Here is how I'm going to piece a word for an upcoming project. There are lots of ways to go about this. You may have a way that suits you better. This is only one method.
My instructions are to piece the word into an 18" square. I started with freezer paper, mine is only 17-3/4" wide. I cut an 18" length and drew a red line on one side of the short side to remind myself to add a quarter inch.
My word is 5 letters so I divided 18 by 5 to get the width of each letter - 3.6". I then divided the paper up with pencil lines and drew each letter within it's area.I cut the G from the square and then drew blue lines where there would be seams. I hope you can see them. |
| I realized later I probably should have shaded the parts that would be the letter. |
Then I went about making each section. The width of each line could vary or they could all be the same, dealer's choice. I started with the top of the G which contains two curves. I tried several methods to make those, then decided to just make staight lines to indicate the curves instead. I start with fabric pieces a lot bigger than I need. I made a tracing paper template from my original drawing. I cut out how the yellow fabric should be shaped and cut away the angle of the 'curve' and sewed black into it's place.
But I still had to make the bottom of the G have curved corners.
Then the same at the top, to give the G a rounded top.
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| I drew chalk lines where the 18" top should be and how I wanted the corner angles to be. |
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| Using an oversized piece of yellow I set it on the corner. |

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| Then I folded it over to match the angle line (somewhat) and finger pressed it. Then took it to the machine and sewed down the pressed line. Once it's sewn I cut away the undersides, leaving a quarter inch seam allowance and then cut away any excess on the top part. |
And it's a G! As you can see, there is a bit of extra at the top and bottom, and the left side.
I have four more letters to make and then I will sew them all together and make sure when that is done that they come out to an 18" square.