I’m mesmerized by the thrill of cutting up fabric and sewing it back together. My favorite fabrics are found objects — especially vintage Japanese ​yukata cottons. As I’ve refined my quilting skills, I’ve focused on adding curves to my quilt composition—Complex Curves and Inserted Curves.

To learn how to piece curves in an online workshop +click here

~ Patricia Belyea

In contrast to improv curves, these Complex Curves are planned and executed with precision. Each piece is made to fit together and the final composition is perfectly flat.

These are examples from my Big Grid with Inserted Curves series. I make a grid and then slash into the grid to add curved elements. Notice how the grid doesn’t jog with the inserted piecing.