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August 2017
Sewing Curvy Shapes
I knew as soon as we made the curvy cut out hexagon shape that instruction was going to be needed. Im sure if you have been EPPing for a while you have come across these curves before. For those of you who havent tried curves yet, take heart - it's really quite easy .
First of all, cover your templates with fabric, using your preferred method. I have to say the glue pen is super handy here. Im sure you could baste the straight edges, but not much beats the glue pen for the curvy edges. If you are adamant about NOT using glue, I think the iron will be the next best thing.
Now you have done the prep, its time to sew them together.
You will be sewing more of a flat back stitch rather than a whip stitch on the curved edge so you need to hold the two pieces together while you sew. There are a number of handy tools to help you do this.
I like quilt binding clips, but my brainstrust EPP helpers tell me that a paperclip works, as does a small bulldog clip. Play around and see what works for you.
Whatever you choose it just needs to hold the edges together firmly so that you can sew across the seam. Begin in the centre. ( you can hide your knot under the seam if you like) Pick up just a little fabric off each side - the template forms a nice hard base, making it easy to grab both edges. Continue out to the edge and repeat with the other side starting in the centre again.
I love my blending colour Invisifil thread and the colours Ive used here are perfect for the green, but you'll find that this type of flatback stitch rarely shows on the front as you are grabbing the fabric at the back instead of at the side edge of the template.
I hope this little tutorial has been helpful for you.
Nearly there Folks! As you may have noticed I've been working down the block layout of the original design as I have a number of ladies who are already starting to put their quilt rows together and are quilting it!! They are doing quilt-as-you-go, one of my favourite ways of tackling a larger quilt.
I have given it much thought but have decided to quilt mine the traditonal way and put it all together first.
This months block is called "Girls favourite" - aptly named for the pretty icecream sunday colours I've used in the block. ( a complete coincidence I can assure you)
Here is the layout and cutting guide for the block
A - 3 1/2 " squares
B - 4 1/4" squares, cut twice on the diagonal to yield 4 triangles
C - 3 7/8" squares, cut once on the diagonal to yield 2 triangles
D - 2 5/8" squares
For this block we need to make the side units and the centre as two separate units, then join them together. Here is what the centre looks like. The easist way to achieve this is to make 4 half square triangles and sew them together.
Next we get to work on the side units. They begin like this - a D square with two Bs attached.
Take care to get those B's sewn to the right edges. They're easy to muck up!
Now we make the triangles that sit either edge of this unit. My top tip here is to lay it all out in piles next to the sewing machine so you cant pick up the wrong piece!
Make the light/dark pink triangles first...
Then sew then to one side of the base unit and press.
Finish the unit by sewing the last pink/red triangle to the opposite edge and press.
Now you are ready to construct the block.
Follow the plan below to finish Girls Favourite.
I hope you are enjoying making the blocks - only three to go now!
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