March is sewing month and I was lucky enough to join a group of talented quilty people on YouTube to present a new video tutorial. This is one that’s been on my to-do list for AGES so I was happy to finally get the nudge to finish it.
This video combines my signature curvy quilt style with using scraps and making use of leftover fabrics. Plus, the easy technique is fun to play with – there’s no limit to how creative you can be!
When you cut fabrics for curved piecing, you need two shapes: the convex curve, which is the rounded piece like a piece of pie (drunkard’s path) or pod shape (orange peel patterns) + the concave curve, which is the ‘corner’ piece with the “innie” curve and right angle, making up the corners of your finished blocks. Whenever you cut those concave shapes, you end up with a scrap that resembles a convex shape, but it’s not the right size/shape for piecing the blocks you are making. You have to use it for making smaller blocks or as a scrap for another project.
What we are working with today is the pod-shape scrap you get from cutting two concave curves like you see in the photo above. What do we do with those? I’ll show you!
Many of you have asked what to do with these scraps – depending on the original project, these scraps can be quite large! For my example, I used some black and white scraps I had from <<this quilt>> and applied them to bright batik fabrics I had in my stash (yea!). I love how the black contrasts with the colors and the finished quilt is going to be SO cheerful.
Of course there are lots of options – you don’t have to put each shape on its own background square and you don’t have to use just one set of scraps! how cute would it be to combine some big ones and small ones to create a unique pattern? Applique doesn’t have the limitations that piecing does – you can arrange the shapes at any angle, overlapped, whatever shape you want to create! I’m not usually a big fan of (hand stitched) applique because I’m not patient enough, but this fusible applique is REALLY fun to play with and it’s so FAST, you’ll have your new scrap quilt done in no time.
In the video I’ll show you how to prep your fabrics, some options for layouts, and using the fusible web product. You can just fuse your shapes and sew up your quilt and quilt it – the quilting will hold the pieces in place through washing. Or, you might choose to machine stitch around the edges using zig-zag or blanket stitch to finish the edges of the applique. I’ll share my game changing – and cheap!- stabilizer that will make stitching around your shapes super easy if you choose to do that.
I’d love to see all your curvy scrap quilts! make sure you share on social media with #colorgirlquilts and @colorgirlquilts or email me a pic.
No curvy scraps? let’s fix that! you’ll love curved piecing with the Classic Curves Ruler -truly the best cutting tool for successful curves.
Watch <<this video>> to learn all about it.
Have fun with this! Don’t forget to subscribe and watch other CGQ YouTube videos – there’s a lot of fun projects there.
