Most everything you will be doing first is to make a sample. Please, don't assume your sample will come out perfect the first time. Most likely you will have to fuss and muss a little to get a look you want.
I will do everything possible to explain the technique.....almost everything I use will come from a book, or a magazine, so I will always refer to techniques and where I picked them up at.
Purchase yourself a cheap fabric, preferably a solid fabric, and something you can see your stitching with. (muslin, or white solid fab. is fine)
Use threads you have used previously when making samples......once you learn the technique we are doing, you can switch to the thread for the sample. Don't want to waste expensive threads here.
IF you are making a garment, you should make a test garment first for fit, and then make the next size larger, so that when you put it together, you are allowing room for shrinkage of the embellishments, manipulations, or any quilting you may do, you might also add fleece for stability, so you may want the extra size in the end......Don't assume it won't shrink!!!!!!! IT WILL!!!! Before the lining, you'll put the garment together, so you can change fit at the time if needed. Be
sure to have a good assortment of threads, and needle sizes, including twin needles.....We are going to cover alot of territory. You will need a variety of these two things to get you buy......I assume you all have trash fabric. (fabric you can use as samples)
If you should finish your samples within a weeks time, we will do the next lesson, but I am assuming, that you can finish these withing a two weeks time, and will plan my lessons for that kind of time period.....Hopefully, there will be good discussion on what went wrong, if it went perfectly, or if you discovered something new to do while doing the techniques covered.
I am volunteering to do this....it is a big job, and I will appreciate any and all tips or help that comes my way, if you would like to see a certain technique included, feel free to say something, if I don't know how to do it, I will learn. I have a vast library of resources.....including two online services, and 4 digest listservices at my availabilities....and I will ask.
I don't want to hear, "I've all ready done that", remember that others have not, and you can help them if I don't explain well enough....
ok, first lesson......
Seminole Patchwork......
something fun, yet challenging, this design is easy, and not easy at the same time. If your new to patchwork, you'll find it challenging and invigorating. Fabric needed.
trash fabrics....used to make first sample, then you can match your colors for yourself......
Step 1.
cut strips.
A. 1 @ 1-1/4" dark color
B. 1 @ 1" med or bright color
C. 1 @ 1" dark, but not the same as above
D. 1 @ 1-3/4" dark color (same as first color)
I am assuming you all know how to cut strips.......if you need help, e-mail me privately, and I will tell you.....
Step 2.
Sew sew the strip set together. Like the diagram.
------------------
| a |
------------------
| b |
------------------
| c |
------------------
| d |
------------------
Step 3.
Cut the pieces. 1" apart. Once the strip is cut. Turn half of the a pieces upside down to make them b pieces......
Step 4.
Align the pieces and sew together. Seam allowances will butt against each other. Press and sew together......See diagram
_a_ _b_
| | | |
---- | d|
| | ----
---- | |
| | ----
---- | |
| | ----
| d| | |
---- ----
Where I put the letter "d" is where the fabric color d....should be when
pieced together here......
What you will have when piecing, is a four-patch with a triangle like border. When you have sewn all sets together, line them next to each other so that the four patch is just above the other four patch...
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
/\ /\ /\ /\ /
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
/__\/__\/__\/__\/ \
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
This is an idea of how it should finish........
This pattern came from the book Basic Seminole Patchwork by Cheryl Bradkin, I consider it an excellent source for Seminole Patchwork. great designs.
An extra bonus.
Gathering......
Sometimes, it is fun to get a gathered look by gathering both sides of a strip.
When I gather this way, I take a strip.....as wide as you wish, and with topstitching thread in my bobbin (black latch bobbin case, or extra bobbin case that you use for specialty threads) I gather both sides of the strip.....then I take a straight pin and insert it into the one ends.....pin on each side....then swirl the thread around the pin in a figure 8. then I gather both threads at the same time on the other end......wonderful effect.
________________________________
|-8-------------------------------| gathering line
| |
| |
|-8-------------------------------| second gathering line
__________________________________
the 8 represents where the pins should be with the thread wrapped in the
figure 8 motion.....
Good luck, and lets start discussion.......next technique Jan. 14th.
Patches
oops, in my haste, I forgot a line on the seminole piecing. Please forgive.
to finish off, and cut off the points,
a
x/\x/\x/\x/\x/\x/
----------------- cut where the inside points meet up to make a straight line
going across. on both sides.....
a = outside point leave shorter top and bottom edges alone till you actually piece them.