Patchwork is a very exciting and painstaking occupation, because an interesting and unusual product is obtained from small patches. However, once this technique was considered needlework for the poor, it was they who kept even the smallest scraps and sewed blankets, pillows, rugs and many other things necessary in everyday life from them.
How to choose fabrics for patchwork
Products using this technique are sewn from almost any patch. It can be cotton, silk, woolen and knitted fabric, moreover, you can use knitted or fur details, things made from different materials are very interesting, you want to consider them. But experienced craftswomen still advise beginners in patchwork to work with cotton fabrics: chintz, calico or linen.
Choose the material either in the same color scheme or in contrasting shades. Floral print patches, striped fabric, polka dots and a solid color that could combine different pieces are beautifully combined with each other.
How to cut the material
To make it easier for yourself, make a template first. Make it out of sturdy cardboard or plastic so it can be reused many times.
Draw the desired shape for the patches. For the first experience, it should be a square or rectangle, which is the easiest way to get started. Then step back 1 cm on each side (this is the seam allowance) and draw parallel lines. Cut out the pattern along the outside of the shape and along the inside lines.
Be sure to cut off all the edges on the fabric.
Attach the template to the wrong side of the fabric and trace first along the inside, then along the outside. Then put it next to it (you do not need to retreat for allowances) and circle it again. Draw in this way the required number of patches. Cut out the details along the outside line of the shape.
All details must be cut out taking into account the direction of the share thread. If this rule is not followed, the product will begin to "bubble" and "wrinkle" over time.
How to sew shreds
First put together the composition. Spread the shreds out on a large, flat surface. Move them from place to place until you achieve the desired result. Now you can start sewing directly.
Since using the template it turned out to carve out parts with the same seam allowances, you do not need to sweep them. Secure the shreds with tailor's pins, positioning them perpendicular to the seam, and sew adjacent shreds in a row to each other. Be sure to iron all the seams.
Now take the resulting ribbons and stitch them together. Iron the seam allowances first from the wrong side and then from the front.
After you learn the basic skills of patchwork sewing, you can start more complex work, because there are a huge variety of techniques and patterns in patchwork.
