Cut straight edges
lengthwise even though the widths may vary. Stack these strips in the order you
prefer, by color, pattern, size, etc. Begin sewing or serging these strips side
by side.Imagine using beautiful black Ultra Leather. Perhaps you would love a colorblocked knit pullover or wool sweater. Look through your scrap basket for leftover useful fabrics. You want non-patterned fabrics of similar types or else you will end up with a 1970's style patchwork.
BUT if your fashion is retro, use denims to create this fabric, then make all the bellbottoms, purses, and ponchos you want!
Stitch fabrics together directly rather than mounting them on a fabric base for this style of ColorBlock. Use a sewing machine or serger for the procedure depending on the fabric, and whether you want to stitch and finish at the same time.
For example, let's create enough fabric for a child's tee-shirt front. Ideal for this project would be lengthwise strips of cotton interlock fabric. Scraps left over from other projects that run crosswise can be used for ribbing for cuffs, necklines. Collect all the pieces you will need for this project before you start.
Cut straight edges
lengthwise even though the widths may vary. Stack these strips in the order you
prefer, by color, pattern, size, etc. Begin sewing or serging these strips side
by side.
When you have built
enough width to accommodate the pattern piece, press all the seams to one side.
If you straight stitched on a sewing machine you may want to press each of the
seams open. Lay the pattern on the colorblocked fabric, cut out and handle as
you would a solid fabric piece.
Colorblocking curvy
lines is easy with the help of a flexible curve ruler. Map out your lines with
the curve ruler. Mark curves at specific points on your ruler and on the cut
pieces of fabric as you will need a matching puzzle piece for the other blocks
of fabric. Don't forget to add 1/4" seams. To determine presser feet, before
you start your project, make experimental blocks and try different feet to find
the perfect one for your project.
Don't limit this blocking
to just tee-shirt fabric. Imagine silk or denim. My favorite was a $1000 suede
jacket with this pattern. Faux suede can be overlapped and topstitched without
stitching conventional seams!This technique begins with (cutting) 1/8" strips
of fusible web. Overlap the suede pieces 1/4" with the narrow fusible ribbons
in between. With a press cloth and steam iron or a press, fuse these overlapped
areas together. Edge stitch and top stitch each of these.
When a row is wide
enough for the pattern piece, build another row of about the same width. Draw a
straight line on a lower edge with a yardstick. Using another fusible web
ribbon, overlap one row on another, fuse and stitch. Repeat until the whole
piece is large enough to cut out with the pattern. The jacket I based mine on
was 3 shades of blue-green.