Sewing easy curves

By Spotlight

Ready to move on & put your sewing machine through it straps? Easy Curves are the next fun challenge for budding quilters.

Final Result

Materials

• 2 fabrics in contrasting colours
• rotary cutter
• cutting mat
• matching thread
• sewing machine
• iron

Step 1

Start with two pieces of contrasting fabric approx 22cm x 50cm. Place the fabrics on top of each other, aligning the edges, both fabrics with right sides facing up on the cutting mat and using the rotary cutter make a gentle curving cut through both layers. Separate the two and match the curves of the contrast colours and set one pair aside.

Step 2

Place pieces right sides facing ready to sew along the curves. The pieces don’t line up very well, but there is no need to pin as this technique requires moving the two pieces away and toward each other as you sew. Begin sewing at the top of the strips and as the first seam section of this pair of fabrics is a ‘valley’ in the top fabric, pull the top fabric slightly at an angle to the right and slowly sew (using 1/4” seam allowance) matching the edges as you sew.

Note: Only watch where you are actually sewing and just keep that small section of seams aligned as you sew.

Step 3

As you finish sewing the ‘valley’ of the top piece move the top piece back to the left to keep the seams aligned.

Tip: Hold one piece of fabric with the right hand and the other with the left so you can move the two pieces back and forth as you sew.

Step 4

Keeping your eye on the small area where you are actually sewing as you move down the strips sewing them together.

Step 5

Press the strip to set the seam. Gently open the strip and finger press the curves open.

Step 6

When you are satisfied with the smoothness of the seam, press with an iron.

Variations

Alternative:

To use a fabric which already has a curved edge.

Step A
Place it on top of a new fabric aligning the top edges. Make sure that the right sides of both fabrics are facing up.

Step B
Using a rotary cutter slowly cut along the curved edge matching the curves only cutting the new fabric.

Step C
Remove the section underneath and discard. Place new fabric on top with right sides facing and sew together matching curves as before.