Curved Piecing

I've shown this recently, but some of you are saying curves are too hard, and I want to say, No, they are not. So here goes some instructions which you might find encouraging.

First, this is where I'm heading. This is a Terry Adkinson design and templates, called Winning Bouquet. I've made about 24 blocks, got sidetracked with another project, but I'm back working on it. It's an interesting design, and can be both a positive image or a negative image.

This is the block. I'm not showing the little corner units, but they go together in the same way as the 30's print, added to the white shape.

Curves are not hard, but they take a little time -- it is NOT speed piecing, but I pieced each block in 5 minutes or so.

First, the green (below) will be pieced to the white. I'm using my 1/4 inch foot, regular white thread, regular pressure on the presser foot, etc. (Ignore the little bit of blue fabric - probably fell out of my hair!)

Use needle down position, and if you have it, USE YOUR KNEE LIFT HERE WITH RIGHT KNEE, AND LEFT FOOT ON PEDAL. If you've not used both feet, you are losing efficiency. It only takes a little bit of practice -- remember learning to play the piano?

Find the middle of each piece by folding each in half and finger press it with your nail to make a crease. Handle gentle, but don't get paranoid. Bias edges can be stretched wrong but it can also be your friend, as in this project. Do NOT stretch anything here - it WILL go together just fine.
I pin the beginning, middle and end (some people don't pin at all!).

Sew slowly, about 4 stitches each time, and use a sharp pointy thing to keep the right edges aligned and keep poking the fabric under the foot - you're not causing pleats, just poking it under to help it along. My sharp tool is something left from high school biology, for dissecting frogs. I've added our anniversary cork on the handle so it's easier to find in my cup of tools.

Each time I stop, I rearrange with my left hand, causing it to ripple on the left, but keeping it flat along the sewn seam. And here it is, nice and neat (unpressed for now). I am using care with pressing, being sure to press with the grain line of the fabric. So far, after 28 blocks, I've not had to unsew even one seam.

The little corner units are handled the same way, finding center, sewing slowly a few stitches, stopping and using your sharp tool to keep the right edges aligned.

I think I want to do a Drunkard's Path next ...