Bias Strip FLOWER POWER Curves

2-Day 12hrs / Intermediate & All Levels

Learn how to piece dynamic petal shapes with bias cut strips, and set them into a freestyle daisy quilt. Practice the intuitive skill of bias-strip piecing on the curve and learn troubleshooting strategies to course correct when strips don’t lie flat. Learn multiple, surprisingly simple, freestyle construction strategies for setting your bias-strip petals into a large scale daisy quilt.

Invite yourself with curiosity and acceptance into the sweet space of beginner's mind where there are many paths to the solution, and where you have permission to flow and grow with your “mistakes.” Whoopee! It’s a workshop for both beginners and masters at their craft who long to be beginners again! — Sherri Lynn Wood

Skills & Techniques

  • Basic ruler free piecing techniques including my innovative bias-strip piecing on the curve technique

  • How to free-cut continuous bias strips.

  • Trimming, darting, ironing and slicing techniques for course correcting when strips don’t lie flat.

  • Order of sewing for off grid curve compositions, including some surprising simple tips to create daisies and other floral compositions that flow.

  • Learn how to build to the square for an overall large composition or with smaller units that can be joined.

  • Cultivate a “what if” experimental mindset

  • Celebrate “mistakes” and let go of perfectionism

  • Centering exercise to harness your emotional energy and bring presence to your technique.

Materials

  • Fat quarters for petal shapes and continuous bias strips, in a variety of values, neutrals, shades, tints, brights in solids and/or prints.  FYI - tightly woven fabrics such as wax batiks and pima cottons are NOT recommended, because they are more difficult (but not impossible) to stretch around the curve.

  • Yardage (1yd +) for background, negative space filler between shapes. There can be multiple backgrounds and fillers, and background and fillers can be pieced.

  • Keep your color selections open, we will build our color compositions intuitively by harnessing our emotional energy.

  • Bring one or two fat-quartered size scraps to cut into bias-strips to share with the class. It can be something you are ready to destash.

  • Upcycled clothing, sheets, draperies and linens are also suitable. Note on washing: If my intention is to wash a quilt made from up-cycled materials, I pre-wash all my materials, if they haven’t been washed recently.

  • It’s improv! You have the power to make it work, no matter what materials you decide to use.

Tools & Supplies

  • Large cloth scissors – make sure they are sharp

  • Rotary cutter and cutting mat – no ruler necessary

  • Seam ripper

  • Pins

  • Tailors chalk or marking tool

  • Hand-sewing kit (just in case)

  • Sewing machine with neutral, medium value thread

  • Ironing station

Student Work by Karen Duling

Student Work by Amanda Milz

Student Work by Charan Sachar

Student Work by Carolina McCreary

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