Friday 6 February 2015

This may just be it!

I may just have found the skill and technique in sewing that I have been craving, but didn't know where to find! 

Improvised curves. Seriously! No measuring, no rulers, just free cutting and then stacking layers together, and the effect is slightly abstract but brilliant! 

Improv curves first attempt #curvesclass #stitchedincolor

Following along with Rachel's Curves class, last week we started off by making note cards, and learning how to cut and sew those curves. I found some scraps that I had already sewn together in straight lines and they were a great starting point to cut into and make the curves. This was fun, but it was the next project that really appealed to me.

IMG_20150130_080815

Starting with a charm pack of Botanics fabric, and adding a few extra cuts of the gorgeous saturated colours, I just randomly sliced, sewed back together and then freehand cut the curves, and sewed them back together. I love how quick it was, I love that I didn't need to be precise and I love that I didn't need pins to sew those curves.

Feeling proud moment! #curvesclass #stitchedincolor #botanics @carolynfriedlander @stitchedincolor

I followed Rachel's advice and didn't add batting to this, instead just quilting the back and front together, and then binding with one of my favourite prints from Botanics - the colour is just amazing!

#curvesclass #stitchedincolor

These colours really remind me of Indonesia - the luscious green, the vivid orange and yellow and the deep blues.  And so I am going to gift it as a 50th birthday present to a friend here who walks beside me during the ups and downs of life, and who loves this adopted country of ours as much as I do.

Linking up with TGIFF and Finish It Up Friday.

22 comments:

  1. Oooh... lovely table runner. Every time I see Botanics in use, I want to run off an buy some more of it! Thanks for linking up with TGIFF!

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  2. Oh that green really makes all those colours shine - looks great!

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  3. Oh it's stunning! It reminds me of trees, birch trees mainly but I'm not sure whether you have those, I'm sure there's something similar though!

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  4. Last weekend I took a workshop where one of the things we worked on was cutting free hand curves. It is fun isn't it. Your table runner has such a lovely organic feel to it.

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  5. How cool to have such an awesome reaction to a new skill. Your table runner is super lovely, and it will be fun to see you incorporate this into more projects!

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  6. It looks fantastic - lucky friend to have you too. The thing I like about curve piecing is that feeling that it's not going to work, and then it does, and it's a lovely surprise:-)

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  7. Great finish. Interesting technique.

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  8. Wonderful curves! Isn't it great how curves aren't as scary as they seem and the result is so pleasing.

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  9. What a beautiful gift for a friend! I love the combination of the strips and curves.

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  10. Isn't it great when you find a new technique that really appeals to you? What a lovely gift for your friend.

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  11. You make me want to take a curve class because this turned out so wonderful! I've been sewing clothes with curve since I was a teenager, and your project makes me want to see how I can adapt curves into quilting! Lovely job!

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  13. I love sewing curves, i took to them like a duck to water and it looks like you have too! Interesting that you left the batting out, why was that? Hope you've recovered from the migraine. Xx

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  14. It looks terrific! I myself had a migraine all day today - no fun!

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  15. That's awesome ... I love every bit of it! Looks like we will be seeing more of these curves in your future :)

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  16. What a great find Deborah, I am looking forward to seeing more wonderful curves in your future!

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  17. You are doing really well with your curves!

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  18. What a beautiful runner! I looks like you have curves down.

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  19. It's wonderful to discover new creative avenues which are a good match to your ideas and needs. I've not tried curves and am not sure I love them yet - maybe one day.

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  20. WOW. I LOVE your runner. I started reading your post and thought, "Oh, I need to make some notecards. I need thank you notes and valentines. I like those..." Then I got to your runner and my jaw dropped. Nice fabric choice and lovely curves!

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  21. I bought myself a few Botanics prints too - so pretty. I have tried improvised curves and enjoyed them, but not to quite the full scale of your amazing effort, however! I have only dabbled in a block here and there.

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  22. Love how your curves project turned out! He colors in the botanical fabrics are so beautiful together. Your friend is sure to be thrilled to receive it!

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