If you’re at all like me, you find it helpful to see, read, and listen to multiple explanations when learning a new skill. I’ve rounded up some of my favorite videos and blog posts from other teachers and creatives that I found helpful when learning this skill. I hope that seeing multiple perspectives will help you to master curves as well! Each of these teachers has their own spin on the explanation and points out different things that may help you with troubleshooting or may fit your equipment or pressing style better.
The method you use may depend on the size of curve you’re working on, how precise your templates are and how much trimming room is included in the pattern, your skill level, or how much effort your feel like putting in to get the results you’re after. You may switch back and forth between the various techniques depending on the quilt you’re working on. That’s totally OK! Do you have a favorite curve sewing method or tutorial? Drop a note in the comments, I’d love to check it out!
For the video tutorials, you can find the videos embedded in this blog post as well as linked in each sub heading.
Tiny Orchard Quilts
Video 1 – Curve sewing with the 3 pin method Video 2 – Curve Pressing
I love everything about this channel. If you don’t watch Tiny Orchard Quilts, you really should start. Megan is thoughtful, creative, precise when needed, relaxed when it makes sense to be, and just generally makes lovely tutorials and quilts. I love her channel and teaching style so much that I included TWO of her videos! In the first video, she is showcasing a pattern where she uses quarter circle (a.k.a. drunkard’s path) blocks and has a very thorough description of her use of the 3-pin method. The links should pop right up to the 7:00 minute mark, but if not, skip to the 7:00 minute mark in the first video to see every detail of the three-pin method. The second video makes a case for pressing curved seams open. Personally, I prefer to press to the side, but after watching this video, I was convinced! I now press my seams open on curves and have definitely seen an improvement in the accuracy of my curves.
Suzy Quilts – no pin method
In this video, Suzy utilizes the no-pin method to sew curves. She’s working with templates in this demonstration, but the same would apply to any curve sewing that you may be working on. If you’re interested in using the no-pin method, the key is really to go slow and allow yourself time to work in any ease that may occur to avoid puckers and to keep everything aligned.
Latifah Saafir – glue basting
Latifah shows you how to glue baste curves. She points out that this is an especially great option for sewing tight curves. It is also a really great method if you are working to get a very precise seam placement, but don’t like removing pins. With glue basting, you have the opportunity to perfectly position the fabric and set the placement with glue to avoid shifting that may occur with some of the other methods. While I have not used glue basting for curves, I have utilized this technique to get better point matching on projects with tiny piecing with great success! I bet it would work really well if you were trying to pattern match on curves!
Jordan Fabrics – registration marks
This is a method that is completely new to me! In fact, I found it when looking for good videos for this round-up blog! But as I watched, i realized how ingenious the concept is. In the video, Donna makes registration marks on both of the pieces in the drunkard’s path blocks. She makes small cuts with scissors so the marks can be seen on both sides of the fabric and the order in which you sew isn’t important (i.e. the corner piece can be on the top or the bottom). Just be sure to keep your cuts within the seam allowance! The registration cuts are used along the length of the curve to ensure that everything remains aligned. The marks are like checkpoints along the way, making sure that you don’t stretch one piece too much as you bring them together. Again, the key is to go slowly and take your time to avoid stretching the fabrics and warping the final block. I’ll definitely be trying this method on my next curve sewing adventure!
Wonderfil – all the pins!
This video has an example showing the “all the pins!!!” method. In this method, you guessed it – you pin the heck out of that curve! A lot of people like this method because it forces you to distribute the fabric before you start. However, when using this method, you have to stop frequently to remove the pins or risk breaking a needle sewing over them. Personally, I find that each time I stop to remove the pin, the fabric shifts, which defeats the purpose of all the pins! Although this isn’t my preferred method, many people swear by it, and it may work for you too!
RRQuilts 