As many of you know, scrappy is my MO. And today, I'm going to share with you not only how to "organize" your scraps, but also how to use a few of them up, via an improv curved piecing tutorial.
First, here's a shot for you of my "organized" scraps. I have a separate cubby for each color (except black and purple, which I don't use often). And do you see that green and blue bag hanging there? It contains my very small scraps that I can't bring myself to toss.
The tutorial I'll be sharing today is the method I made up for piecing these blocks
for this pillow:
Here we go!
Step 1: choose your fabrics
Step 2: Cut a 90 degree angle on one side, and a gentle curve on the other side of your first corner piece of fabric.
Step 3: Lay the first fabric on top of the second piece. Cut along the curve, with the right side of both fabrics facing up.
Step 4: Flip the first fabric over and align the beginning of the curve of the first piece to the area of the curve of the second piece where they fit together, with right sides facing.
Step 5a: Using a 1/4 inch foot with a guide(do you see that metal plate on the right side of the foot? That's the guide. My Bernina dealer sells the 1/4 inch foot with or without the guide), start sewing a 1/4 inch seam , bringing the edge of the fabrics together as you move down the curve. (think about how a pair of scissors works. As you pull the handles together, the edges of each blade come together, but only at one point. That's how the edges of the curved fabrics will be sewn together.)
Step 5b: This is how the fabrics will look after the seams have been sewn, but before pressing.
5c: The seam after pressing.
Step 6a: Lay your square template on top of the newly pieced fabrics so the square tip is placed over the square tip of the fabric.
Step 6b: Trim your fabric edges so they overlap the square template by about 1/4 inch (I do this to make sure I have a big enough square to trim it precisely in the end) and cut an improv curve along the edge of the second piece.
Repeat step 3 with your next fabric:
Repeat steps 4-6b over with new scrap pieces until the pieced fabric is big enough to cut the size square you'd like.
Once you have pieced enough scraps together, trim your square to the size you'd like.
And there you have it. Improv curved seams are really simple and forgiving.
You could make several of these and make a quilt, or make a tiny set of 4 for a potholder, so many possibilities!
And thank-you to stash manicure for allowing me to post this tutorial there today as well!
Happy, happy Monday to you, whereever you are!!
~Penny
Although I'm a dressmaker I always wondered how to do curved piecing... you make it look so easy!.. just finishing my pieced bird!
Posted by: Effie | 25 October 2010 at 02:17 AM
What a great tutorial, thanks!
Posted by: Jeannette | 25 October 2010 at 02:31 AM
You make it look so easy and fun! Thank you for sharing!
; )
Posted by: Marit | 25 October 2010 at 02:43 AM
you make it look so darn easy!
Posted by: Lois Grebowski | 25 October 2010 at 04:08 AM
I've never tried curved piecing as it's always looked difficult. I like this tutorial because if I'm off with my curves, it really won't matter!
Posted by: Jackie | 25 October 2010 at 04:51 AM
cool tutorial Penny! I love curved piecing and this will come in handy!
Posted by: dee | 25 October 2010 at 05:11 AM
Love your curves! And I don't mean that in a creepy way.
Posted by: Michele | 25 October 2010 at 05:27 AM
Thanks for the great tutorial! I may actually have the courage to try this. Thanks for the organizational tip photo too! I'm getting ready to move my crafting junk room (my eldest daughter got married and I inherited a larger room) and I need to organize my ever growing fabric stash (without spending my retirement.) I like the wire stackables - they look practible.
Posted by: Diane | 25 October 2010 at 05:46 AM
Nice! Thank you! Cannot wait to try it.
Posted by: Emily Hedrick | 25 October 2010 at 05:52 AM
Thanks, Penny! I love seeing how scraps are stored by folks who love them as much as you do. Because the curves are so gentle, is it not necessary to clip the seam allowance? Thanks for your thoughts!
