Not all quilting borders are outdated! Get inspired by these modern quilt order ideas and use the quilt border designs for your next project!
I spent March, April and May creating lots of FUN improv blocks... All of the fabrics are hand dyes I found at the bottom of the scrap bin: 3 1/2 inch blocks 4 inch random strip blocks 4 inch floating triangle blocks Wonky flying geese blocks 4 inch criss cross blocks There were lots of small bits of hand dyes at the bottom of the scrap bin, so I pieced them together into long strips... Then I inserted the pieced strips into random strip units It was great FUN putting all of the improv blocks together... I added lots of non-pieced solid strips to quiet down the composition... Improv piecing gets busy very quickly... the solid strips give the eye a place to rest. The bright borders help to lighten up a somewhat dark composition... At this point it measures approximately 48 inches square... there are more improv blocks on the work table. It may be awhile before I can get back to this... Hay Season has begun here in Western Oregon: Mowing.....Raking.....Baling This hay is our winter feed supply for the cattle... I won't hear the sweet hum of my sewing machine... I will be behind the wheel of this little beauty... Happy Summer! CLICK HERE to view all improv posts CLICK HERE to view all farm posts CLICK HERE: to see My Quilts May Your Bobbin Always Be Full, LuAnn
I spent March, April and May creating lots of FUN improv blocks... All of the fabrics are hand dyes I found at the bottom of the scrap bin: 3 1/2 inch blocks 4 inch random strip blocks 4 inch floating triangle blocks Wonky flying geese blocks 4 inch criss cross blocks There were lots of small bits of hand dyes at the bottom of the scrap bin, so I pieced them together into long strips... Then I inserted the pieced strips into random strip units It was great FUN putting all of the improv blocks together... I added lots of non-pieced solid strips to quiet down the composition... Improv piecing gets busy very quickly... the solid strips give the eye a place to rest. The bright borders help to lighten up a somewhat dark composition... At this point it measures approximately 48 inches square... there are more improv blocks on the work table. It may be awhile before I can get back to this... Hay Season has begun here in Western Oregon: Mowing.....Raking.....Baling This hay is our winter feed supply for the cattle... I won't hear the sweet hum of my sewing machine... I will be behind the wheel of this little beauty... Happy Summer! CLICK HERE to view all improv posts CLICK HERE to view all farm posts CLICK HERE: to see My Quilts May Your Bobbin Always Be Full, LuAnn
Improv quilts sometimes meander where we haven’t quite planned, which can mean a mess that isn’t really inspiring. This can be good for the journey of learning. But a great way to help with this is to choose colours colors before you begin that help with the focus on the quilt design.
Machine quilting feather swirls and improv quilting are this week's designs from Free-Motion Meandering by Angela Walters.
Machine quilting feather swirls and improv quilting are this week's designs from Free-Motion Meandering by Angela Walters.
Improv Wavy Strips Tutorial is my method for sewing improv wavy strips together in a simple, easy method. Take a look!
Illustration: Erin Wilson. Short Story #4, 2009. The textile artwork of Erin Wilson at first seems effortlessly simple. Small boxes are repeated in a composition that includes regular rows and columns. However, when you consider that each small frame has been individually and consciously designed as a unique composition, and that some of Wilson's finished pieces can incorporate a large number of individual small framed art pieces, then the task set by the artist becomes much more one of quiet construction, with each individual square being seen as a world in itself. All the fabrics are hand dyed by Wilson and so therefore, each compositional piece of artwork takes that hand dying into consideration, bringing a harmony and balance to the many individual works that go into making Wilson's textile pieces. Illustration: Erin Wilson. Short Story #5, 2009. In some respects, the artist has taken the idea of the mechanics of quilting and the production of pattern work into the realms of personal exploration and identity. Each one of the squares shown in these examples of Wilson's work is a window to a creative story. What is impressive is the number of unique creative stories that the artist has incorporated into some of her finished pieces of work. There are textile compositions where the artist has incorporated up to 168 individual squares, each one personally produced with the optimum in balance, proportion and harmony. Wilson's work is one of both dedication and a unique awareness of the many individual aspects of creativity that layer each piece of textile artwork. She works hard to harness the compatability of all strands of her compositions. Her work can be seen and