QM’s Scrap Squad recently made scrappy versions of Hip to Be Square from the Jan/Feb ’12 issue of Quiltmaker. In the coming weeks we’ll show you those quilts here. Below is the quilt as it was featured in the issue. Fabrics are from Riley Blake, quilt designed and made by Elizabeth Dackson.
Hip to Be Square, designed and made by Elizabeth Dackson. Fabric: Delighted! by The Quilted Fish and designer solids for Riley Blake Designs.
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Today’s featured quilt is perfect for the season! It’s by Kim Brandt from Poughkeepsie, New York. You’ll find Kim’s blog at Pokeytown Kim. Kim sent me lots of pictures and a few thoughts on her quilt.
Here’s the new Scrap Squad project with my drawing of the colors I want to try.
Once I decide on my fabrics, I lay out my shapes so I can chain piece, making sure that each fabric is in the right place on every block. Otherwise the design will be lost.
I can’t remember when I bought these fabrics but I think
maybe the 80′s!Below are some photos from trying different layouts.
Oh! This block is just like a Log Cabin—I can make a Streak of Lightning-type layout.
Now, which way do I want the design to run? Across the quilt or
from top to bottom?
I decide on the vertical layout.
This top is starting to feel more like “Christmas” than I thought it would, so why not make it a real Christmas quilt? I think I’ll
add some letters to make it say “Merry Christmas.”
First I’ll cut a bunch of strips.
Then I’ll get out Tonya Ricucci’s book Word Play Quilts to guide me in making each letter.
Oh, see that “love” block on the cover of Tonya’s book? I made it!
Tonya even gives me a shout out in the book. I use this book all the time. It is full of easy techniques to make a quilt special.
Here are my letters in progress. I have used just two colors this time.
And here is the finished top :0)!
I like the way the blocks can form stars or Streak of Lightning or just all go in the same direction the way Elizabeth’s quilt does (at the top of the post).One thing for sure: it is a great way to use up scraps!
Happy Sewing,
Kim
I squealed with delight when I first saw Kim’s quilt! She has made a quilt that’s uniquely her own with the addition of the free-pieced letters. Sometimes this type of piecing is called improvisational. Isn’t it wonderful?!
You can read more about it on Tonya’s blog (be sure to look over “Tonya’s Tutorials” in the right-hand sidebar) and in Word Play Quilts. I have a copy of Word Play Quilts and I’d like to give it to a Quilty Pleasures reader. Leave a comment by midnight Tuesday, Dec. 13 (for luck!) and I’ll announce a winner here. Answer this question: Have you ever tried improvisational piecing?
Update: The winner of Word Play Quilts is Nancy who left comment #75. YAY!
Yes I’ve added a thing or two to a pattern to make it more personal. Often times I sneak in a cat fabric in the most inconspicious of places. It is fun to find the cat in my quilts. My friends are always helping me with cat fabric charms…you’ll never know when I’ll need a certain color to hide a kitty! Sandi
No I have not, I have only made a few baby uilts and 2 twin sized quilts. I’m working my way up to the queen size I need for my bed.
No I haven’t~ I usually just applique letters on, but I love this quilt~ and now you’ve got me thinking! Thanks for the chance!
For one block I tried improvisational piecing and it turned out unusable. One day will try to make words to put on a quilt – if win your copy of Tonya’s Word Play Quilts book. When it was released, read good things about it. I really like how she took older fabrics and turned them into a Christmas quilt that looks great! Thanks for the giveaway.
Improvisational piecing? Hmmm, I think that’s what I do all the time. But, no, I don’t recall piecing letters before. I, too, usually applique.
I recognize that fabric with the roses and black background. There might be some lurking in my stash. And it does look like Christmas, all those arrow shapes–dashing one way in one row, and the opposite way in the next row. The hustle and bustle of Christmas, right?
No, I haven’t done that yet! I’ve admired Tonya’s work for a year now and still haven’t made the leap. I’d love to win a copy of Tonya’s book! Thanks for the chance!
I absolute love Kim’s version of the pattern – the layout and the “Merry Christmas” is a stroke of genius!
Yep, I’m making some improv table runners. Easier to be brave in a small project, at least for me.
Yes I try everything with quilting even it only once.
Yes, my son’s wedding quilt was made with batik scraps sewn into a “wonky” log cabin! It was awesome!
I really loved the green and yellow (1st version) quilt. Very pretty and I like the pattern – very bow-tie like.
Yes, I have made quilts with improvisational piecing. That is how new things are born in my quilting world. I always start with an idea and expand on it to make it more personal for the recipient.
