improv quilts

Improv Orphan Block

March 18, 2019

I’ve spent the past week and weekend sewing on projects I can’t show yet, so today I decided to take a break and play a bit.

Improv Orphan Block - I'm playing with this little orphan block left over from my Autumn Drive quilt - piecefulthoughts.com

This little orphan improv block was made from scraps left from my Autumn Drive quilt. You can see that quilt here and here. The little block has been waiting for its turn, and yesterday was the day.

One of the prompts for the #igquiltfest on Instagram was to post a favorite quilt book. Here are the two I chose.

Improv Orphan Block - These two books by Jean Wells are two favorites that inspire me whenever I browse through them - piecefulthoughts.com

Whenever I want to be inspired, I page through these two books. I have admired quilts by Jean Wells for many years, and her book Intuitive Color & Design prompted me to begin to give improv a try.

A quick project in that book has been on my bucket list, and I have no idea why I’ve waited so long to make it. The little improv orphan block was just about the right size for the project after I added some border strips.

I cut a piece of fusible fleece and adhered it to the back of the block. Then I got to work doing some matchstick quilting using Aurifil thread in Smoke, Yellow Orange and Lime.

Improv Orphan Block - Matchstick quilting on the little improv orphan block - piecefulthoughts.com

The block is 8-1/2 inches square. Even on a block that small, the matchstick quilting took awhile. I started with the Smoke thread and quilted lines about 1/2-inch apart, then I began filling in the spaces. When I was done with the Smoke thread, I added in the two other colors. I couldn’t resist taking a picture of the fun look of the quilting in the setting sunlight.

Improv Orphan Block - The sunlight in this photo highlights the texture of the matchstick quilting - piecefulthoughts.com

Next I needed to create a long, wide border piece. It was at this point that I got so involved in what I was doing I completely forgot to take photos. I apologize, but I sure enjoyed myself!

I added the border to the block, which I also forgot to photograph. The border is sewn on in a continuous strip, right sides together. Once done, you turn it and it creates a little box for an 8-inch stretched canvas that is 3-inches deep. Following the instructions in the book, the finished project looks like this.

Improv Orphan Block - The block stretched over the 8-inch canvas - piecefulthoughts.com

Here’s another view of the matchstick quilting so you can see the three colors of thread.

Improv Orphan Block - Qiulting detail using the three colors of Aurifil thread - piecefulthoughts.com

From the side, it looks like this. Next time I will piece the side borders with more improv. For this project, I just added a strip of fabric between the gray. It should’ve been a bit more centered. I did some quick quilting with the yellow orange Aurifil thread.

Improv Orphan Block - Side view of the improv canvas block - piecefulthoughts.com

I didn’t add a backing to my project, because it will hang on a wall and no one will see the back.

Improv Orphan Block - Back view of the project - piecefulthoughts.com

It’s handy to have a very tall husband who can not only hang the project on the wall just by reaching up, but also snap a photo for me too. Soon this little project will have two friends hanging with it!

Improv Orphan Block - The block hanging on the wall over my patio door in my quilt room - piecefulthoughts.com

It’s hanging just above my patio door in my quilt room so I see it each time I walk in.

It’s been a quilty weekend! What have you been making?

Linking up today with Beth at Cooking Up Quilts and Becca at Pretty Piney.

Wendy

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