Tuesday, July 19, 2011

A Matisse Mess - Help

Okay people...I was attempting to practice the solid segments challenge...with the picture inspiration...and hit a stumbling block.  See, I am not great, good, or even novice at curved piecing...i thought i figured it out...but clearly not...i want to try to get more curves, versus angles...i.e. a curved coife...but alas...its not working.  So, because i know me, and didn't want to jump in and starting chopping my newly acquired Kona solids, "just yet", I decided to practice with some other bits and pieces...Thankfully I started with an easier piece...before jumping into the one i truly desire...smiles

I am asking if anyone has any suggestions on how to curve tiny pieces, etc.  as you would in a challenge of this sort... to avoid the folds and buckling of fabric.....




This is what I intend to do in solids, after some practice.

Jacob Lawerence

1965 Dreams

As it ought to be

7 comments:

Irene said...

Applique may be the best option. But do a Google search on "curved piecing" an dyou should find several tutorials. The best is to lay both pieces overlaping and mark the curve. Then cur on this line. Use "registration" marks to locate critical parts of the curve. Pin right sides together on these marks. It will be very wavy. But start at one end and sew to the pin, remove the pin, sew to the next.... May be a little wavy but the iron is your friend. Good luck, looks like you have a challenge ahead of you

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

Slight curves will be easier to work with when working small.. I agree with Irene. Applique... Practice your small curves 15 minute a day.. ;-) on your scraps... I love what your working on already. and also, I am a big fan of Jacob Lawerence. good luck!

noga quilts said...

My suggestion to you: don't curve! The work is great the way it is now, very interesting with all the angles, love it!

CharlotteP said...

She looks perfect as she is...maybe try piecing with straight seams. The fabrics are perfect too...they would read as solids from a little way off!!

Glen QuiltSwissy said...

If you go back into the blog posts to find my tutorial on piecing the leaves for my Virtual Bee Leaves top, I take you on a curved pieceing journey. It is a gentle curve and everyone who tried it was successful in doing really nice leaves!

Start large and get smaller!
glen

Sandy Panagos said...

Actually, I think you are doing a great job!

Miki Willa said...

I like the lady quilt well. Deep curves can be very tricky. I always think of setting in sleeves on a shirt when I am working on curves. It seems to help. With small curves that are deep, I would do applique. I am a big fan of Jacob Lawerence and look forward to seeing your interpretation.