I had a blast with the improv QAL called play! This was a no stress QAL, the opportunity to give improv a try and embrace as many or as few of the weekly prompts as you wanted to.
Folks were encouraged to email me their finished pieces for sharing in the parade - cue the band! I asked everyone what they learned from making an improv quilt. That is shown in
italics below each quilt.
Prepare to be impressed! I think these are just amazing.
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| Quilt and photo credit to Anita Simmons-Jackson |
The Broken Soldier - created by Anita Simmons-Jackson from West Virginia
By attempting improv style, I learned that much of anything in my scrap basket can be used to create an interesting non-traditional quilt block. By forgetting all the rules, some great art can be created.
You can visit Anita on her blog
Domestic Felicity.
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| Quilt and photo credit to Marianne Perry |
Breathe - created by Marianne Perry from Maryland
Making the blocks was easier than putting it all together into a balanced whole piece.
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| Quilt and photo credit to Betty Cruikshank |
Freestyle Awhile in your Stash-pile and Smile (Freestyle for short) - created by Betty Cruikshank from Oregon
I have done some improv blocks under more restrictive guidelines. This time I learned to just go wild and see what happens without the restrictions. Not to worry if the blocks were too big or small. Just make them fit by adding some fabric on when putting all the odd sized blocks together.
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| Quilt and photo credit to Melissa Meinhard |
Truth and Beauty - created by Melissa Meinhard
I started with the word "beauty" because we seem to find things that are "perfect" and symmetrical beautiful. I figured it was ironic and more difficult than I thought. ........So I made "beauty" and wanted more, so I thought "truth" compliments beauty well. Also the idea of "wonky truth" seems timely with fake news, alternate facts, etc.I wanted to employ more improv so I randomly sewed blues and reds together then cut 1 1/2" strips for a border. I love it and need to employ that border trick to more stuff!
You can visit Melissa on Instagram as @iluvmybaronie
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| Quilt and photo credit to Beth Fromica |
Still - created by Beth Formica from Ohio
I learned to trust my instincts with this QAL. I learned creativity is on-going throughout a project (and that's a great thing). And I can't wait to start another improv project!
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| Quilt and photo credit to Diann |
Wild Thing - an Improv Sampler - created by Diann from Colorado
This was the most fun sewing experience! I learned I could sew curves, make letters, and put together an interesting quilt without a pattern. Thanks for inspiring us, Patty!
You can visit Diann on her blog Little Penguin Quilts or on Instagram as @littlepenguinquilts
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| Quilt and photo credit to Kristel Carnahan |
Created by Kristel Carnahan from Canada
Thanks for running this QAL! It was less scary than I thought it would be - I've always been improv-averse - even when I didn't really love the results. (I need to try this again with a more focused colour palette ... trying to make a good mix of colours using only scraps while also trying to stretch my sewing boundaries was not always super successful.)
You can visit Kristel on her blog
Work-In-Progress Girl and on Instagram
Clumsy Kristel.
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| Quilt and photo credit to Danice G |
Retro Improv Vibe - created by Danice G from Alabama
What I learned about improv was to let loose of symmetry and planning. Also learned about having many different types of blocks all in one quilt.
You can visit Danice on her blog Homespun Hannah's Blog.
Kindness - created by Patty of North Carolina (that's me!!)
I used American Made Brand solids exclusively. I really went to town with my quilting. Basic straight line quilting but some areas I did diagonal lines and in others a irregular grid.
For the binding, I did my best to match the quilt - it didn't take as long as you might think to get this to all line up.
Thanks to every who participated in the play QAL. I hope you all had as much fun as I did!
And thank you to our wonderful sponsors - Auriful and American Made Brand Solids. Prizes were awarded to random participants who shared in the Elm Street Quilts Facebook group, in each of the two link-ups and who send their quilt photos to be shared in today's post.
The winners (all of which have been notified by mail or Instagram) are -
Beth, Betty, Danice, Cathy & Anita
Congratulations!
I'll be linking up my Kindness quilt with
Freemotion by the River, WIP Wednesday's, Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers. Needle and Thread Thursdays, Finish it Up Friday and Finished or Not Friday.
Have a wonderful day!
Patty
