Web Piecing for the win

Have you tried web piecing? It is an advanced variation on chain piecing that is ideal for joining lots of small pieces while keeping everything in order. The method takes some getting used to, but it is certainly worth it! I just learned how to web piece from Steffi @Quiltwerke, via her Tilda Quilt highlight reel.

My Rainbow plus quilt is bringing me so much joy! It has all the yummiest elements - fabric scraps, color play, artistic discovery and the anticipation of gifting it to someone special. But the piecing process? I wasn’t so sure I’d enjoy that.

Cue web piecing.

You see, I had run out of room on my design wall! The quilt is too tall for my space because all these little 2.5” squares really like to spread out. Thus, I needed to start piecing it together so that I can shift it gradually to a lower and more compact position. Only then will I be able to finish the blue and purple sections that make up the top of the quilt. My quilt design process this time definitely relies a design wall.

So, I learned about web piecing from Steffi and improvised a design board.

A design board is like a design wall, only small and portable. Think simple. I just wrapped a flattened box with a large batting scrap.

Since fabric pieces cling to quilt batting, you can move squares from your design wall to the sewing table neatly and efficiently thanks to that little board.

I am sewing my project together in 5 x 13 sections, since that fits nicely on my board. The first step is familiar, straightforward chain-piecing of the first two rows.

Then the chain-piecing continues, but with a twist. To understand, you’d really have to watch @Quiltwerke’s reels. At first it feels a little awkward because you are keeping everything interconnected, but the fact that no squares gets switched up is totally worth it.

And with the final step you join (still connected) rows to complete the web-pieced section. After that I’m cutting chain threads and pressing my seams open.

I’m quite pleased with this method. Once you get used to it, web-piecing allows you to relax into the piecing process. Normally I would have to stay pretty alert in order to keep everything where it belongs. And then, I usually make a few mistakes anyways! With this particular quilt, mistakes would have to be fixed, so I am thankful for a process that is both more reliable and more easy-going.