement. Then move completed design to your scrapbook page.

5. Use paper punches for eyes, cheeks, small circles etc.

6. Use a circle template for a perfectly curved mouth.

7. Add outlines and chalked accents for shading.