Seminole piecing tutorial- Part II

This technique is too fun not to explore it more, so I present you Part II of the Seminole Piecing tutorial. You find Part I here.

Yesterday someone asked me if this technique works with ombre fabric. Of course, but you will not have such variety in color compared with a rainbow fabric. Many ombre fabrics are monochrome, but there are multicolor fabrics as well.

For this new design I used again a rainbow fabric, from the Effervescence collection by Robert Kaufman (still in stores).

This is the designs I made in Part I …

… and here is the new one.

Here is what you need:

Set #1

• one strip of rainbow fabric 2” wide  x 42” long (cut along the width of the fabric)
• two strips of solid fabric 2  1/2” wide  x  42” long (cut along the width of the fabric).

Set #2

• one strip of rainbow fabric  1  1/2” wide  x 42” long (cut along the width of the fabric)
• two strips of solid fabric 2  3/4” wide  x  42” long (cut along the width of the fabric).

For each set, 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 set with narrow center strip into 1  1/2” pieces.
Cut the set with wide center strip into 2” pieces.

You have to piece them as shown below, alternating wide strips with narrow strips. I selected one piece from each color.

Sew together a wide strip with a narrow strip. Place them right sides together, nesting the horizontal seams.  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 in the desired order.

Sew together how many pairs you need.

View of the wrong side with all the seams pressed open.

In order to straighten the edges of the design, align the 1  1/2” marking line of a long ruler over the center of the colored squares (see the yellow marking line).

Cut along the top edge of the ruler.
Rotate the design and do the same to straighten the other edge.

A RECAP picture!

This design is 3” wide.  The length of two “on point” squares is 3 1/2”. I think it would make a wonderful border for a rainbow quilt.

The distance from the top corner of the big squares to the edge is about 1/2”.  If you want this distance to be only 1/4”, align the 1/4” marking line of the ruler with the top corners of the big squares and cut along the edge of the ruler.

If you want to make a wider border, sew additional strips to the top and bottom edges. Actually, I think this should be a must, because at this stage, the outer edges are cut on bias and adding strips cut lengthwise will stabilize the piece, which is important for a border of a quilt.

If you want to download these instructions (+ the instructions for the design explained in Part I of this tutorial), click below.

I hope you like this seminole design. I find it fun and easy to sew.

Happy sewing!

PIN IT FOR LATER REFERENCE