appreciated in both close detail and as a larger whole. There is an accord between each individual frame and its neighbour. All can then become part of a much larger and more dynamic framework. Illustration: Erin Wilson. Short Story #3, 2009. In many respects, Wilson's compositions can be seen as representations of tenements or housing blocks. Overall, housing blocks are standardised and constructed from mass produced elements with no room for personal flare or individuality. However, within these externally standardised communities each window bares a slightly different vista to the world, despite the regular repetition of each frame. This gives us an analogy whereby we become aware that even though all windows are the same, the people looking through them are all uniquely individual with a life story of achievements and dreams that are unique to them and shared by no one else. However, all the unique windows go on to make a larger whole, so while we are all relatively isolated in our uniqueness, we are still all part of the human community and the ongoing story of that community. In fact, as the titles suggest, these can all be seen as varied and universally distinct short stories. Illustration: Erin Wilson. Short Story #1, 2008. Perhaps Wilson is giving us a glimpse of our own potential to be creative within the framework of our lives. We may all be made from the human template, but we also have the ability to create the parameters of our own distinctiveness. Erin Wilson is a full time textile artist and has shown her work across the US. She has a comprehensive website where much of her unique work can be seen. The link to her website can be found below, as always in the reference links section. Illustration: Erin Wilson. Short Story #2, 2009. All images were reproduced with the kind permission of the artist. Reference links: Erin Wilson website
Freies Schneiden und Improv Quilting ✂️ Easy Nähanleitung für Einsteiger ➡️ Jetzt loslegen und Spaß haben!
In October, Allie asked us to make ladders for her Quilts Unscripted Bee. She asked that we make blocks that are at least 8" on each side with a ladder going all the way across the block, edge to edge. "The ladder can be curved, straight, leaning, have mismatched rungs, be missing rungs, anything. It ...continue reading →
Improv quilts sometimes meander where we haven’t quite planned, which can mean a mess that isn’t really inspiring. This can be good for the journey of learning. But a great way to help with this is to choose colours colors before you begin that help with the focus on the quilt design.
Learn how to make a patchwork heart quilt block with our step-by-step directions that use squares and half square triangles.
I’m thrilled to announce that “Jazz Rhythms” has been accepted into the ArT-QuILT ExPERIENCE exhibit at the Stone Quarry Hill Art Park in Cazenovia, NY. The show will run from Jun…
Cindy Grisdela started playing with fabric when her children started school and started her business improv quilting, teaching and author.
Improv Wavy Strips Tutorial is my method for sewing improv wavy strips together in a simple, easy method. Take a look!
Do you want to know all my quiltmaking secrets? Would you like to create your own stunning botanical quilt? The process outline in this article is the same process that I use for all of my art quilts, no matter how large or small, or how simple or complex! This article is a brief overview. If you wa
One of the things I love about collaborative projects is the things you learn and share. Case in point, a lovely (and slightly irreverent) discussion about piecing, specifically curved piecing that happened with Bee Sewcialites at QuiltCon over Chinese food. It's remarkable how many ways you can put a curve together and there are so many wonderful, detailed tutorials out there. For me, I have tried many of these, and have had great success with most of them. But since I'm a garment sewer first and had a few skills from that, I realized that perhaps some of the techniques used to inset sleeve scythes might be helpful when tackling exaggerated pieced curves in quilting. March's prompt for our Bee Sewcial (#beesewcial/ #inspiredbybeesewcial on IG), was "Layers". A word rich in meaning and potential. One of the things I have thought about, especially after making a fun baby quilt for a friend, was all the different ways maps have influenced civilization, and all the different types of maps that exist. I used a special "map" (flight path map) in the quilting of "Flight Path". Flight Path photo compliments of Nathalie Bearden But, one type of map has been calling to me, A topographical map or topo map. But instead of quilting a topo map and while keeping in mind this months prompt, I tackled piecing one. Bee Sewcial March Topo block for Hillary, Entropy Always Wins To do that, you need to have a confident handle on curves. I use a mixed skill base for that, and because I dislike using throwaway materials (paper/freezer paper), have developed a modified technique that works, I think, rather well. Felicity (@felicityquilts), also used this technique in her months Bee Sewcial block and it prompted a discussion of the steps in construction of dramatic curves. So, here goes….. (disclaimer: I'm a visual person, so I learn most by studying pictures. I read directions only when necessary, and I follow them as needed. I have included both in this discussion, pick what works for you, BUT the only way you'll become comfortable with curves is to actually practice making them). Materials: Fabrics for project Marking pencil or pen Sharp scissors (very important) Hot iron Sewing machine with 1/4" foot, thread Water solvable glue (I use Elmers, but any fabric glue that you can was wash out works). 