Many quilt blocks are formed from rectangles and triangles, but what if you want to make a block with a curved line in it, like the ones used in a traditional ‘Drunkard’s Path’ pattern? Here’s how to stitch your pieces for a good result.
You will start with two pattern pieces, which joined together will form a square.
1 Fold the smaller piece gently in half as shown in the photo. Finger-press lightly at the top edge.
2 Insert a marker pin in the fabric (on the wrong side – the unprinted side) at the point where you pressed a fold.
3 Fold the larger piece of fabric in half with the right sides together and finger-press lightly at the centre of the curved side. Insert a marker pin in the fold, on the right side of the fabric.
4 Place the larger piece right sides together with the smaller piece, aligning the marker pins. Then re-pin, with just a single pin to hold the two pieces of fabric together.
5 Next, insert a pin on the left to hold together the left corner of the curve of the larger fabric piece and the outer edge of the smaller curve.
6 Then insert a pin on the right to hold together the right corner of the larger fabric piece and the outer edge of the smaller fabric curve.
7 Once those three pins are in place, you can add two more pins as shown, in between the others. Handle the fabrics gently, taking care not to stretch either of the two curved edges.
8 Place the pinned piece on the machine and insert the needle. Take out the first pin and lower the presser foot. Stitch carefully around the curve, taking out each pin, just before the machine needle reaches it.
9 Stop at the mid-point and slightly adjust the top layer of fabric out of your way and then continue to stitch. Just before the end of the seam, stop and insert the machine needle. Check that the two ends of the fabric are aligned. Then complete the seam.
10 Press the seam allowances out towards the larger fabric piece.
I will be in Manchester on the 3rd – 4th May 2025. The details are here
‘She Sells Sea Shells’ is a pattern that uses curved piecing. Get the pattern here
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Amanda Jane Textiles 