Two Improv Quilts

Each time I finish a quilt, I think I’ll probably never make one that I like this much.  But then I do.  This quilt, based on patterns in the book Quilting Outside the Block, by Sandi Cummings, was a long time in the making.  I have no idea how many fabrics or who made them or what design they are.  Had to be at least 40 different fabrics, most of them loud and wild.  It’s 98″x98″

 

What delayed the finish on this was my original design and layout.   In the photo below, I had  many plain black blocks.  Not only did I keep asking myself why the heck did I do that, but I also couldn’t believe that I hadn’t taken the time to at least disperse them better.  At the time, I did not have my design board – just the floor.  That could’ve contributed.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I couldn’t live with this. So I removed all the black blocks, plus a dozen other blocks to allow for redistribution.  I had to make quite a few more blocks, both the heavily pieced kind, plus the black with inserts.  It was SOOO confusing.  I used these cups to help me visualize where the loose blocks were.  As I recall, it made sense at the time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a scary endeavor – not having taken apart anything to such extent before. I’m really happy with the result. I’m glad I did it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My other project that’s been a long time in the making is this improv piece.  There are several things I’ve been wanting to incorporate into my quilts:  flying geese (love them),  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a house, with a tree and a flower vine and a garden out front… (I really never had that dream, it just happened as the quilt went on….)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a circle,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

some intricate piecing I learned from Terri Mangat,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Initially, this was to be a quilt primarily composed of flying geese. In the end, I decided to throw all those things together. I loved the process it – loved it. It was not without it’s problems…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I added a cobble stone wall,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here’s the result of THAT recipe!  Love it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for checking in~

Debbie

 

 

 

 

 

 

One Response to “Two Improv Quilts”

1. Barb says:

   October 14, 2014 at 10:36 am

   I love reading your cute blogs. I find that i can relate to every part of your quilting processes…except maybe the spectacular outcomes!

   Reply