1. Choose a starting fabric. If you have a finished size in mind, have your starting fabric several inches larger in all directions since you'll be trimming to size at the end. 2. If you have a design in mind, and are a planner, great. Just going for it is great too. 3. On the right side of your fabric, using your marking pencil/pen, draw out a curved line. drawn curve in faint white with making pencil 4. Cut away the fabric leaving a 1/4" seam allowance. 5. Using your sharp scissors, clip the curves with tiny, closely spaced v's. DON'T clip past your drawn curve. Continue along the length of your curve. 6. Turn your fabric to the wrong side and press the seam to the back of the fabric, using the drawn seam line as a guide and ease the curve with your fingers, carefully folding back the fabric and pressing as you do. Do not worry if you press back more than 1/4". The clipped v's aid in the pressing especially around dramatic curves. Concave curves press easier than convex ones. You may have to overlap some of the v's and press slowly on the convex portions. You can use Flatter, starch or just water to help you at this point. Go slow and use a hot iron. Try to keep the pressed curves smooth. Having many tiny cut v's make smoother curves. 7. Flip fabric to right side, tuck any unruly clipped curves to the back, press. 8. Select your next fabric and lay out on your pressing surface right sides up. Place your prepped, ironed fabric right sides up on top and adjust to your satisfaction. Press through both fabrics tucking back any unruly clipped seams. fabric to be added at bottom. pieced curves with clipped pressed seams at top 9. Carefully lift the top fabric at one end and add dots or a thin bead of glue part way along the clipped edge. Keep glue restricted to the clipped edge only. Gently place the fabric back in place and iron to set. Keep lifting, gluing and ironing until the entire curved edge is set in place. I use Elmer Glue in a glue dispensing bottle Occasionally glue gets on the front. Don't fret , it washes out. 10. Flip to back side and gently trim using the clipped edge as your guild for the trimming. Be careful here to not cut your recently pieced fabric. 11. Using the clipped and now trimmed edge, as your guide, clip the areas of the added fabric using the already clipped and glued v's as your guide. make sure your v's are clipped before sewing 12. Sew, in the pressed seam along the crease created by ironing. Go slowly around the curves easing the fabric out of the way, especially around the dramatic curves. I use a 1/4" foot not for measuring but so that I can see what I'm doing. sew carefully along the pressed crease 13. Go back to your ironing board, pressing the seam to one side. Your fabric will fall to one side or the other. Press to that side. 14. Admire your work. 15. Repeat these steps as many times as necessary to complete your design. I use this method for inset circles and circuloid shapes (the blue portion of the Topo block) and for the pupil in my other "Layers" March Bee Sewcial block. Pupil added with identical method. Even with many pieced seams this method works well. Have fun with curves!!!
In the final week of the Shine sew along we finish our quilt tops. The grand prize is a free EverSewn sewing machine!
My "Daylesford" quilt top is done! I loved making this, it felt very much like improv Such a forgiving pattern, with great guidelines to create your own adventure, making your quilt unique! Quilt top details: "Daylesford" quilt, my version of Jen Kingwell's pattern Finished size approx. 60" x 60" Made from a mix of fabrics all from my stash, including Outback Wife, Karen Lewis and a little bit of Liberty Linking up with Kelly for NTT here Off now to vacuum the sewing room floor, Linda
You guys! I'm just so enamored with all you've created with your improv stripes! If you missed the first round-up, look here. Then sit back and check out this batch. They are stunning! Andrea/andrean
Learn to sew improv, or “wonky” houses with this super simple video tutorial.
The Shine quilt sew along includes lots of added tips and videos to help you make this modern fat quarter quilt pattern.
Get on top of your quilting scraps! Make mini scrappy blocks with the scraps from other projects - great way to use up small offcuts!
