Arch B, cut 1
Mirrored shapes that swap places
Dear maker,
This week I cut shapes that swap places, which is the oldest trick I know and still my favourite. You cut a curl out of a red piece of felt, and a matching curl out of a cream piece, and then you put each curl into the other’s hole. Two colours, one cut, and no waste. I cut mine on Thursday on the studio floor, with the door open and a cup of tea getting cold beside me.
The secret is to cut both layers at once. I pin a red sheet over a cream sheet, draw the shape on the top one and cut through both with small, sharp scissors. When I lift the pieces apart, each one has a hole exactly the size of the other’s shape. If I had cut them separately, I would never get such a fit.
The first pair was a little uneven, which is what a first pair is. I had pushed the scissors instead of turning the felt, so the curve came out lumpy. I trimmed it, turned the felt on the next cut and the line went smooth. The felt should move, and the scissors should stay still.
If you want to try this, start with a simple curl and two colours you like together. Cut it once. Swap the shapes. Pin them down and look at the picture they make. Next week I will show you how to pin felt without leaving marks, which matters more than you would think.
