Bradley and Judy Niemeyer designed the layout and foundation pieces for Thistle Pods. 96" x 96"  Thistle Pods, an exciting new look to a traditional Mariners design, is created using floating spikes, floating geese, curved piecing, traditional piecing, and template layout sheets. A collection of fabrics designed by Hoffman Fabrics of California were used to make both samples shown on the cover page. A sewing technique called foundation paper piecing is used when sewing the pieces onto the foundation units. Curved piecing and traditional piecing skills are required to join the units after the foundation piecing is completed.