It was definitely a combination prompted by the simple act of rummaging through my scraps, plus a Spark by Jill/Pie Lady Quilts to use a specific color range of said scraps. Next thing I knew, I was p
I absolutely believe in the power of slowing yourself down, through most any way possible. For me, one of the best, most beautiful and also practical ways is by creating and making. I use craft to meditate. And I know I'm not the only one. What I mean by this is, that when I dedicate and focus to
Jessie, the president of the DC Modern Quilt Guild, just had a baby. I was lucky enough to get to put together the blocks from the MQG memb...
& still it grows...
Do you want to know all my quiltmaking secrets? Would you like to create your own stunning botanical quilt? The process outline in this article is the same process that I use for all of my art quilts, no matter how large or small, or how simple or complex! This article is a brief overview. If you wa
23"x24" BeeSewcial November 2017 When I read the description for November's #BeeSewcial block : Maximalism, fun, happy, all color, no rules, no rulers proposed by Leanne @shecanquilt let's just say I was thrilled. "Time to laugh and play" how cool is that for prompt?! building parts My scrap basket was a perfect place to pull shapes that were already partially cut into bits of inspiration as a starting point. I also dipped into my fat quarter stash to find the right color and larger pieces when needed. It was a weekend of scissors, freehand rotary and stitching with no pins. Definitely my kind of fun. composing with "chunks" I've worked this method enough to know not to get too attached to what I see mid-way on the design board. Things change and evolve as I sew parts together and I try to remind myself of that. Although it may look random, in the moment, when I'm in the zone, there are a ton of composition decisions being made. The photo above shows the the left and right quadrant on the design wall separated and the photo below showed them overlapped and pinned in place. With gentle curves I can get away with no pins which I prefer to help keep the momentum going but there are steps near the end where pinning in place to position the key visual "connections" is helpful. rare pinning in place before the glue Excess is left until after I've sewn the joint as seen below in this underside process shot. The split egg shape has become a favorite thing to include and something I'd like to explore in a series. underside before trimmed Here's a link to see the blocks Leanne has received from my other mates HERE. There is something so satisfying when they are all together and also a huge relief to see proof that it didn't get lost in the mail. Split Egg - a Future Series Maximalist Circles for Leanne November 2016 Waves Depth Flow block for Felicity March 2017 Block for Di 2015 One of my fist BeeSewcial blocks and a design that I'd love to super size into a quilt is this one for Di. I think that subconsciously it sparked the "Reflections" theme that I chose when it was my turn back in 2015.
Meet Robin O'Neil who has been quilting most of her life. She used to worry about the quilt police and now creates for the joy.
My quilted coat is finally done! I've been working on this baby for at least five months now. And honestly, I don't think I ever want to make a quilt coat again. Well, if I used pre-quilted fabric then I would consider making a quilt coat again. But, I think one is enough for me. And this is really
Improv Wavy Strips Tutorial is my method for sewing improv wavy strips together in a simple, easy method. Take a look!
I have found the best sewing cabinet for quilting and crafting! A full year after purchasing my cabinet I can finally write an honest review.
A half-finished quilt for a friend's baby. I really need to get this finished!
Small Quilts Today's grouping is a bit eclectic. First, there were a couple of small quilts that I thought were really great. Paige's Cursive is simple, but really beautifully done. The lettering is made with beautifully hand appliqued bias strips. I love how
When I began sewing, more than half a century ago, I learned by making garments. I set in sleeves and made curved facings and sewed princess seams and curves were part of the process. A few years l…
Pinkitude Hand Dyed and hand painted cottons, commercial prints, fused, machine quilted and mounted on painted watercolor paper (acrylic paint) on cradled wood panel with fabric accents. 10x10x1" $100 Email me. SOLD ++++++ The following pages have been updated to include recent work: Street Series Urban Landscapes Pine Tree Series Botanicals Matchsticks Geometrics
Each year the Quilter's Guild of NSW holds a challenge for it's members to make a mini quilt with a set theme. Some examples of p...
It’s the first Wednesday of September (how can that be?!) so it’s time to introduce the theme for our Modern Quilt Along series that we have been doing this year. If you have forgotten how we started, head back HERE to read all about it and how you can join in the fun. We have […]
Expert quilter Virginia Cole is here with a fantastic tutorial on how to sew a modern improv quilt for beginners — it's sew simple and cute!
Pieced with bits and pieces of fabric pulled from my scrap bag. 18.25" x 18.25"
see more about the book here: www.purlbee.com/the-purl-bee/2006/8/20/yoshiko-jinzenjis-...