I have not tried improvisational quilting. This information has opened my eyes to something else to try sometime. I still have 2 big unfinished queen size to complete and one that is still in block of month bags to complete!! Too many ideas and not enough life!!
Not to this extent – I have done a “make it up as I go along” but it is usually something more conservative like bricks… This is a fun quilt!
I’ve tried improvisational arrangements of blocks but am looking forward to trying some improvisational bolcks in 2012
I am a beginning quilter, so I have not done much improvisation. My last quilt, however, I did modify somewhat. I wanted to make a quilt for my grandmother, who lives in another state, that included recent photos of my dad, myself, my sisters and all of our children. I found a quilt that had a design that allowed for the size and shape of the pictures and substituted some of the block centers for the photos printed on fabric paper. She’s getting this for Christmas and I’m confident she’ll love it.
I really love the letters and their funky designs. What a great book!
I never did. But would love to! Your quilt looks great! Thanks so much!
You just made me realize that all my quilts are improvisations. I always seem to start out like the pattern says but somewhere along the way I take a left turn…. but what an interesting trip it ends up being!!
Yes, I have done this several times. Especially when I get a panel w/ various sized “pictures” on it. It’s always fun (and challenging) to make the blocks either the same size or add to them to make them match. I would love a copy of this book!
Wow!! Very clever block and adding the words words made this quilt exceptional! Enjoyed the way she took us through her thought process–was inspiring! Keep up the good work!
I haven’t tried improvisational piecing but it sounds very liberating!
Most of my quilts end up being improvisational to some extent. Especially the backs. Thank you for the great giveaway! Tamsyn
No I have never tried improvisational piecing. It sounds very fun. Thanks for the very generous giveaway.
No, I haven’t. But it looks fun!
ourbusylittlebunch(at)hotmail(dot)com
I have improvised on some quilt patterns; once made a king size quilt out of a baby quilt pattern, but that’s about the extent of it. Would like to try some though!
Not letters, but yes, I’ve “ad-libbed” a bit on some quilts. I’ve taken bits and pieces of patterns and merged them into some neat projects (and a few not so neat) but that’s how you learn! This book would help, I’m sure!
Not sure I can even say “improvisational” piecing. No, I have not tried it yet. However, I am not dead yet. There is still time. lol
I love the way Merry Christmas came out in the quilt! Great job!
I am attempting to piece a crumb quilt. I have a hard time not making things look perfect. That’s why I’m intrigued with the word plays.
Yes, it’s a lot of fun! I would love to win the book.
I have tried a couple of times but they didn’t always turn out to be anything that I’d show to anyone else! I do like this pattern however.
thanks
It seems that each of the baby quilts I’ve made for my granddaughters ended up being designed as I work on them. I have just finished a lap quilt and I decided to change it up a little too. I guess that is what you mean by improvisation? I haven’t tried letters yet, but would love to.
I’ve tried some wonky stars, but I’d love to try tonya’s words.
I usally add something to each pattern to make it mine. It is so much fun! Merry Christmas!
No I have tried to improv piece a quilt block. I think the day will come when I do.
Thanks for the giveaway.
I have never tried improvisational piecing. I think I might be a little too OCD for that! LOL
No, but it is on my list of things I must try! It looks like so much fun. Love the lettering in this quilt — makes the quilt IMHO. Would love to win this book!
Yep, and had fun making foundation pieced crazy strips. These were then made into a quilt with the stitch and flip technique of putting together strippy quilts. Love to have fun and play around with different techniques.
No I have never added anything to the block but yes I have added the borders differently than shown in the pattern I follow and the fabric is always different as I have to use what is available in my local market here in a small town in India.I am not a regular quilter but have always done it on and off. I had done a name once on a baby quilt but it was applique. The book looks inspirational.
Yes, I’ve improvised since the beginning (which hasn’t been very long ago).
i haven’t tried it but would like to!
OH, I love this quilt!! I have done some improvisational quilting – I took a crumb class with Bonnie Hunter and we made letters in that class. I have the resulting wall hanging hanging in my office at work!
i’ve added applique or made small aditions or deletions, but haven’t lettered in words. used to do it all the time with my knitting and crocheting, though.
I usually do not follow a pattern exactly,but not to this extent-do love your letters.
I’ll be honest, I still quilt using a “recipe”. I would love to start expanding and being more improvisational. Give myself permission to really stretch.
I have never seen this block before and LOVE it! Especially since you can form so many designs with it. I have made several wall hangings that I have created with paper and pencil then fabric but never a spread. With those I have found patterns that look cool and tried my luck and them. Working on one now that is going really well for me especially since there are alot of points to match. I would really like to win Tonya’s book and see what creation I can come up with her help. Thanks for the opportunity of winning it.
