Curved Piecing

Curved piecing involves sewing concave and convex curved edges together — a more challenging technique than straight piecing because the edges must be eased to fit each other. The convex piece (the 'hill') is clipped to prevent puckering, and both pieces are carefully pinned or basted before sewing. Classic patterns using curved piecing include Drunkard's Path, Double Wedding Ring, Clamshell, and Orange Peel. Modern quilters also use curved piecing in free-form shapes and improv quilting. Specialty rulers and templates make cutting curves easier and more consistent.