Wavy Four Patch Tutorial

At Magie Relph's workshop on 4th June we looked at various types of wiggly blocks that she had created in addition to the nine-patch we were to be working on.  Here are some of Magie's wavy four-patches:

In these first blocks a scrappy look has been created by using a plain fabric and a variety of contrasting fabrics.

In this example Magie has used a contrast in colour to show off the design, and has also made her cuts diagonally to create an extra tiddly version of Drunkard's Path.

In this block, my favourite, Magie has used only one contrasting fabric to three pieces of the plain fabric and arranged the patches to create a variation on a pinwheel.
Finally here's Magie's totally wayward 25-patch showing a contrast of both colour and fabric design.  The possibilities are endless and such fun.

Several people have kindly asked me to share a wavy-patch tutorial and so, all credit to Magie Relph of course, here comes my third tutorial (the first was on wavy seams which might be helpful with this project and the second was my Christmas decoration tutorial ).

WAVY FOUR-PATCH TUTORIAL

Firstly we need to get our fabrics together so here are a few guidelines, whether you're buying new or raiding your stash.

Fabric Choices
It is really important to choose fabrics that contrast well.
You could have a colour contrast, like my red batik and Japanese print nine-patch version,

or a design contrast - maybe a plain and a stripe for example.  What you don't want is two similar fabrics, two spriggy, floral prints will absorb the wavy edges of the fabric pieces and just look like a wild cottage garden - very nice but not what we're trying to achieve here!

You then need to decide on the balance of fabrics.
Your four patch can be made up of two fabrics in a 2+2 design or in a 1+3 design, like the blue batik example above or your could have a plain fabric and a variety of contrasting fabrics to create a "scrappy" look, like the first sample above.
You could draw some squares and have fun with the colouring pencils

or, my preferred "design method" is to rip some pages out of a colour supplement or magazine and use them as "fabric" to try out some ideas.


I thought it would be a lovely idea to use a charm pack to create an interesting, but simple, four-patch design and that it would show off the fabrics beautifully and, as fortune would have it, I happened to have a £10 loyalty voucher for my LQS, Sew Creative at Wroxham Barns.  I wanted something a little different (for me) and chose a charm pack in Moda's Blush design by Basic Grey, all gorgeous soft pinks and turquoises with some lovely brown and rust accents.  I also bought some Boutique by Chez Moi for Moda to go with it.

• I have decided to try a 1+3 design which means I will need one 5" square from the charm pack plus three 5" squares cut from my contrasting fabric, in my case the Boutique.

• If you go for 2+2 you will need two 5" squares of each fabric to start with.

• If you are going for scrappy you will need two plain 5" squares and two patterned 5" squares.

By the way, the 5" squares do not have to be accurately cut, squarish and approximately 5" is fine - have a few days away from the ruler, it's very liberating.

Equipment

• A cutting board 
• A very sharp rotary cutter - you need to have a new blade to ensure the fabric cuts smoothly, especially for the second cut when you go through a stitched seam.

I hope I'm making myself clear.  Let's get started, a picture is worth a thousand words.

• Stack your four approximately 5" squares all right side up.

•  Use a sharp rotary cutter to cut through all four layers in a gentle curve from top to bottom.   This cut should be approximately across the middle of the squares.

• Pair your half squares, matching the curves. 

• Sew each pair together, right sides together, gently matching the curve as you go. A seam a little less than 1/4" works best.  I don't find it necessary to use pins on short seams like these but try not to pull the fabric, go one stitch at a time if necessary to match the curve perfectly.  I match the beginning of the seam and then hold the fabric with one piece in each hand, between my thumb and index finger to match it as I sew.  With a little practising this works well.

• Press the seam to the side it wants to go.  If one fabric is much lighter and you need to press to the darker side, a little steam is helpful. 

• Pile your four new pieces right sides up and matching the seams and then cut them in half again, with a similar gentle curve to last time, approximately in the middle of the square. 

• You then lay out your new pieces and match the curves again.  Stitching the curved seams as before (and not worrying about matching the joins, they won't match anyway).  The more observant among you will notice the threads, stitch holes and folds on these pieces.  I paired them incorrectly, stitched them beautifully, pressed them...and then when I came to take the photo realised I'd got it wrong, oops!

