I'm currently working on some patchwork. I used to think that patchwork was a bit ... well ... naff. They look great but it's not proper sewing ... it doesn't produce anything useful or an item you can wear. I don't usually have time for it.
Having almost exhausted my stash of fabric, I am left with a lot of fabric that is not big enough for a garment. I have been loathed to throw any of it away as surely it can be used for something! When sorting through, I found that I had an abundance of red and blue fabrics and came up with the idea of creating a red and blue themed patchwork.
I spent a whole afternoon cutting out 4 1/4 inch squares. In total I needed 62 red squares and 62 blue squares. That's a lot of squares. Each of the squares needs to be cut into four triangles across the diagonals to create the pattern I am after. I will then alternate squares of red and blue to create a checkerboard effect.
I have to say that patchworking is incredibly hard work. Cutting out all the squares has taken a lot of time and effort. I haven't even begun piecing the patches together, but I expect that will take a while too. I don't want to say too much until the item is finished, but I think it's going to look amazing!
Have you tried any patchwork?
like you, it seems, i've always seen patchwork as a bit more effort that it's worth! it might be a good way to use up fabric scraps though :) looking forward to seeing your finished piece!
ReplyDeleteI found it quite hard work, cutting out the small triangles of fabric and then sewing them all together. I'm not even half way through yet! Think it's going to take a while. :)
Deletei have made a few quilts and patchwork tops - i hate the quilting part so i have got lazy and started backing in fleece, i sew the quilt top to fleece around the edges right sides together and leave a gap and turn it right way around and handstitch the gap. I then just top stitch the edges to stop it turning in on itself - soooo much quicker! This looks lovely though! Will be good to see it finished :)
ReplyDeleteGreat tip, thankyou! Will remember this for next time - I've already bought batting. :-)
DeleteIt isn't as good finish as a real quilt but its wayyyy less tedious! I have copied you though, I am in the middle of making a top and the left overs I have left out and I will cut some small squares and start racking the squares up for a quilt of my own. I have decided its a long term project :)
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