Thursday, May 11, 2023

New Improv Project


One of my favorite quilt artists is Irene Roderick. I was introduced to her work at QuiltCon several years ago and her pieces were always favorites, visited several times. Irene had four quilts in QuiltCon Atlanta and I loved them all. In that same show, I noticed myself admiring quilts that were made by makers who had taken one of her classes.

Searching for a possible opportunity to take on-line class myself, I learned of her book Dancing With The Wall and it promptly fell into my Amazon cart. It is such a great book!


Design wall was cleared off and I starting working on my own two color improv quilt guided by the things she talks about in the book. I've made and added units across three sewing seasons so far and decided to document each day with a photo so I can watch how this progresses.


I've absolutely no idea where this is going to end up other than a piece wall hanging sized. What I do know is I am having fun!

Have a wonderful day! Patty

6 comments:

  1. Sticking with a two color palette will really make this striking. Looks like you are having fun and I look forward to seeing where it continues to evolve for you!

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  2. This is so much fun. It will be great to see where you take it.

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  3. Look forward to seeing this progress. Never sure to do something like this myself, but it looks like fun. I've been having fun too with Sandra's (from mmm.quilts ) rainbow house blocks. Although I like changing things up a bit, I hesitate with improv. Maybe I'll try it this winter. Thanks for sharing, take care & hugs.

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  4. Definitely take the sewing session progress pictures. Even if you don't share them in the end - they will be a nice "history" for yourself. Hope you will further enjoy this project! xo

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  5. Taking Irene's "Two-Step: Dancing With the Wall" virtual workshop was an improv game-changer for me. Of the several improv instructors I've taken workshops with, her approach is the one that most resonates with me. Though I didn't have her book when I began, it's due to arrive (from Abe Books) next week! In the meantime, I've been making components just as you have. Yours are looking really good! Unfortunately though, due to needing to order more Painter's Palette "Sachet," one of my two solids, I came up with a glitch - the new fabric is a different color due to a different dye lot. Now I'm managing that by working-in smaller components (with the little bit of old Sachet I still have), and hand appliquing circles to particular areas, while I wait for another order to arrive (placed with the shop from which I bought the original Sachet). No surprise; I'm making a large quilt. Hoping to have the top finished by next Sunday, June 4 though, when our virtual workshop group has a re-meet-up to see how everyone got along with their Two Step. Looking forward to that Zoom session! If you ever want to improv sew together, I'm game for a FaceTime session.

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