Improvisational Curved Piecing - Iron the sh*t out of it

 

Here is a method for creating improve curves that seems like it shouldn't work,  but it does! It uses strips with gentle curves, and lots of ironing, what I call "Iron the sh*t out of it." 

I'll show you how to cut gentle curves and how to insert a piece to either create a pop of color or 'fix' a curve that isn't allowing for your next piece, in both a concave and convex situation. 

I started with these strips and scraps of approx 2" strips: 

Then I randomly cut each strip with a wavy curve:  (notice this is NOT the method of stacking the strips right sides up and cutting the SAME curve.  Each strip has its own curve: 

Select 2 pieces that have roughly similar curves. Notice they don't match up.  Its ok. 

 

Flip one piece over the other, right sides together and line up the TOP of the strips. Start sewing VERY SLOWLY. 

As you stitch DO NOT pull the fabric, but gently reposition so the edges line up. 

Press by pushing the new strip flat.  It will fight you a bit. Use steam or spray as needed. 

You can get it to lay flat.  Especially if it is narrow.  This method is not good for wide strips. 

Notice that the bottom of the purple strip is not connected to the pink all the way to the edge (I did that just to show this can be done)   cut off the 'tail' of the purple, to create a single 'edge' for the next piece. 

The next piece (green) encloses the thin point of purple (line drawn just to show the seam, since these are both dark fabrics) 

In selecting the next piece, note that these two have exactly opposite curves (bellies poking out at each other)  these will NOT go together well.  Select another piece!

This one is better. 

Flip the light green stripe over the dark green and slowly sew that seam. 

In selecting the next piece (the purple) notice the hole I am pointing to (opposite problem of bellies sticking out)  But rather than select another piece, I'm going to solve this by inserting a small section in the space in green stripe. 

I sewed this pink strip into the concave bowl of the green stripe. 

Then after pressing it, I trimmed it into a bump to fit the shape needed for the purple strip next.   Honestly, this bump is too big, but it causes another problem I solved next. 

This is a nice technique for adding a small pop of color in a wavy set of strips. 

This purple strip was NOT going to lay flat.  It might have worked if it was narrower, but I had to cut these 'easing' notches to get it to lie flat when pressing. (If you sew clothing, this is often done on curved seams.) 

Then I cut the purple narrower to remove the notches:

I added a final strip of green and consider this done. 

The final step is to square this piece up, to be used in a project. 

Here are two links to the other way of creating improv curved piecing. They both use the method of stacking fabric, right sides up and cutting the curve at the same time.  This 'guarantees' the strips will fit into each other.   Notice that none of these methods include seam allowance so you will always have size shrinkage.  Work with strips or blocks significantly larger than your finished block. 

Wavy Woven Curved Piecing (strips)  

Free style curved piecing arcs (squares or rectangles) 

The Value of Birds

 

The Value of Birds

a coinpurse shaped like a bird, with velcro closure, approx 4" across

For Project Quilting 15.5:  Wearables

For this week's challenge, we were meant to create something 'wearable', and apparently bags and pouches qualify!  I found a little pattern for this bird wallet to be made by lacing leather together, but I adjusted it for my supplies.  I used fabric and a very stiff fusible interfacing.  There is a button eye and a bit of velcro holding the wing flap down. 

Its lined, and fully functionally as a coin purse:

Birds are a valuable member of our ecosystems all over the world in their capacity as insect eaters, and seed spreaders.  They also provide food for other creatures. Let's take care that our feathered friends don't become further endangered. 

Peace, 

Paula  

Running out of Time

                                        Running out of Time

11.5" x 15",  Quilting cotton, Machine applique, Machine quilted,
Hand embroidered

Completed Feb 26, 2024 for Project Quilting 15.4: Hourglass challenge

Continuing my personal theme of "birds" for this season of Project Quilting, I've done some research on the number of endangered bird species due to climate change and human destruction of bird habitat.  According to the IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) 

"There are over 10,000 species of birds on the planet, from the largest hawks and vultures to the smallest finches and hummingbirds. Unfortunately, many of them are on the brink of extinction. As climate change and human activity impacts wildlife around the world, it is important that we work to mitigate threats like deforestation and climate change and protect these endangered birds."

