Bikini Bottoms Block Tutorial

This tutorial is a continuation of the Modern Pickles tutorial, adding to the complexity of that block.

Supplies needed:
set of acrylic drunkard's path templates (quarter circle wedge and matching corner/concave curve)
one or two fat quarters of fabric
one Modern Pickle block (tutorial here)

Start by placing your pickle block on the cutting board and lining the quarter-circle template up with one corner of the square as shown above. Cut the curve.*

Next, from another fabric, cut one corner/concave curve with the matching template

*keep scraps of fabrics for use later

Mark the center and quarter points of both curves by pinching (as shown)
turn the pieces so that right sides are together and pin at the marked points as well as each end.
Sew the curve, being careful to match the edges and ease fullness. Sew with quarter inch seam allowance and the blue fabric on the bottom. Press toward the blue fabric.

For the opposite side, place the quarter-circle template on the pieced square so that the corner is over the blue fabric and the curve is on the opposite side of the printed pod piece. See Above.
The template will not be lined up with the corner of the block. Instead, use the quarter inch seam line on the template to line up the template with each point of the gray outer pod as shown above. The quarter inch line will be against the gray, leaving a quarter inch of blue fabric for seam allowance later. Cut the curve through the gray.

Cut a second corner/concave piece with the template from the blue, or another color, if desired (mine is pink).

Measure the width of the pink fabric at the end of the curve. Cut a contrasting fabric square this measurement (use scraps). For example, my template is 1 1/2 inches at the end, so I cut and added 1 1/2 inch squares to each end of my pink fabric piece (blue square on one end, yellow on the other):

You now have two pieces that match the original acrylic templates. Mark the center and quarter points on each, match and pin them, then sew with the blue/pod unit on the top. Press toward the gray.

Voila! you have one block.                     Four of them together:

Experiment with different corner treatments. Such as a triangle:

...or none at all, just trim so the gray arcs meet up:

I hope this is helpful and fun. Make sure you email me or comment here with questions. I would love to see what you create!
Sharon