- Description
- Requirements
This ebook is not only to learn the curved piecing technique but also instructs you to create your own designs! Using one block which you design, you will sew curves easily, while learning to determine value and line. Make a wall hanging as large or as small as you desire.
Michele will assist you as you design your block and provide you with lots of examples of how your designs will look. This freezer paper technique is for anyone who wants the speed of machine piecing combined with the freedom to put their seams anywhere they choose. The paper stops the fabric from stretching and accurately marks the seam line, making curved piecing practically painless.
You will be sewing, NOT appliquéing, your seams into gentle curves. This is a good first step for those who want to learn to deal with construction techniques outside of the straight-line geometric. Traditionalists who want to piece more difficult designs will love this ebook, as well as contemporary quilters who want to create designs without difficulty.
OUTLINE
Part One:
- demonstration of curved piecing technique
- decide the approximate size of your blocks
- practice drawing first curves
- add second and third curves
- audition colors
Part Two:
- choose our fabrics
- darken the lines
- make a real-size master block
- make a template for each piece
- label each template piece
- add sewing direction arrows and registration marks
- trace onto freezer paper
- cut pattern pieces apart
- iron fabrics to freezer paper
- cut out fabric pieces
- stitch along edge of freezer paper
Part Three:
- cut the registration marks into the fabric
- keep pieces grouped by block
- check tension
- sew curved seams
- press curved seams
- trim block square
- sew blocks together
- add borders
Fabric
Assortment of coordinating fat quarters and half yards in light medium and dark. The amounts of each and number of different prints depends on how big you plan to design your wall hanging. For a 16" (approximately) wall hanging, you would want at least six different fat quarters.
If you plan anything bigger, go to half yards. If you are going to do a bigger wall hanging, make sure you get a decent supply of whatever you want your border to be. Purchase about a yard to be safe.
If you want to make it super scrappy, this is a good project to go into your stash and get bits and pieces of your favorite fabrics, making sure you have an equal number of lights, mediums and darks.
The sample showing the curved border is more complicated and done with Michele's hand-painted fabric. She will have many colors available on her Web site if you would like to purchase them there. If there is a specific color way you would like, just email. This project really lends itself to these fabrics.
Other Supplies
- Drawing paper - large piece of drawing paper - at least 16" x 16" (can be taped together)
- Pencil and good eraser
- Freezer Paper
- Sharpie marker - fine point (NOT ultra fine)
- Paper and fabric scissors
- Sharp tipped clipping scissors
- Iron and mat
- Thin pins (Silk pins)
- Basic sewing supplies (machine, needles, thread)
- Light and dark neutral thread (i.e. - gray and cream)
- Square ruler 8" or bigger
- Crayons or colored pencils (optional)