Mastering & Innovating Patchwork Techniques

[embed]https://www.flickr.com/photos/virginiaecheverria/1499829469/in/album-72157594234337463/[/embed]One day I saw the paper collage above on flickr, by artist Virginia Echeverria Whipple (I  love her work!) and wondered how I could create the effect of concentric rings in patchwork. Perhaps with bias cut strips? I had never seen anyone strip piece on the curve before. Could it be done?

Rainbow Cloud Quilt by Sherri Lynn Wood - Detail

Without any tutorials to refer to and with only my skills at hand, I jumped in and figured out a way to do it. There were lots of pitfalls requiring innovative solutions, but eventually I invented and mastered a new patchwork technique - Bias Strip Piecing on the Curve.

Bias Strip Piecing on the Curve by Sherri Lynn Wood

Pushing your sewing skills beyond your limits of mastery is one way to see with the eyes of a beginner again, and this is the best frame of mind to be in as an improviser. Innovation is something that happens when there is no solution, or instruction manual, readily available.

Bias Strip Piecing on the Curve a technique by Sherri Lynn Wood

That being said, if you want to jump in and learn how to strip piece on the curve with ruler-free bias cut strips then definitely pick up a copy of The Improv Handbook For Modern Quilters. Not only is each step of the technique beautifully photographed (below), there are lots of tips on how to flow with your "mistakes" and make something wonderful out of them!

A technique from the Improv Handbook For Modern Quilters photographed by Sara Remington

Now how will you push your repertoire of patchwork skills beyond your limits? What tricky piecing situations do you have a hanker to explore? Hexies? Y-seams? Ruler-free curves? Go for it!

Score For Bias Strip Petals by Sherri Lynn Wood from The Improv Handbook For Modern Quilters photographed by Sara Remington

All images from The Improv Handbook are copyrighted (c) 2015 Sara Remington unless otherwise noted, and all text and illustrations (c) 2015 Sherri Lynn Wood, and can not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher Stewart, Tabori, & Chang.

Guest Blogger on Okan Arts and Giveaway

The post above was first published on the Okan Arts blog last week. They are following up my guest post with four giveaways of  The Improv Handbook For Modern Quilters in April.

Visit this link at OkanArts.com to enter THEIR giveaway by April 30!