Showing posts with label improv. Show all posts
Showing posts with label improv. Show all posts

It's time now to get to this month block of the Starry Bright Sky QAL!

If you didn't hear about the QAL before, please visit the Starry Bright Sky QAL page! 
This is a wonderful Skill Builder, because every month I will be featuring a different technique and we will have step by step instructions to walk you through the entire process, from cut to finishing.

Visit the QAL page to find all the information about the event rules, the quilt layout, all the future techniques and more.
I recommend you to subscribe to the QAL announcements via email, so you don't miss out on future posts! You find the subscription form on the same QAL page.

Now let's get down to some details.

This month technique is Improv piecing
and we have two fun blocks to create!

Remember that the pattern for the blocks is shared for free via email with people that shared a picture of the completed previous month block in the linky.

If you shared a picture of last month finished block (in the linky or via email directly with me), you will get this month pattern by the end of today (or maybe you already got it)!
If you shared a picture but you don't get this month pattern by Tuesday, please send me an email at tweloq(at)gmail(dot)com. I will send you the pattern.

If you were not able to share the picture of the previous pattern, don't worry!
By the end of this week, this month pattern will be available in my shop for a very small price: if you buy the pattern, make the block and share it before the deadline, you will get future patterns for free again!

If you are new here, you can get this month pattern for free, but you will have to pay for previous month patterns, if you want those blocks too.

For the full list of rules and explanation on how/where to share your projects, please refer to the post listing all the QAL rules and to the post with my self-interview.

Next week I will feature the link party where you can link up your blocks.

So are you excited about this QAL?
I surely am!! Grab the QAL button and share the love (button on the side bar)!
The more people join in, the more fun it will be!!

Until next week,
Happy Stitching!!


Remember: all the details about the series are collected in the QAL web page.


This month we have an extra Monday, so today I want to share some tips on "Made fabric" improv blocks.
...
If you didn't hear about the Starry Bright Sky QAL, please visit the Starry Bright Sky QAL page!
Visit the QAL page to find all information about the quilt layout, all the future blocks and the rules to participate.
I recommend you to subscribe to the QAL announcements via email, so you don't miss out on future posts! You find the subscription form on the same QAL page (at the bottom).
...

In a previous post, last year, I mentioned that since my inspiration for this quilt is Van Gogh's "The Starry Night" painting, I want to be able to translate in my quilt the incredible texture and variation of all the different strokes and colors in the sky of the painting.

To emulate that, I will use my sashing texture blocks, but there is another way to include some "Van Gogh" within a block: IMPROV MADE FABRIC!!

Several of the QAL blocks call for a background piece (or few "big cuts")... so why not creating these pieces by using improv pieced sections, mixing and matching shapes and colors to create a dynamic effect?
Take scraps (or big pieces), join them at unusual angles, slice them, join them, slice, join, etc. :)
Stop when you reached a size that is "good" for now. It can be a complete 12.5''x12.5'' background piece, or it can be a small patch that you will use later as a regular small patch.



The point is: you can start preparing these pieces ahead of time, you don't have to wait until the patterns come out! The advantage is that you will be saving time later, and you will find it easier to create good contrast with the main "star" pieces if your "crazy background" is already assembled!
...

Few more tips that helped me be extra productive and make ahead many squares like the ones showed below that are ready for all my future textured four patches!!


  • Have a specific size goal
    I initially thought that just assembling what I have without a specific plan would be easier, but for me it is not!! Having a specific size goal helps creating some structure in the improv approach that otherwise is too free and overwhelming for me! So I picked a size and always make pieces to that size
  • Pick a size that makes sense: it should be big enough to be useful to you, but small enough to allow you to use tiny scraps you may have without having to add a million seams!
    I picked 6.5'' x 6.5'' because I have a small rotating cutting mat that is 7'' and a ruler that is 6.5'' x 6.5''. These two tools make it super easy to see how far I am to reach that final goal, and it's easy to use small scraps (stitch, press, chop, repeat). 6.5'' squares are also the exact size I need for my four patches, so no extra assembly needed there. However if I need a background that is 12.5'' I can stitch 4 squares and get to that size.
  • Sort your scraps by color, not size
    If you want to create single blocks that "read" one color (mine are dark blue), storing your scraps by color will make it super fast to just grab something from the pile and stitch them together. I store them in plastic food bags, and fabric scraps are just thrown randomly in there! Note: the picture below shows my bag after I created about 10 blocks already! The bag was overflowing, now it is just packed, but the scraps are going down!!!
  • Have a specific goal of blocks to make a week
    This is because I am a planner :) but in the past I had this idea of sewing my scraps until I run out of one color. Well... after 10 minutes I got bored and abandoned this idea. Now that I set myself a goal of making just 4 improv squares a week, I completed a ton of them! I can easily push and motivate myself, because 4 is a small enough number to reach. But actually for my monthly blocks I only need 2 each month, so if I make 4 each week I will still be way ahead of my needs. Plus if I reach my goal of 4, I feel super accomplished and happy, so setting myself a goal is a very important component of my success this time around!
  • Have rules on what fabric to use
    Improv "just sew together whatever you have" is just not my style... I like rules and structure. So I added structure but keeping it improv. My rules are simple: grab two random pieces from the bag and sew them together. Chop any excess but do not put the cut extra scrap back in the bag: I have to leave it out and I cannot use that fabric again in the block. I need to get a new piece from the bag. This will organically make sure that in a new block I will use that scrap that was cut in the previous block, creating a coherent look between the blocks because they have pieces of the same fabric! Plus it will guarantee a great variety in each block, so the superscrappyness will be maintained!
  • Use tiny stitch length and press seams open
    There is no risk of making a mistake and having to unpick a seam, because everything is improv, so using a small stitch length (1.4 or 1.2) shouldn't be a problem. This however would allow you to press each seam open, as you stitch them. I highly highly highly highly recommend to do this, because these blocks have sooooo many seams, and if you press them to one side, they will create layers that you will not enjoy quilting over!! If you press each seam open as you stitch them the finished square will be as flat as a single piece of fabric so it shouldn't give you much headaches later. If you are concerned about the "seam open" debate, just listed to the podcast "Pressing Seams Open Debate with Leah Day' :)
    I highly recommend the Clover Finger Presser for this, but just your finger could work too!
  • Take your time and enjoy the process
    If you have tons of tiny pieces like me, each block will take some time to assemble. But the fun part is that you should stop and look at each scrap you are using... they are there in the pile for one of two reasons:
    1) you used that fabric in a previous project... so you could think about the person that you gifted that project to, or the time in your life when you stitched that other project. It could be an emotional and special moment that you can really cherish!
    2) you got that scrap from someone else, so you can think about them, where they may have used that fabric, if they are a friend you can think about your relationship with them, etc.
    Take some time to really appreciate all the history that is behind every little bit of fabric!! 

