Tuesday 14 November 2017

Just a Little Improv


I’ve had a little experience in improv piecing with a couple of the bee blocks I’ve made but a full project? No. So I decided it was about time I had more of a go and what better project to take a foray into this technique with than a mug rug or two.


According to improv tutorials I read a common mistake is forgetting about the seam allowance and making the blocks smaller than you wanted. I made that one, and the whole mug rug could have been a little more generous in size if you ask me, but it still works and I’m using it *slurp* so it’s practical. They finish at around 4 inches by 6.


I’m a fan of Cindy Grisdela’s work so these pieces channel her influence and I quilted them in a fairly dense crosshatch with dark green thread.


After that experience I’m still keen to do more but it doesn’t really suit my control-freak-must-work-with-plan personality so the projects will likely stay small for a while.

What about you? Have you tried improv and what are your tips?

Till next time, enjoy your sewing

Sue


10 comments:

  1. It looks great! Yes, improv has this ability to make things shrink up more than anticipated. Like most things, I have found I am better with improv after I have "practiced" and done it more often.

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  2. Sue it’s lovely, you should do it more often. Love your fabric combination and quilting design too.

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  3. My husband laughs at me when I tell him I'm going to work on improv and I have a plan. Haha. I enjoy improv because of it's unplanned nature and the fact that I shouldn't really control it. If it turns out smaller than I anticipate, I just roll with it.

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  4. Good for you for going outside your comfort zone. I have only tried it once and have to say it is DEFINITELY outside my comfort zone. That's not to say I don't like the looks of it, I just need more time and practice to get used to the concept. :D

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  5. Very cute! I really like the improv green blocks combined with the darker quilting thread.

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  6. Love these! I applaud you jumping out of your quilting "box" even for a short while. It's scary and maybe not so much fun at first. I like to have a plan too, and find improv fun but challenging. Thanks for linking up to Wednesday Wait Loss.

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  7. These are cute. I like that green with the black. It's been a while since I've done anything improv - I think I need to try it again soon!

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  8. So lovely. I like that kind of projects, and always make a hot pad when I have time. They are VERY improved.

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  9. Oh the first time doing improv quilting I also did not want to let go of that all-symmetry, perfect lines thought either, lol. It all has turned out well though. I'd say just learn to let go of order and go for it :)

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  10. Such intense colours! It’s great; a mug rug is a great way to do a little more improv must remember that!

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