World Wide Quilting Page
Question of the Week
Question for the week of February 16, 1998:
Our question this week comes from Julie Brown
Do you have any tips on easing in the curve on curved seams such as Drunkards Path?
Ann :
I just finished piecing a quilt with lots
of little drunkard's path pieces. They end up
about 2" square. I clipped the concave part and
lined up the centers of the patches as everyone
described above, and found that by the time I
got it all pinned and fussed with it, it was
faster and I could do a better job hand piecing.
My first time doing any hand piecing, and it was
fun - and made a good portable project.
June from Rochester, NY :
I pretty much follow Linda's (fromMd) advice, but, with sharp pointed scizzors, I clip along the concave curve about every 1/4" before pinning. That works best for my curves! Good luck.
lmmquilt@aol.com :
Julie, I've made a few drunkard's paths and double wedding rings and slowly improved my curves. To stitch a curve you have two pieces-one concave and one convex (the concave curves in like a cave and the convex curves out). I use the phrase "cave on top" and always pin with the concave piece on top. I pin center first and put lots of pins along the curve. The pins are place perpendicular to the edge and I sew right over them. This works for me. Good luck. Linda from Maryland
Darlene Blackwell :
Just saw a presentation on this on HGTV's Simply Quilts.
Billie Lauder shows how she suggests you do this.
It is program # 113 and should be on again at
6:30 am EST Sat. 2/21. Hope you can see it or video tape it.
marlee :
Although I want to see the extra fullness, so I can control it, that really is what the feed dogs on our sewing machines are susposed to do. I put the "too" full piece on the bottom and sew using only a few pins always in an odd number, middle, ends and then divide that space in half, etc. Hope it works for you.
marlee@ime.net
Geneva Davis :
Pin by curving pieces over your hand they will ease in if the larger piece is on top.pin each end first. Some people do not pin but I find silk pins helpful.
Valerie Walker :
If the fabric is small enough you can put it in a net laundry bag which comes in several sizers. Otherwise you can put it in a pillow case.
Joan T. Steele :
I've been working the New York Beauty Block and it is similar to the Drunkard's path...and I pin two patches from the concave side..use lots of small pins and then I sew with the convex side up...use small stitches to help ease it in...hope this helps.
Marilyn Gladwin MI :
I fold the convex curve and finger press the center, then I fold the converse curve and finger press this on the seam line. Line up both centers, pin , and pin again both left and right of center. This will give perfect curved seams.
,
Barbara B. from Sacramento :
Lots of pins! First I divide each piece
in half - pin the ends and then the
centers. Then I ease it all in and
stitch.
World Wide Quilting Page * Question of the Week