Sewing Curves - Let's do it!

Sewing curves is easy - there I have said it clearly, and I hope you will say that too soon.

My approach to sewing curves is captured in that 1:18 minute video. The original post, which sets out a number of tips is here - I am going to assume you will go and have a look.



When I was sewing my test Mod Pop blocks, I put together a set of photographs of the various steps as well - go here to take a look at the individual pictures.



Here are some additional tips:

• Be careful not to stretch the pieces - they are cut on the bias and will stretch easily. 

• Be patient, it might take you a few trials to get comfortable but I am very certain you will get it.

• The most important part is to hold your top piece up and toward the presser foot as you go. You can put either piece on top, give both a try to see which way works best for you.

• You can see that purple strip on my sewing machine, it is a bit of plastic that marks the 1/4" seam for me to follow. Masking tape or washi tape will also work. You might want to try it as it is a helpful way to keep things aligned - just stick it down at 1/4" from where your needle will sew.

• On the Mod Pop blocks, the "L" shape is narrower than a traditional drunkards path unit, and takes just a bit more care to get to sew through the machine straight. If you are having a lot of trouble with the tweezers, try a stiletto (long pointy thing, I found something that worked in my husband's tool box). Just be very careful not to hit it with your needle as it will break or bend the needle. Picture 8 in the mosaic shows how you might use a stiletto. I don't use one regularly for curves but it might help some folks. 

• There is room to trim the block a bit if it gets a little wonky. Press it first as that often will fix any issues. 

• Press - don't iron - these blocks. Move the iron carefully toward the "pie" shape. The unit can stretch quite a lot until it is sewn into your block.

• If you like you can clip the curves to make them lie nicer. I don't bother but it would only enhance your block if you did.

• Remember that there is room within your seam allowance when piecing the units to compensate if the unit is a little wobbly on any edge.

As I have said before, I did not invent this method, it is just the way I do it after learning to sew garments and watching and learning from many internet quilters. Here are some other tutorials and videos, all of which I have found very helpful. Some have no pins, some have a few and some have lots of pins:

Kerry - Verykerryberry - pinless with a flip at the end.
Nova - a cuppa and a catch up - pin and pinless methods
Amy Friend - From Quiet Time - sewing gentle curves with 3 pins
Jacquie - Tallgrass Prairie Studio - quarter circles with many pins
Petite Design Company - pins and pinless curves

Now, if you are in the Mod Pop QAL - or want to join in now - it is time to sew the curves. As an incentive to get you over this hump in the Mod Pop QAL, one of our sponsors, Pink Castle Fabrics, has kindly donated that beautiful rainbow bundle of solid fat quarters as a prize. To be eligible to win you need to:

• sew one or more of the large blocks - either with your fabrics or with test fabrics - of the Mod Pop quilt

• post a picture in the flickr group, and if you like you can also share your tips, troubles and thoughts in the flickr discussions

I will draw the winner on Tuesday, October 16th from those who have posted their pictures - that should give you all lots of time. Once you get that first set of curves done and you see how easy they are to piece into your quilt, you will be away to the races - as my grandmother would have said.

One thing, as we get into the nitty gritty of piecing our Mod Pop quilts, lets all remember that this is a pattern that Julie from Distant Pickles has for sale - so please keep the measurements and instructions to yourselves so we can respect her rights too.

We have a couple more prizes from our other sponsors, Fluffy Sheep Quilting and Dragonfly Fabrics,  as we move along on Mod Pop QAL. Thank you to all our sponsors!

It is Thanksgiving weekend in Canada - I think I am going to make a pumpkin pie as our turkey dinner is postponed to next week when more of the family is around. I wish you all a lovely holiday weekend.

Best,

Leanne

Too fun!

This is the best fabric advertising I have ever seen. And they are all women. Do watch it. No one asked me to share it, but I love it.

You will soon be dancing too.

I found it at the Art Gallery Fabrics Blog here, in case you wanted to read a bit more.

Best,

Leanne

Bye bye September

This is my mosaic for September. It seems that I made a lot of bee blocks but also a pillow and a bag + tutorial and finished Echo Stained. The Mod Pop QAL got off the ground. So, given the crazy work schedule, it was a better month than I thought on the quilting front.

There will be more about those Mod Pop blocks up at the top of that mosaic and sewing curves later this week.

