Author: Denise Shearer

Drunkards Path and Other Curves Workshop – 28 April 2018

Or Three Pins is enough

Yes – there are now six more EQI members who know that three pins is enough to machine piece a Drunkards Path (DP) Block irrespective its size.  Yes – all present have mastered the art of chain piecing curves thanks to Pat’s Stevenson’s Master Class.  Yes – we all had a great time and loved Pat’s teaching.  Yes – there was a cake and biscuits to share.

On arrival there was that initial hustle and bustle as we all set up our sewing stations – we had a table sewing buddy with tables close by to rotary cut blocks.  No matter how often you see it you still marvel when Pat demonstrates machine piecing the curve.  Even more amazing was the silence – apart from the whirring of six machines as each of us mastered the 8 inch block.   Pat pushed us along to try our hand at the smaller block.  Another demonstration and with some trepidation we all returned to our machines.  Yes – only the sound of machines working.   Pat was ever present as she encouraged and assisted with technique:  ‘use the curve’, you need to be ‘straight on to the needle’, or you need to be ‘higher to your machine’.  Everyone is grateful for the many blocks she cut so we could practice seaming the now, no- longer-dreaded four inch block.

Pat is both knowledgeable and generous with her expertise.   She shared, over lunch, both her own quilts and her portfolio of ideas, traditional and modern, for creating interesting quilts with this simple block.  One of our number tried her hand at another curve – a much longer shape.  Here you depart from the three pin rule.  If you want to know more you will need to ask Pat.

The take home messages for piecing curves include:

• the hollow piece is on top,
• the bias andgrain of the fabric assist machine piecing,
• use the curve and do not be afraid to stretch your pieces as you butt your fabrics together, and
• sew an accurate quarter inch seam.