• Then make sure you layout is as you want it and stitch the blocks together first in pairs and then into four.  You will need to fit them together comfortably but be aware that they won't match up as some curved seams take up more fabric than others.  It will all come out in the end ;)

 So here is one finished Wavy Four Patch block, isn't it cute?

I'm going to do all the blocks in this arrangement and then join them together without sashing, I'll post a picture when it's done and in the meantime I hope you'll try this fun way of piecing and have a break from your ruler.

On Safari in Norfolk 2 - Progress Report

This is a progress report on the Nine Patch with a Wiggle quilt that I started with Magie Relph last Friday as I have signed the process pledge. 
I've completed the sixteen blocks - not that I planned to have sixteen, I had half a metre of each fabric and I've used it all up so sixteen blocks it is! 
I've added wiggly sashing in black, joining four blocks together, and all was going well until the final two strips after my bedtime on Monday evening. I really should learn when to stop. 

So on Tuesday morning I unpicked those final two strips which didn't quite match up!  Working more carefully and slowly I re-did those two strips and then joined two sets of four blocks together and added the side borders.  The final piecing step is to join the two pieces with a full length strip of wiggly sashing.  I've put this off for today - I'm learning!

I've been considering how I'm going to quilt this project but haven't made any decisions yet.  What I have decided is that I'm going to use gold fabric for the binding, I like little bit of bling and I hope it will echo the gold on the Japanese fabric.
Don't forget my little African bead giveaway, I'm really enjoying reading all your lovely ideas for using the beads, thank you.

On Safari in Norfolk 1

I'm just back from a lovely few days in Norfolk (now that the sun has stopped shining), which included a workshop with Magie Relph.  The workshop was called Nine Patch with a Wiggle and Magie started off by telling the group of twelve members of the Dayspring Quilt Group in North Walsham that we wouldn't be using rulers...sharp intake of breath, one lady needed to sit down and another rushed for a glass of water, I went very pale.
Magie made two layers of contrasting fabric squarish, then cut them into three pieces with curved freehand cuts of her rotary cutter.  More calls for cold water.  Magie then showed us how to sew our curved pieces of fabric, cut them again (more freehand swings with the rotary cutter and more worried Dayspringers) and then piece the results into wiggly nine-patch blocks.  She told us not to try and match any seams as they wouldn't!  So we got started, helping each other and concentrating hard on matching the wiggly edges of our pieces, one stitch at a time at some points.

After doing two blocks I was starting to relax and enjoy myself, feeling very liberated by Magie's technique.  She told me she thought she may have "unleased a monster"!  I was not only slicing up some of my lovely Japanese fabric from Tokyo, I was even using the terrifying red fabric I've been saving for a day when inspiration and lack of fear combined.  I completed twelve blocks by the end of the day and four more when I got back to the bach and then started putting them together in groups of four to make a lap quilt.  I even decided to do wavy sashing and cut that without the aid of a ruler or a safety net.  Hey, I don't even fancy one of those Go! cutters now!  This is a photo of my blocks at the show and tell at the end of the workshop, sorry about the poor quality (of the photo, I mean).

Magie was a very good tutor and we all had a lovely day with her.  She passed on her skills and techniques in a friendly way, was always encouraging and was always available to help.  She brought lots of examples of her quilts with her and had brilliant handouts - always a bonus with the memory not being what it was!

and, be still my beating heart, a great selection of goodies to buy - which she didn't "push" at all, but nobody could resist!

Magie was in Norfolk for her annual Fabric Safari to Norfolk which took place in Mileham on Saturday.  Our illustrious leader, Ros, has already booked her to visit Dayspringers again when she comes to Norfolk on safari next year.
Why "on safari"?
Because Magie is THE Magie Relph of The African Fabric Shop.  She travels to Africa regularly, with her husband, Bob, to buy fabrics, beads, buttons and baskets and, maybe more importantly, to research and record the techniques used in creating the items she buys.  She pays fair prices to the weavers, dyers, printers, bead-makers etc in Africa, supports the small communities and ensures she brings back the very best items to sell here.  Here she is (centre, in turquoise) with two Dayspring quilters, look at that gorgeous indigo fabric!

Please go over to Magie's website and see more for yourself, there is a wealth of information there, including pictures of more fantastic quilts.  In the meantime I'm going to take some better photographs of my wiggly blocks (I took these with my phone, not as good as my camera!) and tomorrow I'll show you what tempted me on Magie's stall.