Reversible Patchwork
Many different things are called reversible patchwork. Some people make quilts with a piecing on the front and the back. Sometimes they are even lined up perfectly so that the quilting is aligned on both sides. Those are beautiful, and a great way to get extra use out of your pieces, but that isn’t actually reversible patchwork.
When I say “reversible patchwork”, I mean something completely different.
Watch the video and scroll down to see pictures of more projects.
What is Reversible Patchwork?
Reversible patchwork is pieces of fabric joined together with seams that are finished on both sides.That means that it is only one layer of fabric and it is reversible because there are no raw edges on either side.
This idea opens up a whole new way to use fabric scraps.
If you sew, you probably want to reduce waste and be more sustainable and this technique will help you.
Using reversible patchwork
Reversible patchwork is good for any application where you might want patchwork, but you don’t want a quilt.
Possible applications include:
- Tablecloths
- Placemats, table runners
- Flannel receiving blankets
- Curtains
- Summer quilts or Bed spreads
- Duvet covers
- Clothing
- Wrapping cloths
As you play with this technique, I’m sure you will think of even more places to use it.
Example projects
Here is some inspiration to get your creative juices flowing.
Stained Glass window hangings
This seam technique makes pieces that look like stained glass when they are hanging in windows. There is no black fabric, it is the seam that gives it that effect.
Friendship Star is a mini window hanging. See how to make it with the free tutorial.
Glimmer is a great beginner project.
The Fall Maple Leaf is a popular pattern available in my shop.
Shooting Stars is a fun project that uses 2-1/2″ strips.
See more window hanging patterns in my shop.
Stacked Bars Placemat
The Stacked Bars Placemat is a quick and easy project that is a great stash buster. Use 2-1/2″ strips from your stash or a jellyroll.
These look great in batiks, solids or regular quilting cotton.
See how to make them in the Stacked Bars Placemat tutorial. There’s also a coordinating table runner.
Baby Dress
I made this baby dress with leftover quilting scraps.
Because it is made with reversible patchwork, it is still lightweight and there are no rough seams on the inside to irritate delicate skin.
Upcycled Blanket
This colourful blanket was made with scraps from old, worn out blankets.
I dyed them into vibrant colours and then cut them into rectangles that I joined together in strips.
Log Cabin Wrapping Cloth
Like its original purpose, this technique is great for wrapping cloths (pojagi). Join fabric together and use it as sustainable gift wrap or a reusable shopping bag.
This Log Cabin pojagi is built out from the centre, but you can be creative with the fabric you have.
How to do the seam
There are a few different methods for making a reversible patchwork seam.
People from the dressmaking world will recognize this as a flat felled seam. It can be stitched the same way that a dressmaker would sew a flat felled seam, but when using it in patchwork there are some other things to take into consideration.
I call these pojagi seams because they are inspired by traditional Korean pojagi sewing techniques. Scroll down for more history of this technique.
Simple pojagi seam
This is the method that I use 90% of the time to sew reversible patchwork.
It is easy to do once you practice it a few times. See the Simple Seam Tutorial HERE.
Alternate pojagi seam
One of the considerations of using this technique for patchwork is that often you are joining seams that have seams in them. That means that sometimes you are trying to press short edges that have three or four layers of fabric in them. That can make the pressing difficult, especially with thick fabrics.
If you are stitching the simple pojagi seam but having trouble with pressing, then try the alternate poajgi seam.
This is a very unusual seam technique so you will have to follow the steps closely. But once you’ve practiced it, you will find that it isn’t difficult and the pressing is much easier. See the Alternate Pojagi Seam tutorial HERE.
Thick pojagi seam
If you are working with fabrics that are either thick or don’t press easily (such as blankets, knits or polyesters), this variation on the simple pojagi seam is the solution. This is what I used in the upcycled blanket.
This version of the seam has an extra layer of stitching so you don’t have to worry about pressing at all.
Hand-stitched pojagi seam
This is the traditional Korean technique which was originally used to make pojagi (wrapping cloths).
If you enjoy English paper piecing, you will enjoy this type of stitching. See the Hand-Stitched pojagi seam tutorial HERE.
Difference from traditional patchwork
These seams are not the same as traditional patchwork seams, so they don’t follow the same rules.
These seams are not good for precision piecing, since they are reversible. It is very difficult (and sometimes impossible) to get the seams to line up on both sides.
Learn more about the how pojagi seams are different from 1/4″ patchwork seams HERE.
History of reversible patchwork
This method of patchwork was developed hundreds of years ago in Korea, but the history is similar to western quilting.
In that time, it was common to use wrapping cloths to carry things, store things and to give gifts. Wealthy people would have had hundreds of pojagi (wrapping cloths). Some were made of silk and some were painted or embellished with embroidery.
But pojagi were used by people of all levels of society. Women without the means to buy large pieces of fabric for this purpose saved all their scraps and stitched them together to make special pieces for themselves and their families.
Today, these pieces made by anonymous women are treasured and displayed in museums.
You can read more about the history of reversible patchwork here.
So why not give it a try?
Grab some scraps and try one of the seam techniques. Get started with this free ebook: