Wednesday, August 03, 2011

Cabbage Roses

Cabbage Roses, the quilt I started cutting so I'd have something to play with if I felt like sewing while I was recovering from my knee surgery, is quilted and bound.



It's got three hundred and twenty curved seams -- I've mentioned that, right? At this point, I think it's safe to say that I've got a thing for curved seams. Enough of a thing that I'm looking at every Drunkard's Path layout I can find and deciding to give it a try. My AccuQuilt dies are going to earn their keep!

I don't think I'd have started this quilt if I'd had to trace and cut all of the pieces by hand. Someday maybe, but not right now. Cutting the pieces by machine let me concentrate on the pinning and piecing. Now that I know I've got that part down, I'm ready to tackle curved patterns that I have to cut myself. I've done it before, I just never could be sure if my sometimes badly pieced blocks were due to the cutting part or the sewing part.

Curves aren't nearly as hard as they sound. When I decided that I wanted to learn curves, I found a great looking book from the library and checked it out three or four different times. When I had the book, I had no free time to experiment with technique. When I had sewing time, I didn't have the book.

Then my best friend fell in love with the Glorified Nine Patch pattern, and her quilting mentor told her that "even experienced quilters avoid patterns with curves." Which didn't seem quite right, since there are antique stores full of double wedding rings out there. Someone made them.

My friend says that I'm the one who taught her to piece curved seams, over the phone. When I didn't know how to do it myself. Where there's a will, there's a way!

I could get back to my Lover's Knot quilt. (If AccuQuilt made a die for that block, I'd order one tonight!)... Or try one of my other curved dies. I've still got two that I haven't used yet... Or start cutting pieces for that scrappy Drunkard's Path I've decided I need to make... It's not the best time to be starting a new project, but I can still dream, can't I?

7 comments:

Kylie said...

Your quilt is lovely you've done a great job. I've always thought curved piecing looked very challenging. A friend recently gave me a copy of a drunkards path quilt, with little appliquéd birdies. Now I'll have to give it a go!!

Becky said...

I love it, im a new folower and looking forward to my visits here.~~Becky

Becky said...

That was follower LOL

Carli The Quilter said...

I just love doing Drunkard's Path blocks and this one is so soft and special, well done!

Marly said...

After sewing so many DP blocks, you MUST be the expert in sewing curved seams! The result is wonderful.

Vivian said...

A beauty and definitely a curved seaming workout!

Val's Quilting Studio said...

WOW 2011....I think this pattern is so stunning made into a quilt like you did.

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