Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Improv

For Faith Circle this month, we were asked to make 2 improv blocks, each 12 1/2" square. What a great chance to dig into my scraps!
When I posted my blocks on Instagram, there were quite a few comments about them that left me feeling like maybe some folks aren't too comfortable making blocks like these.
I thought it might be helpful to share a few tutorials, so you'll find some links below. The first couple will guide you to make blocks similar to mine here. The others are additional improv techniques I like to incorporate into my work.

Scrappy blocks
Improv block
Improv log cabin block
Wonky curves
Curved Piecing

So how do you and improv get along? Best friends, or still getting to know each other?

Linking up with Scraptastic Tuesday.

16 comments:

  1. I haven't played with scrappy blocks yet but I think I'm going to love it when I do! No worries here going off the grid or outside the lines. However, I have learned that other people may be a bit more hesitant. I really appreciate your tips that will give me a place to start. I really enjoy the two blocks you made. First, I love the saturated color of each one. Second, I think the improv nature gives it interest as my eyes keep exploring the fabrics and shapes, probably quite a bit longer than a lot of structured blocks.

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  2. WOW - they look fabulous! I love the way they pop and the way the straight seams meet the sharper angles. A new technique to add to my sewing list!

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  3. I'm a big fan of improv. need to do more of it! Your blocks are awesome

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  4. Improv is my favorite way to piece. Our quilting group got together one Saturday to do some improv piecing. No rules, no patterns, just a lot of fun. We all brought a sack of scraps, which we emptied onto the table. We started by grabbing two pieces, sewing, cutting, returning what we didn't use, grab another piece, and, sew. It was a blast. It was interesting watching the new bee's at first, but, by the time we finished, they were in love with the process of improv.

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    1. Sandy - wish I lived in your neck of the woods - that sounds like a lot of fun

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  5. I LOVE improv piecing, and there are so many ways to do it. It always turns out different, too, so there are always surprises!

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  6. Love these blocks, Debbie! You know I'm a big fan of improv. It is so freeing to just play with the fabric and see what it turns out to be. Thanks for sharing my tute!

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  7. I loved your blocks so much over on instagram, that I decided to do making an improv block a day, my 100 days challenge!! Thanks for the links to the tutorials!!

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  8. How nice to have the resource links handy here. Scrappy is my middle name and Improv feels like a long lost friend.

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  9. I have done improv representational blocks but not much like this - something to explore in the future once I've looked at those tutes! Probably would prefer it to paper piecing ! Thanks for linking up to #scraptastictuesday

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  10. Improv piecing like this is on my list of things to try, but I fully admit that it scares me a bit! Thanks for sharing some tutorials.

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  11. Lovely! These improv blocks look great!

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  12. Very nice improv blocks. They are quite different from each other.

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  13. improv piecing is my favorite way to put together a block. Love your colors

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  14. These look really great, I love that your colour sense is so strong and focused. It takes courage to improvise, but these are lovely!

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  15. Your blocks look so pretty. Thank you for the tutorials.
    Greetings,
    Sylvia

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