Beginner's Guide to Quilting - UK (2020-02)

TRIM IF

NEEDED

Turn scraps into fabulous new fabrics with this clever technique

STRIP PIECING

When you can’t find the right fabric,
or the fabrics you do have aren’t quite
right for the project you’re working on,
try strip piecing. This is a nifty shortcut
where you join two or more fabric strips
together to make a stripy design. It’s a
speedy way to transform plain fabrics into
brightly-patterned patchwork and a great

way to use up scraps from your stash

and previous projects.

To start, gather a few fabric strips.

Longer ones are best as once you’ve

sewn them together the aim is to cut a

batch of stripy pieces or ‘units’ from

them. You could cut stripy squares,

triangles, diamonds... any shape that

takes your fancy! Then simply join up

your units to create larger blocks until

you’ve quickly pieced up a cushion or

quilt top. Once you’ve practised the

basics and tried making a simple

Four-Patch block (see step 4), turn to

page 112 to find out how to strip-

piece a Nine-Patch block too.

STEP ONE

Cut a few long strips of fabric (see our

cutting guide on page 3 4 ). Don’t worry

if your strips aren’t all the same length

as you’ll trim the ends later.

STEP TWO

Using straight seams and a /in

seam allowance, pin and then sew the

strips together in the order you want

them to be positioned in.

STEP three

Press the seams to one side or open, then

trim the short ends if these are uneven.

Congratulations! You now have your first

strip-pieced unit, ready to be cut up and

used in your project.

STEP FOUR

Cut shapes from the strip-pieced fabric

for quick stripy effects. Or try piecing

two strips of different coloured fabrics

together, cut into pairs of squares and

sew together to make a Four-Patch block.