Tuesday 21 August 2018

A Bit of Improv

Disclosure: I don't do improv well, I like structured blocks. But let's give it a whirl and just see what happens. Maybe it will be a reject or a keeper. You be the judge.

I toss bits and pieces in small containers, you know just in case you need that one piece you just tossed. It was time to come up with a game plan to use some of them up. Improv piecing here I come.

box is starting to overflow

triangle cutoffs might as well use a few of them too

After a little sewing I had one 6 1/2'' block hmm not bad, I see possibilities.

those are blacks although they look washed out here
Might as well dive in and make another.

a little more grey in this one
Now what?? Put them on the design wall step back and let inspiration come forth. Look out here goes nothing or everything! 

adding blocks of black, some triangles and strips.... this actually might work
 Make units and more units and start joining them into something coherent.

starting to become interesting, but not quite feeling it
It needs something more at least I feel it does. Dig into more scraps and leftovers. Warning improv can be a little messy. It seems the piece I was sort of looking for, but didn't realize I was looking for them were at the bottom of the box. I didn't take a picture of the mess I made I was in full search mode. I don't work well in a mess and have since cleaned it up.

those blacks didn't photograph worth a darn.

The strips on the side were already sewn with the 3 pieces on a 45. They were leftover from a table runner I made years ago as a gift to a friend who has since passed away. Silly me I have no pictures of it at all and no idea who has it now.

This mini is 28'' by 21'', and is patiently waiting for me to quilt it. 

Now for the question is it a keeper?





9 comments :

  1. I like how scraps can allow us to play. I really like the gray in the second block. I hope you have fun quilting it!

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  2. Well done! Improv and I don't get along well either. Maybe I need to do it more to get used to it. Happy quilting.

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  3. Absolutely a keeper! It looks very pro, especially with those diagonal borders. Great job!

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  4. You did great! I've always said when doing improv to keep going because you never know how it will turn out! You did exactly that and it is a keeper!

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  5. I really like those angles on the side - really makes for an interesting design!

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  6. Ha, on the warning, improv can be messy! It seems to create MORE scraps and I NEVER have the right size piece. I really like what you've done here Cindy. :-)

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  7. Creativity is messy. When you know that a block needs something to make it complete but do not know what it is, you audition several ideas/fabrics etc. and that is time-consuming and messy. But improv will always result in original work. It is slow but worth it. And if you do not like the out come, I suggest cut it in quarters, insert some hot pink and yellow slivers, restitch, step back and re-asses. In the end, you decide if it is a keeper or not. Cause you are in charge!!!

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  8. I find improv hard, but I think you pulled it off. And yes, improve makes a mess of the sewing room!

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  9. I hope you've made your decision by now . I'm s bit behind in my reading . Sometimes my improv becomes too structured and my blocks very similar

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