Curved inserts on your art quilts or projects add movement and interest, and curved checkerboard in particular can make a very bold statement especially if unusual color combinations are used.
Curved checkerboard may look impossibly difficult to make, but it is in fact a very simple process.
Supplies
Two pieces of fabric in contrasting colors approx 40” wide
Quilters’ ruler
Rotary cutter
“Journey” copyright Linda Matthews 2009
Instructions
Fold your fabric in half lengthwise so that is approx 20” in width.
Cut a wedge strip—one end with a minimum width and the other end with a maximum width.
Note:
The size of your wedges will depend on the finished size of your project.
For smaller checkerboard, try a minimum width of 1” – 1 1/2”; maximum width of 2 – 2 1/2”
For larger checkerboard, try a minimum width of 1 1/2” – 2”; maximum width of 3 – 3 1/2”
Repeat for the contrasting fabric varying the minimum/maximum width sizes.
Cut the wedge strips in half so that you have four pieces approx 20” in length.
With right sides facing, place one wedge strip on top of a contrasting wedge strip, with short/long ends in opposite directions.
Sew a 1/4” seam lengthwise.
Trim the edges even; open the wedge strips and press the seams to one side.
Stack the wedge strips on top of each other with alternate colors laying on top of each other; i.e. place color #1 on top of color #2 and so on.
Cut the wedge strips into wedge slices varying the angle of the cut and alternating the width of the edges, i.e. narrow/wide. Cut at a gentle angle.
Randomly select your wedge slices and lay out the pieces next to each other until you are happy with your design layout.
Using a 1/4” seam, sew the wedge slices together.
Trim the edges so that you have a nice smooth curve.
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