As always, I am joining the link at Lynne from Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day. It is such fun to visit around and see everyone's progress - always inspiring.

Best,

Leanne

Echo Stained - Ta Da!

There she is, Echo Stained. This pattern is by Sarah from Narcoleptic in a Cupboard. I started this quilt as part of Sarah's Stained Quilt Along and finally, although I am one of those trailing along, I have finished it. That picture above is after she has been washed and dried.



The fabrics are Echo by Lotta Jansdotter with Kona Charcoal as the sashing and the binding. I quilted along all the sashing lines. There was a lot of stopping, starting and turning. The quilt is about 42" x 53" so the quilting, although fussy, was quite doable.



I love how the washing makes it all bumpy and textured. I used a variegated grey-white-black Sulky thread for the quilting on the front and the back.



The coloured squares are nice and puffy so the quilt is soft and nice to use.



I used an Ikea fabric on the back.



This last picture is before I washed it.

Echo Stained is also my only finish for this quarter of Rhonda from Quilter in the Gap's Finish Along (you can see my optimistic list by clicking here) but since I love this little quilt so much I am good with that. The rest will roll over to the next list, as I love all the projects, but I tend to run out of time (at least that is my story and I am sticking with it).

And to show Echo Stained off a bit more I am also linking up at Katie From the Blue Chair's End of my Hallway link too. And tomorrow I will link her to {Sew} Modern Monday which Megan at Canoe Ridge Creations has restarted for fall - the button is on the right sidebar.

As always, each of these links will take you to other wonderful projects and inspiration.

I am off to work on the rest of my outstanding bee blocks, I am at the end of the month for them, hopefully life will provide a bit more sewing time for October.

Best,

Leanne

Mostly playing with colours

I made that New York Beauty block today for Michonne in my Always Bee Learning bee. Today I am certainly learning. It took me most of the day, although that is not the block's fault - I am feeling very tired and lazy after a month of crazy work and had to take a nap or two. But, you can see my repair at the top and the repair still needed also at the top. And it is 1/4" too small on two sides so tomorrow the bottom parts must come off and two larger pieces added.

I thought it good to share my challenges lest anyone think I am that good at paper piecing - after all this is a "learning" bee. Oh and I have one more to make tomorrow, I decided that I best call it a day on paper piecing today.



A couple of weeks ago I rambled on and on about picking colours for the Mod Pop Quilt Along. That stack above is where I am at today. I think that this bundle needs more reds and oranges to warm up the bubble gum pinks. The two blues are Essex Linen, royal blue and aqua. I think I am down to picking between them, or maybe I should use them both, alternating the chains??



I have been trying to decide on my colours for a while now. Another Poseidon bundle fell in my shopping cart after I cut the first one up for the first Mod Pop. So I first thought I could pair it with a bunch of yellows.



Or maybe just with pinks?



Then I took out the lightest pinks and added reds and oranges. And just this blue cotton for the focus?



When I put these in the flickr pool, a lot of people liked the aqua cotton.



Surprisingly I found l loved this one - I am not normally that partial to red and blue. That is the royal blue Essex Linen from the first photo. I really like the idea of using linen with the cottons for this.



I had thought this would be the favourite, the warm colours with snow but the blues are just so much better. So, do you think I should use both blue and aqua linen with the warm colours, imagine more reds and oranges in there too?

I think I will make a sample block or two tomorrow. It is time for me share some tips about piecing this quilt, so playing with the colours a bit more will help me to do that.



I did manage to wash the Liparis from Oakshott today. They unravelled just enough to really show off the different coloured threads. Each is woven with black and a bright colour.



I am thinking about what to make with these fabrics. These remind me of colours in the night, glimpses of colour reflecting off of puddles and cars and shiny windows, in a beam of a car headlight or  streetlight. Of evenings walking out late in the heart of the city.



Look at the colours when you get close. I think these would make stunning evening dresses.



I have to share all the photos, they are just so wonderful. I know most of you don't pre-wash, but for these it was sure worth it to see these unravelled edges.



This is likely where I will be tonight. Cuddled under one quilt - the No Primary Colours quilt - while hand sewing the binding on my Echo Stained and catching up on blogs, email and flickr - I am far, far behind. There is one day left in this quarter and I need at least one finish for Rhonda's  Finish A Long. Wish me luck.

I hope you are able to relax a bit this weekend.

Best,

Leanne