I have the quilt top all pieced. It replicates a stained glass window in a Monastery. The actual window opening is arched at the top. I want to add a piece of black Kona, straight along the top, and arched up along the bottom. Would you straight stitch the two pieces together? Would you machine or hand applique it in place?? Help asap..I am determined to make this happen today!
Oh, I'm new on this forum/club...from Bethlehem, GA
thanks for your suggestions
Jeannie
Jeannie,
I know I have to pin, pin, pin with curved piecing but that's me. Here is a tutorial that might help.
http://www.connectingthreads.com/tutorials/Curved_Piecing__D82.html
Whoops, I also want to welcome you to the site! Don't forget to post pictures of your projects. We all love to look.
I would most likely sew the two pieces together and then hand applique the curve. Hope you will share a pic with us when you have finished. Welcome to the site and hope you enjoy your time with us.
Vinton, Virginia
Goodness was I off the mark on this one. lol. Me, I do as much by machine as I can. I'm not great at hand applique. Share a picture when done.
Welcome.
If I'm picturing this correctly, I would think you would have to cut a curved piece of fabric to stitch along the curves, or at least cut it on the bias so that you'll get some curve out of the fabric.
It would be easier if we could see a picture to really know what advice to give. Do you have one?
Stephanie,
Look at my original post. There's an attachment with a photo of the window.
This one is tough and I would practice before I did anything I didn't want to rip out, but this is what I would do.
I would fold the quilt in half and trace the upper curve onto whatever I happened to have handy. (newspaper even). This will make the bottom curve of your border piece (black). Now, decide how wide you want this piece to be minus seam allowances. (remembering that you have to cut this piece on a fold if you can. If not you'll have to decide where to put seams) When you've decided the width measure from your line and start marking what will become the top of your peice. When you get to the fold where the top curve will be make a vertical line and trace out the whole piece on a folded sheet of paper.
Unfold. How does the top curve look? You'll likely have to play with it a little bit until it "looks" right esepcially if you ended up with a peak instead of a curve.
Once you get the curve right add your seam allowance. *I* would use a 1/2 inch seam allowance on the lower curve if that wouldn't change the dimensions of the quilt top too much. then stitch just inside your seam allowance from each end toward the center of the lower border edge. Clip the seam allowance just to the stitching every 1/2 to 3/4 inch all along the bottom curve. DON'T clip through the stitching! (this is why I use a larger seam allowance on curved edges) Lay right sides together and pin or hand baste to your quilt. You should end up with a nice smooth curved edge.HTH
Ramona,
I looked at the tutorial...very good for a small project. This is 76 inches across. I think I need to photograph it and put on here.
I have 3 inch black borders on sides and bottom. Remember, this photo is of the actual window.
Sounds like a beautiful quilt and the window is such a fantastic piece of inspiration. I still think you could machine sew a gradual curve for your arch by machine. If you would rather applique it, I think needle turn would look the best. But if that doesn't work, you could fuse it with Steam A Seam and then satin stitch it.
Or, you could take the black fabric and cut it the way you want the curve, plus seam allowance of at least 1/4 inch. Turn the seam under, then pin it directly on top of the 'window' exactly where you want it and top stitch it on using a stitch very close to the edge.
Patti
Chiliwist Valley
Have you seen the stain glass wall hanging posted in show and tell that was done by Agnes? Maybe she has an idea for you.
Like I said before, I'm more for doing whatever I can by machine. Cutting the fabric and stitching the curve or pinning it to the top and doing the top stitch would be my choices.
I think I like Patti's idea. It kinda sounds like it would be the easiest one for me to do.
By the way - welcome Jeannie. I'm going to have to look up Bethlehem GA to see how far you are from me.
Griffin, GA
Patti,
I took your method!! I needle turned it by hand and it looks just fine! I will get my husband to take a photo and post it shortly!! It goes to the long armer on Monday.
i purchased whats called a curvemaster foot from a catalog i haven't had a chance to use it yet though.
Quilting My Rainbow