With the Fourth and Inches Quilt arriving soon, I'm sharing some of my top tips for curved piecing. Ultimately, practice has been the key for me in becoming more comfortable with this skill but there are a few tips I've come across that I've found helpful to remember when doing a project with curves, especially when I was first starting out.
Here are five of my favorites:
Take it slow
Find your center point first
Pin or glue baste before sewing
Keep your bottom piece flat
Use a presser foot with a guide and your needle in the "down" position
TAKE IT SLOW
While I generally have the patience of a toddler when it comes to piecing, I can assure you every time I rush a curved seam, it doesn't end well. Patience really is a virtue when it comes to curves and you'll be glad you took your time instead of having to rip out too many seams afterwards.
FIND YOUR CENTER POINT FIRST
I find this especially important if you're sewing curves for the first time. To find your center point:
1. Fold each piece in half
2. Finger press where the fabric folds over at the center
3. Use these creased lines to align your two curved pieces
Lining up curved pieces can be a little disorienting at first, but you'll want to be sure your center points are aligned with the shape of the curve going in opposite directions when aligning the pieces. An easy way to do this is to lay out your pieces as they will appear when sewn together, then flip the top piece over so right sides are together. Make sure the center crease lines are aligned and pin in place.
Once you feel comfortable enough with curves, you can move on to aligning your pieces as you go without pinning but even with several curved quilts under my belt, I still feel more comfortable with this method.
PIN OR GLUE BASTE BEFORE SEWING
Once you've found your center point, pin or glue baste your pieces in place, then secure the ends of the pieces if desired.
This step can not only ensure your piecing comes out more accurately, but it can also save you time. It may take a little more prep work to pin or glue baste your pieces together, but once this step is done, I find that the actual sewing goes much faster with less errors.
Note: If you are glue basting, it is easiest to press your seams to one side so be sure to check for pressing instructions before basting.
KEEP YOUR BOTTOM PIECE FLAT
Getting the hang of sewing curves can take some time but a key to sewing your pieces together without puckers or creases is to keep your bottom piece flat on your sewing table.
While keeping your bottom piece flat, simply guide your top piece along the curved edge created by the bottom piece using your fingers or with the help of a stiletto.
USE A PRESSER FOOT WITH A GUIDE AND YOUR NEEDLE IN THE "DOWN" POSITION
I use a presser foot with a guide often, but I find it comes in most handy when I'm sewing curves. If you're just starting out, there is a lot to focus on when you're sewing (keeping your pieces aligned, avoiding wrinkles, etc.) so having the guide on your presser foot can alleviate the worry of keeping your seam allowance accurate. Simply rest the edge of your fabric on the guide and let it glide through while you focus on everything else.
It is also helpful to stop occasionally to re-position as you go, especially if you see a potential crease beginning to form. I generally sew curves with my needle in the "down" position so I can stop, lift up my presser foot, and re-adjust as I sew.
And there you have it! Give one or more of these tips a try if you're a beginner or haven't done much sewing with curves yet and you'll be amazed at how easy curves can be once you get some practice in.
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