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.
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.
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.
For the quilting, I stitched a simple grid using my favorite 50 wt. Aurifil thread in Spring Green (#1231).
I’ve named this quilt Guacamole, likely influenced by all the guac we ate while in Santa Fe.
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
21 Comments
Cindy Pieters
A lovely quilt! Sounds like you had fun playing with the blocks.
karenfae
it looks quite “artsy” very nice quilting on it too
My Sewful Retirement
I love your mini Wendy! Are you planning to hang it in your new sewing room? Happy Easter to you and Big J also!
Kathleen McCormick
Very guacamole-ish! I love that you keep experimenting, some day I will catch up on my UFOs and join in on the fun – it is so inspiring watching you.
Sandra Walker
Perfect name for this fabulous quilt. Interesting how coming back from a trip makes us feel we just need something mindless to sew and to play. That’s when I made my scraps box which is when I really could not afford to be taking any time off from the project with a tight deadline that I was supposed to be doing. Thank you too for the recommendation; I will make sure to watch this class.
Tish
Perfect name for this quilt! And this method was prefect for showing off that print. It’s just so much fun!
Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting
Perfect name for your quilt! It adds to the memories. I love how complex it looks.
Barbara Stanbro
Turned out cute. Looks like a fun project.
Sandra Healy
Gorgeous quilt! I love the movement from all the different stripes. It looks great fun to make.
Vicki in MN
That was a fun piece of fabric to find in your stash and the lime grunge the perfect addition to this fun piece! Hmmm I’m thinking perhaps this might be something to do for my artsy fartsy IB challenge.
Louise Hornor
I love it! Improv with a plan. And the name is perfect 🙂
Elizabeth V K
Great job! I love improv and look forward to checking out Joe’s class. Thanks for sharing.
Lisa J.
That looks like fun. I think I might want to participate in his class. I also think I have some of that fabric with the circles and the stripes.
Diann Bottrell
Just like your other commenters, I think the name you chose for this mini is perfect! The technique sounds simple, but it makes for such an interesting look. I wouldn’t have known they were 4 patches until you said so, and then I looked back at the picture again and could find them!
cheriec12
It’s great! So modern looking. This really speaks to me. I’ll have to take a look at that class.
piecefulwendy
Thanks, Cherie! I think you’d enjoy the series.
rl2b2017
Hi Wendy! What a fun and playful quilt this turned out to be. I love the name as that color green emulates the avocado perfectly. I just love that quilting to really highlight these pretty fabrics. Really nice job. Happy Easter! ~smile~ Roseanne
piecefulwendy
Thanks, Roseanne! Happy Easter to you too!
Dione @ Clever Chameleon
Cool quilt with a fitting name. 🙂 Always love me some improv, and your new project is perfect.
piecefulwendy
Thanks, Dione!
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