The technique of patchwork for beginners. Patchwork style

Mastering the technique of patchwork sewing, or patchwork, for beginners can eventually become a very useful hobby. It, as you understand, implies the use of pieces of different fabrics to create a new product. In this case, the flaps are assembled in a certain pattern, which makes it possible to produce completely unique works of tailor's art. In the patchwork style clothes are sewn, pillows, panels, blankets, decorative frames for photographs are made and entire rooms are made out.

Today we will try to give some tips on preparing for sewing and patchwork technique for beginners.

How to pick up and prepare the fabric

The patchwork style was originally a godsend for economical housewives: old worn out things were used for it, out of which suitable flaps were cut. Now, for this sewing, they are buying a new cloth.

By the way, newcomers are best used to sew cotton fabric. It does not slip, easily cuts, holds hand-folded folds.

The technique of patchwork for beginners involves some subtleties. So, even if before you lies a completely new cut of cotton, wash it, and then iron it. New fabrics can cause shrinkage in the product, which will turn your elegant work into something that is crooked and unsympathetic. In addition, some of the matter can shed during the first wash, and you thus save your creation from unnecessary stains.

Please note that the fabric for sewing is desirable to starch - this will make it easier to work with it.

Technique patchwork for beginners: rules for cutting

• The key to success in patchwork is accuracy in the cut. Therefore, use cardboard templates (the simplest geometric figures on which you mark the seam and cut lines) so that all elements have the same dimensions. On the line of the master advise to make an allowance of 1 cm, and for loose fabrics - in 1.5 cm.
• For patchwork try to choose a cloth that is uniform in texture and color. For example, only a cold scale or just warm. In one large product try to use no more than 7 fabrics of different colors. Otherwise, it can become excessively variegated and lose its style.

Patchwork for beginners, among other things, is also a good preparation of sewing skill.

• Remember that the fabric should not be drawn with a ballpoint pen. To do this, use chalk or remnant. And on a light color, the lines made with a simple pencil are clearly visible.
• Always cut the edge, since it gives a strong shrinkage when washing.
• When cutting, do not forget to make a cut only on the share thread, otherwise during the sewing process, the pieces can be stretched and lose shape.
• For squares and rectangles, the share thread must coincide with one side, and when cutting triangles and hexagons ("honeycombs") - be perpendicular to the base.

We begin to assemble the parts

• First, lay out the future veil or tablecloth on a flat surface. Collect, as puzzles, a new pattern. The most saturated in color should be the middle of sewing. The environment for her is chosen lighter.
• When everything suits you, begin to number the squares in the rows.
• Then, for convenience of stitching, assemble them in stacks so that the first square is on top.
• And proceed to stitching. In the beginning, make rows from the squares and only then, smoothing them with an extremely hot iron on both sides, collect one product from these rows.

To facilitate the assembly of parts in a single canvas on sale there is a non-woven fleece, which already has a grid of squares and triangles for patchwork.

Also, in order to save time, it is also advisable to sew the shreds without a basting, directly on pinprints. You should also make a note of contrasting colors so that it can be clearly visible.

We sew the canvas

If you use loose fabric (which is not recommended when using a patchwork technique for beginners), be sure to work on the edge of the parts on the overlock or manually.

Depending on what exactly you are going to sew, you can make seams to butt or overlap. Masters often use decorative tape of contrasting color over the seams. And sometimes the seam itself is performed in a decorative style.

Let's decorate the kitchen!

To create colorful kitchen trifles, the patchwork technique is ideal. For beginners potholders will, perhaps, the most successful training in this technique.

When choosing a fabric for them, do not forget about the overall color scheme of your kitchen. It is important that even such a small detail is in harmony with it.

For relief and functionality, make a pad of batting or sintepon between the pads. In total, you will need 8 squares from the selected fabric with a side of 10 cm. For the edging of the product, you can buy a ready-made bake or a satin ribbon.

Sewing instructions

1. Flaps fold in pairs and stitch. Then carefully iron them.
2. Sew each pair of scraps and again iron. This way you will get two finished canvases consisting of four scraps.
3. Put them together on the wrong side to each other, and between them put batting or sintepon.
4. Pinch the whole product and make stitches over the splice lines.
5. After this, the edges are sewn with the blind, not forgetting to make the loop out of it. To do this, add to the total length of 8 cm and start processing the edge of the pothole from the corner, to finish, make the remainder of the tail loop.

Your cheerful and smart tack in patchwork style for beginners is ready!

Let's start knitting in patchwork technique

If you have at least initial knitting skills, then this technique is for you. For the execution of the product in the patchwork style, you need to be able to type loops, knit the front rows and properly reduce. In the process of knitting, squares are joined, and not stitched.

They are made in any color and size. For example, if the width is 15 loops, dial 31. This is from this calculation: 15 (one side) + 15 (the other side) + 1 (central - the corner of the square).

Thinness of knitting by rows

The squares are knitted with facial loops both on the front and on the wrong side. Every second row do with decreasing (three central loops tie together). This is done as follows: the first loop is removed, the next two are tied together with the front one, and then the loop is pulled through the knotted one. You will thus get a square.

Do not forget the first loop in each row simply to remove, without tying, and the last one, like everyone else.

After the first square is ready, dial 15 new loops, as usual, and make 16 loops from the edge of the first square: insert the spoke over the edge and pull the loop.

The second square is tied, like the first one, doing a reduction in every second row on three central loops. Adding new squares, you can connect the desired width of the whole product in patchwork style with knitting needles. For beginners, it is important to carefully study the rules of knitting the second row.

How to knit the second row correctly

On the upper side, take 15 loops and add the air threads made from the working thread (16 pieces) to the spoke.

• The first row of the square knit without decreasing, and in the second, reduce, as usual, and then further - through the row.
• The second square of the second row is typed along the edge of the first row (15 loops) + 1 loop from the corner of the square + 15 loops of the first square of the second row.
• Also tie all the other rows, repeating the principle of the second row.

So in the end you will get a bright original plaid or a cape on the chair.

Fantasize, the patchwork technique gives great opportunities for this! I wish you success!