For this project, I created small colorful birds and also black birds representing those species we have already lost.  The birds are fused into the hourglass shape, then embroidered to add details.   I quilted the background before adding the hourglass, which is machine raw-edge appliqued. 

Protecting bluebirds

 

Houses on the lake

9”x6”. Paper pieced, hand embroidered, machine quilted.  Hand dyed cottons

Completed for Project Quilting 15.1 challenge: birdhouse 

On a recent walk around the Orange Reservoir we saw a row of birdhouses facing East, built in the lake  like this:

    A bit of research revealed that local bluebirds are endangered by more aggressive species like swallows and sparrows.  To protect bluebird nests the conservancy built these specifically for bluebirds.  Here is a picture a neighbor compiled showing baby birds in residence.   

After paper piecing these tiny houses (2”).  I added the posts and then quilted it to look like water.  

Finally i embroidered small bluebirds on this small piece  

Peace 

Paula 

Yikes! Swimsuits

 

 Swimsuits! 

6" x 7"   March 17, 2023

paper piecing, couched cord, machine quilting

in response to Project Quilting 14.6:  Conquer a Fear

This is a tongue-in-cheek response to my, and most women's, fear of trying on swimsuits in preparation for warm weather.  

I found an online pieced swimsuit pattern, on the list of free patterns from Moda.  It was traditional piecing, which I translated to foundation piecing because I prefer it.  I also have a challenge from my Stitch Lab at Gotham Quilts to create something using couching, so I made it look like these swimsuits were hanging on a clothesline. 

Thanks to Kim and Trish at Project Quilting for a fun season of challenges! 

The Girls of Revolution Street

 Remembering Mahsa Amini and The Girls of Revolution Street

8" x 9" March 5, 2023

Fusible applique, machine quilting, faced

in response to Project Quilting 14.5: Not a Square

I machine quilted this small portrait with a few wisps of hair escaping the hijab; showing the sort of small infraction committed by women which can result in charges and even death. 

In September 2022 Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman was detained by the morality police in Tehran for not wearing her hijab properly.  She was beaten and died in custody.  She is one in a decade's long history of women of Revolution Street (Not a Square ;) protesting the requirement to wear hijab in Iran and other countries. 

"All over the world and throughout history, a woman's body has been the playground of various ideologies and identity politics, and a strict dress code for women has always been a strategy to uphold these political identities.

-Alma Fazeli"

To read the entire essay, click HERE. 

Women and men all around the world protest laws that use religious 'values' to deny women bodily autonomy.  This is a problem everywhere, not just in Muslim countries.  Women (or men, or any gender!) who CHOSE to wear hijab or any other dress style should have the right, autonomy, privilege of doing so.     

Peace, 

Paula 

  

I am a curvy woman

 

Fighting 36-24-36

9" x 9"  February 5, 2023, for Project Quilting: "54-40 or fight" challenge 14.3

hand embroidered, machine quilted

This week's challenge is to interpret this traditional block as explained in this post by Trish Frankland and Kim Lapacek   This is a basic 54-40 or fight block:

I was inspired by the concept of fighting against numbers and know that I've been fighting against the ideal female hourglass form for many years. Even when I was younger I didn't think I had the 'right' shape, and lament now, looking back at photos from those years, that I didn't have good body image.  (oy, what was I thinking?)

So here I am, well past 'middle aged', a woman with an AARP card, and recently struggled with dating again after a long marriage.  My youthful body spent. 

So I'm taking up arms, figuratively, against the tyranny of numbers that we cannot achieve.  I'll never be those measurements again, I'll never weigh those numbers again, I'll never be that age again.  I. am. a. curvy. woman. 

peace, 

Paula 

ps - I'm happy to report I've found a partner who embraces, literally, ALL my curves.