Improv Quilting (or improvisational quilting) involves making a quilt without design rules, boundaries or specific intentions. While the basic quilting techniques of piecing, pressing, and trimming apply, the design is free, fluid, and flexible.
I had been wanting to try improv quilting for a while so when thinking about a possible class to teach, I thought this improv block piece to put on a frame would be the perfect way for me to give it a go and a nice way for my students to try this different way of quilting :)
The best part is that you can reuse all your quilting cotton scraps and give them a new, interesting and creative life. This project would be such a nice addition as deco for a home or to give out as a present.
Now, are you ready to create some art? :)
Step-by-step Improv Block Quilt
Materials needed
Basically, any quilting cotton scraps that you have around.The final measurement of the block is like an A4 sheet of paper (210x297mm / 8.3''x11.7''). You will also need a layer of batting measuring around 3 inches more than the A4, as well as some thread.
Regarding the tools, your usual quilting ruler, rotary cutter, cutting mat and extras like a walking foot or 1/4'' foot are always welcome. You can also bring in some other sewing tools like an unpicker, pins, fabric pen, iron and ironing board.
Tutorial: Improv Quilt Block
1. First, take a look at all of your scraps, choose those you would like to use and give them a press. Trim any fraying edges and, if it's your first time doing improv quilting, try to sub-cut them into easy geometric shapes like squares and rectangles.
*Tip: try not to go for very tiny pieces of fabric!
2. Then, and I know this is improv but I am a rule follower and I need just a bit of structure, hehe, you can place your preferred scraps on the frame to see how it might look when sewn (spoiler alert, when you do improv quilting you just go with the flow, so it ended up looking quite diferent for me!).
3. After this, I suggest starting with the smallest scraps, piecing (sewing) them together using a 1/4'' seam allowance and with the right sides facing each other. Then, you can press the seams towards the darker colour or open, your choice.
4. Then, you continue sewing different scraps, making the piece bigger and bigger and also trying to trim the extra bits that might not work when trying to attach a new piece of fabric.
I didn't use pins, unless the piece was bigger or longer and that also gave me more freedom.
5. Every few bits I stopped to check how the design looked and fit within the frame. I also created different pieces that then could be joined together.
*Tip: Use wider and longer scraps to help you filling up the piece. I used several of those for the borders!
6. After quite a bit of piecing, pressing and trimming, my improv block was ready for the quilting part. The final block was slightly bigger than the A4 sheet of paper I mentioned before because when quilting, the block can shrink ever so slightly (we can also trim it later).
Your next step would be to pick up a layer of batting around 5cm / 2 or 3 inches bigger on all sides than the block and placed this one on top with the right side facing up. Then, you can baste stitch them together by hand or use safety pins (I didn't do either cause I am wild quilter! hehehe).
7. Regarding the quilting design, I decided to just go for straight vertical and horizontal lines, using the edge of my regular foot as a guide. (I say regular presser foot because my Pfaff sewing machine comes with a sort of built-in walking foot. In your case, you can use a walking foot, which helps a lot when quilting).
8. When finished, you just need to trim the extra batting and make sure that all corners are at a 90 degree angle.
9. The last step for me was to also trim the actual block so that it fit properly on the frame. And voilà! My improv quilted piece of art was finished!
I hope you liked this post and that you will try and give it a go :)
Thanks for reading and happy sewing!
Ana
xxx