Posted by: Suzanne | 25 October 2010 at 06:07 AM
Hi Suzanne,
I rarely clip seams, even if the curves are pretty extreme. I always press first and then if the seam is wanting to lay kind of wonky, then I'll clip where needed. Most of the time they are just fine without it though!
Posted by: Penny | 25 October 2010 at 06:13 AM
Great tutorial, thanks for sharing Penny!I'm sure I'll use this :)
Posted by: erica | 25 October 2010 at 06:48 AM
Very cool Penny! Now, step away from the sewing machine and pack your bags!!!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | 25 October 2010 at 07:01 AM
wonderful! what a great little block!
Posted by: randi | 25 October 2010 at 07:17 AM
This is so much fun! I am working on busting my stash right now with a gajillion 2.5" squares! Nothing fancy. Come on over and have a look! I have made a lot and need to photograph it still but in a few hours it should be up!
Posted by: Alia Ghulam | 25 October 2010 at 07:29 AM
Wow, now that's improve to the max. I would have HAD to press the fabric BEFORE I cut and sewed. Ha! You rock! Cool tutorial, Penny.
Posted by: Arlene | 25 October 2010 at 08:13 AM
That is really, really cool! Thanks for showing us how!
Posted by: P. | 25 October 2010 at 08:23 AM
that is sooo clever of you . . . will definitley try it soon!
Posted by: whitney-anne | 25 October 2010 at 08:31 AM
Where did you get that tall set of cubby holes?
Soon I'll need something like that for my scraps.... and I would totally have to press all my scraps before using them - i'm just OCD that way :-) haha
Posted by: Cristin | 25 October 2010 at 08:44 AM
love this Penny! you are so darn creative, love your designs ...
Posted by: elsa | 25 October 2010 at 09:26 AM
ohmygosh I LOVE THIS!!
Thank you so much for making this so easy for me :) I'm a beginner with sewing so I need all the help I can get!
thank you!!
Posted by: stephanie | 25 October 2010 at 10:23 AM
I love this - thank you so much Penny!!!
Posted by: Allie | 25 October 2010 at 01:02 PM
I've never tried curved seams before. I just might have to now... thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Katie @ Sew Many Mamas | 25 October 2010 at 03:10 PM
I like this very much! I might use this for some of the giveaway pillows for the retreat!
Posted by: Tara | 25 October 2010 at 04:12 PM
what a great post penny. and I love that pillow all over again!
Posted by: anna | 25 October 2010 at 08:00 PM
Thanks for a fantastic post!! Your cushions look amazing.
Posted by: Kate Conklin | 26 October 2010 at 05:04 AM
You really do rock! Really!
Posted by: Dayna | 26 October 2010 at 08:00 AM
You've been tagged (because I love your blog!) Hope you'll check it out here:
http://arslongavitabrevisblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/some-fun-stuff.html
Posted by: Erica | 26 October 2010 at 03:27 PM
Love how you use scraps! I am always asking people who sew for their scraps so I can use them to the end. I make bookmarks, yoyos etc....with them.
Posted by: Glenna | 27 October 2010 at 02:30 AM
What a gorgeous block and pillow! Thanks so much for this, I'll be linking.
Posted by: Rachel | 28 October 2010 at 09:14 PM
I've been looking at a lot of "hot to sew curves" lately and I think I like yours the best because it is so clear and straightforward. Thanks!
Posted by: Mountain Mom (Rachel) | 31 October 2010 at 07:10 PM
So cute! I already like you on FB and also get your posts on Google Reader. :)
Posted by: moncler jackets sweden | 06 November 2011 at 07:43 AM
penny, penny,
That's such a great idea!!
Posted by: Des | 08 December 2011 at 09:04 AM
i did this block and love it! thanks for the great tutorial, and also for doing something that i've never really seen before. :)
http://sewkellysews.blogspot.com/2012/03/what-ive-been-up-to.html
Posted by: kelly | 02 March 2012 at 11:39 AM