So what do you think about "Made Fabric" improv blocks? Did you try them before? Do you have any other tip that you want to share? Please leave them in the comments below!!


Until next time,
Happy Stitching!!

Remember: all the details about the series are collected in the QAL web page.


Just few reminders today!! We have been seeing so many beautiful blocks!! I am very happy to see that you are all enjoying this event!!

If you didn't hear about the QAL before, please visit the Growing up QAL page! 
Visit the QAL page to find all information about the quilt layout, all the future blocks and the rules to participate.
I recommend you to subscribe to the QAL announcements via email, so you don't miss out on future posts! You find the subscription Google form on the same QAL page (at the end of the page).

Now let's get down to some details.

This month technique is Improv Piecing

Remember that the pattern for the board is shared for free via email to the people that shared a picture of last month finished block in the linky party.
If you did that, you should already have the pattern!

If you didn't (and you think you should have) just send me an email at tweloq(at)gmail(dot)com and I will get the pattern out to you.

For the full list of rules and explanation on how/where to share your projects, please refer to the post listing all the QAL rules!

And if you need an extra incentive, we are going to have THREE winners for this month. 
The prizes for this month are listed in a previous post! 
You have until June 4th (11.59 pm EST) to enter your block(s).

I will draw the random winners between all the people entering a picture of one block from this month. Multiple blocks will give you multiple entries, as long as they are in separate picture in a separate link in the linky :). I will announce the winners when I share the next month pattern.

****
FOR THIS WEEK INSPIRATION...
There are so many artists that use this month technique to make amazing masterpieces! 
Here I feature just few to give you some different ideas on things you can do with this month skill.
****

So, let's link up our fun block, friends!
(I am including the linky in every post so it's easy for everyone to find!)



Next week I will share the next pattern, so get your blocks in the linky if you want the next pattern for FREE!!

So are you excited about this QAL?
I surely am!! Grab my button and share the love (button on the side bar)!
The more people join in, the more fun it will be!!

Until next week,
Happy Stitching!!


Remember: all the details about the series are collected in the QAL web page.

Months are passing by and your fantastic blocks keep filling up the linky... so inspiring!!! 
It's time now to get to the next block of the fun Growing up QAL!

If you didn't hear about the QAL before, please visit the Growing up QAL page! 
This is a wonderful Skill Builder, because every month I will be featuring a different technique and we will have step by step instructions to walk you through the entire process, from cut to finishing.

Visit the QAL page to find all the information about the event rules, the quilt layout, all the future techniques and more.
I recommend you to subscribe to the QAL announcements via email, so you don't miss out on future posts! You find the subscription form on the same QAL page.

Now let's get down to some details.

This month technique is Improv Piecing,
We have two different blocks to practise!

Remember that the pattern for the blocks is shared for free via email.
If you shared a picture of last month finished block (in the linky or via email directly with me), you will get this month pattern by the end of today (or maybe you already got it)!
For the full list of rules and explanation on how/where to share your projects, please refer to the post listing all the QAL rules and to the post with my self-interview.
If you shared a picture but you don't get this month pattern by Tuesday, please send me an email at tweloq(at)gmail(dot)com. I will send you the pattern.

If you were not able to share the picture of the previous pattern, don't worry!
By the end of this week, this month pattern will be available in my shop for a very small price: if you buy the pattern, make the block and share it before the deadline, you will get future patterns for free again!

If you are new here, you can get this month pattern for free, but you will have to pay for previous month patterns, if you want those blocks too.

Next week I will feature the link party where you can link up your blocks.
The following week I will give you some sashing ideas for the final quilt, and the weeks after that we are going to see some inspiring work of other quilters using the same technique in different blocks!

So are you excited about this QAL?
I surely am!! Grab my button and share the love (button on the side bar)!
The more people join in, the more fun it will be!!

Until next week,
Happy Stitching!!


Remember: all the details about the series are collected in the QAL web page.
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