My school of fish is growing, improv fish blocks, that is! Each month, I’ve been stitching up some improv fish blocks using Nicholas Balls’ method in his book, Inspiring Improv. These fish are so much fun to create, using just a few fabric scraps. I’d like to say that my scrap stash is diminishing with each group of fish I sew, but there doesn’t seem to be much of a change, even with all the blue I’m using as backgrounds!
To see my fish for the months of January through May, go here. Many of you are doing the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this year, and while I’m not joining in, I am using the suggested colors for each month. Last month, June, the suggested color was blue.
This month’s color is aqua. So I pulled out my little stash of aqua fabrics, and before I knew it, I had my fish done for this month!
They don’t look much different than the June fish in this photo, but there is a difference. Today was a very gloomy, overcast day, which made it difficult to get a bright, happy photo showing the real color of the fish.
With July’s fish, my little school of fish has grown to around 60 blocks. I usually try to make 10 fish each month, but I think I made more in some of the months. Would you like to see them all swimming together on my design wall? Here you go!
I just placed them at random. Once the school of fish is complete, I’ll trim the blocks and then begin playing with the layout. It promises to be a happy little shoal when it is all complete!
Have you ever made improv fish?
Happy stitching, all!
Wendy
Fabulous
I love seeing them all together! They are really pretty little fishies. Do you just sew them on a curve, or are these hand-stitched, or what? Has Wilbs claimed this one, considering the theme? 😉
So adorable! I love seeing them all swim around on your design wall;) No I have never made improv fish, I’ll just watch yours grow into a quilt.
This is wonderful Wendy. Looking forward to eyeing the finish.
Eyeing, seeing…same thing. lol.
love your variety of fish
Awesome school of fish, Wendy!!! The fuchsia ones stand out to me.
That is quite a wall of fish. Reminds me of visiting an aquarium where there was the round glassed in display in the middle of the walkway with all sizes and colors of fish swimming up and down. This will be a remarkable quilt. It looks like you are having lots of fun!!
Those are so neat, Wendy! I love seeing your whole collection all together. I’ve never tried making improv fish, but, of course, now I want to! I’m zooming in on your photos to see if I can figure it out. Do you start with a larger piece of the fish body color, and then cut an improv curve on each side? I have to go try that!
This promises to be delightful; I’m excited thinking about how many months are left in the year and how many fish you can make to add to the shoal!
These are just great, Wendy, bubbly and happy. I can’t wait to see the entire shoal!
I wonder, do you have a vision for what the finished school of fish will look like? Or, is that just going to happen later?
Oh my gosh look at ’em all!! Toooo fun! Can’t wait to see how many you end up with and the final product!
I’ve got Nick’s book and have wanted to make several of the quilts. Alas, no work has begun. Your cheerful school of fish is growing nicely, Wendy!
Absolutely LOVE!
These are super cute Wendy. Whimsical. 🙂
By the end of the year you will have a mighty shoal of fish. The pin up of the fish you have stitched so far is delightful.
I have not tried my hand at improv fish, but am tempted to give it a go. Will check Nichola Ball’s utube videos. 🐠 🐟
They look great, Wendy. Such a variety of fabrics, sizes and a touch of whimsy! Are you thinking of starting the trimming process or will the assembly be improv too?
They are so fun all together!
Lots of fun fish – that will be a wonderful piece! They are impressive all together and yo’ll have fun figuring out how to join them all together, right? Looking forward to seeing your layout!
Now that is a haul worth celebrating. I hope there are chips too 😀