The curve-alicious month continues today! Last week, I shared some tips on how to accurately cut curves for quilting, so now it’s time to move onto how to sew curves, and my 3-pin method.
Yes, I sew most of my curves with just three pins. This method works for whatever type of curve you are sewing, whether it’s drunkards path like the Simple Curves chapter in Mini Masterpieces, or different types of curves like in the Complex Curves chapter. To demonstrate just how I do it, I have made a video tutorial to show you! Click on the video below to watch, or click through to YouTube here to view the tutorial.
Some more tips and tricks to help you sew curves:
Use sharp, fine pins.
Pins are definitely a case of you get what you pay for – invest a few extra dollars in a tin of fine, sharp needles (with glass heads so you don’t melt them with your iron!) and you won’t regret it. There’s nothing worse than trying to pin fabric with cheap, blunt pins that pull on the threads in the fabric!
The bigger the piece, the more pins.
Yes, I know, I’ve just shared my 3-pin method! But once the pieces get above, say, 5″-6″, I start to use some more pins. I still don’t overload my pieces with so many pins it looks like a porcupine, because I find that makes it more awkward to sew and maneuver under the needle, as I don’t sew over my pins (not after I did one time and the needle hit the pin, broke, and the tip flew out and hit me right under the eye!). But I’ll at least add in another pin between the end and middle pins.
Use the needle down function on your machine if you have it.
This allows you to stop periodically to adjust and shift, but without having your fabric slip and slide as the needle stays down in the fabric.
Sew with the concave fabric on top.
This is the outer/crust piece in drunkards path units, or where the curve is going “in” to the fabric in other shapes- like a cave mouth. I find it to be the most stretchy and adjustable in comparison to the convex piece, which makes it easier to have on top for easy adjustment while you sew.
Take it slowly.
The more slowly you sew, the easier it will be to adjust as you go. And heads up – puckers are going to inevitably happen, even when you’re more used to sewing them! But sewing slowly helps greatly reduce the chance of puckering as you can better adjust the fabric to align and sit flat better.
So go forth and piece curves with confidence!
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