Time's Up

About six weeks ago, my latest Bee Sewcial quilt top was completed, and I had high hopes to get it quilted and submitted to QuiltCon. But try as I might, the deadline is just about here and I'm not quite done.

I braced myself as I impovisationally quilted on this one. I've questioned my choice more than once, but every time, I talked myself back into my decision being a good one. In fact, I'm enjoying spending the time, thinking each section through, but the truth is, it's time consuming, especially considering I'm doing it with a walking foot.

All that aside, I'll just keep working on it and maybe attempt to show it publicly another time. I've set it aside for a bit, along with the pressure I was feeling. It's ok. It's a process and this one needs to continue just a little longer.

Follow the Dots

The fabric for this quilt was chosen way before the design was conceived. It was back in August that my desk calendar featured the teal and yellow combination that caught my attention, and after some research trying to find matches, I settled on Kona Cotton Solid in Everglade with Painter's Palette Solid in Lemon Ice. Fast forward a couple of months to when I traveled to California on retreat, and purchased Maria Shell's Improv Patchwork: Dynamic Quilts Made with Line & Shape to read on the way down. At retreat I was then able to begin exploring the two together, and the rest, as they say, is history.



Basically, I experimented with several of the techniques in the book, the first being improv dots. They made me very happy, and I just made more and more until I was ready to move on to something else.

Next up were the lattice checks - the yellow-framed 'square' on the right side below and 'rectangle' in the lower center. These were fun too, and I was so glad I switched up the fabrics to highlight the yellow a bit more.

Lastly were the 'tracks', such as the piece in the lower left corner above. After making the large track near the top of the quilt, I realized I really liked this technique in skinnier strips, but still, they're good no matter what the size.

Putting the blocks together into a quilt top was of course, improvisational, and it only made sense that the quilting be the same. Using both Aurifil 50wt 1125 (Medium Teal) and 2115 (Lemon), I quilted one section at a time, choosing the design as I went, stitching fairly densely in most areas. Where I densely quilted on one color but not the other, it made the contrasting bits pop.

A faced binding seemed an appropriate finish to the quilt, which ended up 32" x 34".

What was satisfying about this project was the sense of exploration every step of the way. Beginning with the dots, I let them lead me on, step by step. I've wondered whether or not I should have left more breathing room between the sections, but then again, why? Those kinds of wonderings are just part of the process, and I'm happy enough to let them be.

Linking up with Finish It Up Friday!

Improv Piecing :: The Class

Remember several weeks ago I shared that I'd be teaching a class on improvisational quilting at Gossypium Quilt Shop? Well yesterday was the day! 



Gossypium has a really comfortable and well-lit classroom, and it was perfect for our six participants - everyone got their own table so they could spread out, which is so great for improv.

Before we knew it, everyone had their first block - an improv nine-patch - up on the design wall!

It was an easy-going day, with everyone working at their own speed after beginning our time with some demonstration and a mini trunk show. We chatted and shared everyone's blocks through the afternoon, and it was fun to see how each was unique to the maker.

It kinda made my day when one of the students said, "You're a good teacher. You make it all so accessible." Oh yes.... precisely my intent. That was good to hear!

So all in all, it was a really terrific day, and as a first-time teacher, I was more than pleased. Good times.

 Sharon/@redapplestitches, Louise/@imfeelincrafty, Janey, 
Terry/@terrypeart, Carla, me, Ruth

Green-Patch

So.... a few weeks ago, Gossypium Quilt Shop asked if I'd be interested in teaching a class on improvisational quilting. After some discussion back and forth, here's what we came up with!

 

Improv Piecing - July 29
Instructor Debbie Jeske from A Quilter's Table - Learn all about improvisational piecing, straight AND curved, while making nine different improv blocks. The blocks, all based on traditional block designs, will give you practice with a wide range of improv techniques. 

Pretty cool, right? For a class sample, I replaced one block from my beginning suggestion (the crazy-pieced block), and settled on the nine you see below - churn dash, quarter log-cabin, flying geese, quarter circles, nine-patch, rail-fence, quarter pineapple, strings, and hour-glass.

With a random mix of greens and white, the blocks were pieced together like a tradition nine-block sampler, then tilted a bit with uneven borders in Kona Parrot.



For the backing, I pieced together some stash finds, including that plaid that I was so happy to see again.



Quilting was an uneven grid using Aurifil 50wt #1114 (Grass Green) in line with the blocks, so it also appears on an angle in the finished quilt.





The quilt finished at 50" square, and was delivered to Gossypium over the weekend. Needing a quick photoshoot before dropping it off, we happened on nearby Sena Park, which was a delightful discovery and provided just the kind of setting we were looking for.

Now hoping some folks are inspired to explore improv piecing with me later this summer!