A few weeks ago I decided to try some new curved piecing techniques on some designs typically in my wheelhouse. I have now made two quilts with what I’m calling curved section piecing. In this design and piecing approach, I first sketch what I want to make in an art quilt and it involves layers of curved pieced sections. Then I piece those sections, next I layer them, then trim away the overlapped sections of the curved sections, and sew the sections together. Along the way I need to figure on the background space so some sections have a background color added to one or both sides. My attraction to using this piecing method is that it creates more movement in my art quilts and it creates depth through the layering process. It also contributes to my “scrap” pile but there is no avoiding that.
My first effort is the pink and gray/black abstract art quilt shown in this post. There are basically four layers all visible in this 20″ x 25″ art quilt. I used a black fabric for the “background” and tried to keep the lighter tones in the center of each curved section. I used only about 10-12 different fabrics.
My second effort involved a return to some of my “flower” designs. I designed the curved sections to be parts of a flowering plant and added two peach fabrics which can be considered flowers or buds. This art quilt sketch started as a 25″ x 25″ design but ended up being 27″ x 43″! It got away from me
as sometimes happens so I just followed the fabric and colors to a larger final quilt. I actually have a curved section with more flowers which just didn’t fit right so I left it off. There will be another quilt soon incorporating that leftover section.
I have no special training in design or color but I can see clear design rights and wrongs as I’m laying out and piecing an art quilt. I have this larger quilt hanging in my neutral bathroom with my dark green towels and it looks splendid.
My next effort is going to be using this design approach for a beach/ocean scene, particularly for the sand area. That design is still percolating in my mind.
Enjoy your quilting and don’t be afraid to experiment!