improv quilts

Friday Improv Finish

Earlier this week, I needed some quilting time that was relaxing, easy and fun. I was tired from the drive home from our Santa Fe trip, and just needed to play a bit.

As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve been watching Joe Cunningham’s class series, Pattern Free Quiltmaking, on Bluprint (no affiliate). I’ve been itching to try making a quilt from his Fantasy Four Patch class.

Friday Improv Finish - The sneak peek of this fun quilt from an online class with Joe Cunningham and using fabrics from my stash - piecefulthoughts.com

First I decided to shop my stash. I found two fat quarters, one in a stripe and the other a bright lime Grunge. I was delightfully surprised when I opened the stripe to find that it had an additional circle design as well. This was going to be fun.

The method for making this quilt consisted of cutting strips into five different sizes, sewing those strips together in sets, cutting them once again, and then pairing them and sewing them into unique little four-patch blocks. With that done, the blocks go to the design board to be arranged and rearranged until the layout looks good. I don’t want to give away his complete method, so that’s all I’ll share with you. Seriously though, it really is fun.

Friday Improv Finish - My improv mini using fabrics from my stash and Joe Cunningham's method from his Pattern Free Quilting classes - piecefulthoughts.com

When playing with the blocks on the design board, I find it helpful to use my phone to take photos of the arrangements. It seems to clarify the lay out a little better for me.

This finished mini measures 18 inches by 24 inches and consists of twelve 6-1/2 inch blocks. I used Quilter’s Dream Select batting, which is great for a mini quilt. The backing and binding are fabrics from my stash, a green/white print for the back and a blue for the binding.

Friday Improv Finish - A peek at the back of my quilt, a green and white fabric from my stash - piecefulthoughts.com

For the quilting, I stitched a simple grid using my favorite 50 wt. Aurifil thread in Spring Green (#1231).

Friday Improv Finish - Close up detail of the grid quilting using Aurifil Spring Green (#1231) in 50 wt - piecefulthoughts.com
Friday Improv Finish - Another detail photo of the grid quilting using 50 wt Aurifil thread in Spring Green (#1231) - piecefulthoughts.com

I’ve named this quilt Guacamole, likely influenced by all the guac we ate while in Santa Fe.

Friday Improv Finish - My mini improv quilt, named Guacamole - piecefulthoughts.com

I’m already thinking about fabrics for my next one!

Enjoy your weekend, my friends! Happy Easter!

Linking up today with Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Sherry at Powered by Quilting, and Myra at Busy Hands Quilts.

Wendy

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