It's hard for me to improvise with fabric after decades of creating patterns for publication. I tried my hand at it, but still was able to take something that looks improvisational and "pattern" it. After all, I wanted to appeal to the very timid who are reluctant to cut up their beautiful fabric. This was from a class which I called Modern Quilt Blocks (2013). I used solid reading fabrics with a khaki/gray background. Strip piecing, slicing and trading units with classmates and we got this. (I had made kits for each student with the same fabrics for trading). Modern Quilt Blocks #1 And this . . . A single block using the same pattern as above What would they look like with a dark navy background with different piecing? I didn't like the blocks and must have given them away, because I can't find them! I did find another set made with a dark background (navy with dots) and added side borders to "square" it up. Quilted by a friend and going to the Inova Sc...

Sometimes I get to make a quilt more than once or twice. I have used my Fractured Jewels pattern in that way. Yes, there is a FREE pattern , but some of it is improvisational. Does that make you nervous?! Here is the center to my first quilt made in 2013 using some solids by Windham Fabrics. It is a spiral Log Cabin. Center of my Fractured Jewels quilt This is a FREE pattern at their website. Here is the quilt before it was quilted. Check it out as it appears at their website . Very simple quilting. The little bits of irregular size are where the improvisation occurs. Then I went on to make it again for Windham. It hangs in my oldest daughter's house. Same concept as the one above - a spiral Log Cabin. Fractured Jewels Spiral Log Cabin And THEN I went on to make it for Benartex using some of their batiks. This appeared in their 5th issue of Modern by the Yard digital magazine. Go check it out for the FREE PATTERN ! This link will take you to their 2017 blog post and you will click...

Yes, that's right. I have a giveaway and it's a FREE pattern for everyone. This is based on the 8th Gee's Bend quilt I designed for Windham Fabrics. All log cabins. All fairly regular. Let's see the original. These are the most "regular" looking log cabins so far, don't you think? All solids except for the single, top border. Irregular sashing sizes, too, with 3 different colors and cream sashing squares. Housetop 9 Block by Annie E. Pettway: 66" x 74" Do you remember that lone block I shared a few days ago? It's the top left one in Annie Pettway's quilt. Single Log Cabin with a few renegade darker strips And my version of Annie's quilt: Housetop 9 Block quilt: 66" x 73" Here is the first prototype (which was rejected) and we went back to the drawing board. Yes, you have to put on your asbestos suit when you work with other people's ideas. You just can't get your panties in a wad! I like the look of ...

Now we go beyond the Log Cabin. How about some LARGE pieces of fabric doing the work?  Still irregular, indiscriminate blocks for a clean, timeless look. This is Blocks and Strips, original by Loretta Bennett (2nd picture below). My rendition is the first quilt. Blocks and Strips : 50" x 62"  This is the original quilt by Ms. Bennett (it's the only photo I have and it's rather small, I know). Don't you just love that skinny strip in the center with the surprise brown rectangle breaking up the monotony of just beige. Draws your eye in, doesn't it? If you look close, you will see four large blocks/sections. But it's still in the improv category. Who says you have to chop it up and make some crazy angles? Let's look at some of the exercises I gave my students, in case you're in the mood for more detail! This is from my first class, No Sneaky Peeky (and the art and steps are included in my class notes pattern). Make a large 4 Patch (may...

What happens when you decide to put something other than a solid square in the center of a Log Cabin? Glad you asked! Remember this little quilt from Tuesday (Day 2)? Sometimes you put a square on point A second class developed which I called Improvisational Adventure. I had 9 log cabin blocks in my class sample (with a whole different set of notes).  Here she is in Modern Patchwork. Improv Adventure as show in Modern Patchwork Magazine Let's look at a few of those blocks: Begin with a square. Add different sized logs. Change out the colors, too.  This one is the most regular with balanced colors, but the log sizes vary. Block 3 in my 9 Block Improv Adventure quilt As we did in my No Sneaky Peeky class, students had bags of fabric and we worked through various exercises. Block #1 is top left and Block #3 is top right. Look at Block 6 (second row, right side). We strip-pieced a variety of colors and then cut squares and swapped with our neighbors. F...

Here we are at Day Two with my second No Sneaky Peeky class sample. This hangs in my daughter's house. Actually, ALL of these quilts (including several of the Gee's Bend quilts) were quickly snatched up by my daughters. First, a little mini quilt I made with scraps. Notice that the center is a square in a square (rather irregular) and then that serves as the center of an irregular Log Cabin. It was gifted to my daughter's friend. Notice the left side two-patch angled unit. That's what we're talking about today. Improv mini My No Sneaky Peeky sample before quilting: No Sneaky Peeky #2 These angled patches were used in the most difficult quilt to pattern of all 8 Gee's Bend quilts! This is Strips and Strings by Mary Lee Bendolph. I honestly pulled my hair out with this, but I was actually able to pattern those slanted two-patch rectangles (not with curves, though!) Strips and Strings by Mary Lee Bendolph: 49" x 74" And my interpret...