This is PART I of a series about SEMINOLE piecing. PART II is here and you can download all these instructions.
Seminole patchwork is just a fun and quick process of piecing strips that helps you create intricate designs with ease. There are so many patterns you could sew using this technique! It works with strips in any size but I find it particularly interesting and helpful when you need small designs. Look at the design below – it is almost perfectly sewn and the squares measure 1”. You can’t achieve such result with a regular piecing.
I think this is the easiest seminole design; usually the squares are made out of the same fabric (one color) but what I want to show you here is how the design can be enhanced in the easiest possible way: it’s all about your fabric choice!
So here is what you need to make a design like this:
- one strip of rainbow fabric 1 1/2” wide x 42” long (cut along the width of the fabric); this fabric is from the Effervescence collection by Robert Kaufman; you can use other fabric too, but one that offers a great variety of colors works best.
- two strips of solid fabric 2” wide x 42” long (cut along the width of the fabric).You can use other measurements too, keep in mind that the solid strips must be 1/2” wider than the rainbow strip.
Piece the strips together, with the rainbow strip in the center. Sew with 1/4” seam allowance and press the seam allowances away from the center strip.
Cut the long piece into 1 1/2” (the size of the center strip) pieces as shown below.
You have to piece them as shown below. I selected a few pieces…
Piece two strips as shown below: place them right sides together, nesting the horizontal seam. It is easy to do this, the seam allowances run in opposite directions.
Press the seam allowances open.
Sew pairs…
then piece the pairs together.
View from the back.
In order to straighten the edges of the design, you have to cut at 1/4” from the top and bottom corners of the center squares (see the black line below).
Place a long ruler so that the 1/4” marking line touches the top corners of the colored squares. Cut along the top edge of the ruler.
Rotate the piece and straighten the other edge.
Here is a band design that can be inserted into other designs.
All the steps in one picture!
Here is what I made with my piece: a pouch (pattern for this pouch here).
I made one mistake!
I wanted to finish this pouch faster and instead of layering the piece with batting and doing a simple quilting, I chose to fuse it to a medium weight interfacing( Vilene S320, a great interfacing). Due to the seam allowances, it is ALWAYS a bad idea to fuse such a piece to interfacing. A heavyweight interfacing is better, like foam, but I think the best option remains batting/fleece.
Creating this tutorial took me way more time than sewing this little piece!! I hope you will give this technique a try.
Download these instructions and learn more about seminole patchwork in PART II of this series – click here!
MORE SEMINOLE PATTERN IDEAS- click on the pictures below.
PIN FOR LATER REFERENCE
Oh that is a beautiful technique! Love your pouch!
This is the best tutorial ever!!! Thanks
Thank you so much for this high-quality tutorial. As always, you make your perfect work seem do-able by the rest of us.
Oh so grateful to find this. I was going todo this using square in a square. I had forgotten all about Seminole patchwork. Well done tutorial. I appreciate you pointing out how to vary the size.
The hard part is getting the strip width right so the diagonals are the right size to go on the border of my quilt. Any tips?
Very nice tutorial. I cannot find a “Print” button, am I just missing it? I’d like to print it off and follow along at my machine.
Try https://www.printfriendly.com/
Thank you!
I remember doing seminole patchwork ages and ages ago, but never with such beautiful colors. Your tutorial makes me want to do it again, but this time in the more modern fabrics and colors that were never available 50 years ago. Thank you for the inspiration.
I know what you say, Cathy!The beautiful rainbow fabric inspired me to do this!
You are so talented! Thank you for the tutorial, you make everything look so easy. This is beautiful!
Thank you, Beth, it really is easy.
That is a beautiful piece. I made a square dance skirt like that starting with seven strips. The two outside strips were the same: a dark navy.
But you do not need to cut the outside strips wider than the others. I cut mine the same width and I think you could cut them 1/4 inch narrower. When you cut off those points, they do not have to stay connected to each other. In fact, if the corners don’t quite make it to the end, that’s OK. It just has to be connected at the spot of the seam allowance when you sew them onto something.
Thank you, Mavis, I hope tomorrow I will try another design and I will play with size of the strips.
Two questions: (1) would an ombre fabric work in lieu of the rainbow? and (2) with using squares why does this remind me of squares on point method? Regardless I really like the look it gives. Thanks for the tutorial as always your talent fascinates me.
Yes, ombre fabric works too, you will just not have the same variety of colors.
Yes, the design looks like squares on point but this technique makes it easy. Then you can vary the number of strips, their size, the way you piece them and you can achieve lots of other designs, more complex.
Geta,
You are so blessed and talented. All your creations are gorgeous! Keep up the beautiful work. Thank you for sharing with the rest of us.
Thank you for this. The fabrics are gorgeous.
Wow! I love this technique and the colors. This is similar to bargello quilting which I also enjoy. Will try this out soon. Should look good on the jean purses/bags I make.
This sounds doable. I am going to give it a try.
Thank you – this is fun, beautiful, and looks easy enough for a “newbie”! I can’t wait to try it.
Thank you, you are so right! What a fabulous new technique
a year later! i am using your seminole pattern to edge a quilt. i have the strips finished but cant figure out the 4 corners. i tried a triangle approach but that didnt work . do you have a suggestion? thanks
Oh good point! I am just about to try this for a quilt border too. Did you figure anything out??
I would like to do bigger border! What size ratio should I use on the white strips and colored strips? Love your tutorial! Very easy to follow!