I am not adventurous enough to strike out on my own. I am too dependent upon the pattern. I wish I had enough ‘guts’ to just follow my own vision. Wishing everyone luck for the giveaway.
I just did, after 20 years of quilting ! This summer my daughter and I both made wonky log cabin quilts, I used batiks and hers is in mod fabrics. We had fun and I really enjoyed it & planning to do more. Thanks for the chance to win !
I am improvising on my current project- one piece ended up too big but was correctable before I got too far! Would love the letter book by Tonya!
Yes, but only for ‘crumb’ blocks with my tiniest scraps.
Yes, I did improvisational quilting when I made a large landscape wall hanging for the anniversary of Lewis and Clark expedition. I began at the top with sky, layered mountains, then faraway trees, gradually as I worked down the quilt, layered larger trees, bushes, grasses, inserting wild animals. Then I added the river, the people and the boat. All was done by hand applique, layer by layer.
I have never seen the word play book before seeing here. I can see how useful it would be! I don’t usually improvise. I am a pattern follower but would I bought EQ7 this year and took a class on it. Would like to break out of some of the “rigidness.” I admire Kim and all of the other quilters who are able to take an idea and make it their own. Beautiful quilt.
Love the quilt! Looks so fun and “Christmasy”
Kim, the quilt looks great! You’re right, your Christmas layout looks nothing like my layout!
I’ve done some of Tonya’s wonky houses, and they were a lot of fun. I’ve also done some of her letters, but I haven’t put any on a bed size quilt yet, just on wall hangings. I did BOO! on a Halloween one and JOY on a Christmas one.
I’ve never even heard of improvisational piecing…something new to learn and try!
When my daughter came home from Africa, she said she wanted a quilt that didn’t match because nothing in Africa matches. She brought me some great fabrics and I had a great time with the stack and slash technique. I do love words on fabric. What a great way to personalize quilts.
I made crumb blocks and I’d love to try Tonya’s words.
Love the different layouts you could do. I like to Change paterns just a bit to my own flavor.
I am an improvisational quilter, even when I am “following” a pattern. I love Tonya’s style, and would love to win a copy of her book. I’ve added some of her types of letters to several quilts now. Thanks for the chance to win!
I have never tried improvisional quilting and can hardly wait to do so!
I have never seen the word play book before seeing here. I can see how useful it would be! I don’t usually improvise. I am a pattern follower. I would love to break out of some of the “rigidness.” I admire Kim and all of the other quilters who are able to take an idea and make it their own. This is a beautiful quilt. Thank you for having the giveaway. It would make a very nice Christmas Gift.
I generally do something that is improvised in each of my quilts and always try to add a butterfly to each of my quilts whether obvious or in the quilting.
Es un quilt maravilloso y me gustaría mucho hacerlo.
I’m not really comfortable improvising; I always like to know what I’ll get at the end of a project. And I’ve never used pieced lettering either. I think it’s time for me to leap out of my restrictive boundaries. Thanks for the gentle push.
Can’t say that I have. I’d love to win a copy of Word Play. Thanks for the give-away.
I always tweek the pattern a bit to add my own personal touch. I make a change either to color, put on a button, add a yo-yo, something to give it something from me!!! After all, we need to be creative and jump out-of-the-box and the best way to do that is to have someone else do all the work and then just give it a little of your own oomph somewhere. ;o)
Debra
I haven’t really veered too far from traditional piecing, but I have coveted Tanya’s book for a while now. It’s on my Christmas list! I followed the alphabet quiltalong on Patchery Menagerie with great interest, and plan to give it a try in 2012. Thanks for a chance to win this great book!
Yes, I have tried it. Would love to win the book.
I am always willing to try out new (to me) techniques. And this looks to be very cool to try out. Thank you for the giveaway.
I would love to be able to put some free-pieced words in my quilts.
I’m just starting to improvise on my borders of my quilts and I would dearly love to have Tonya’s book, Word Play! Thanks for the chance!
Vic in NH
No but I sure would like to try, and if I won this book it would really start me in the right direction
I don’t know how to make those letters and would love to learn how. Looks “liberating”
I haven’t tried improv piecing yet, but was just reading another blog where she improv pieced Christmas houses and trees. I am all for stress-free quilting so I think I will try it. And I love the idea of putting letters and words into quilts. Will have to try that too!
No, I’ve never tried improvisational piecing. Actually, I’ve never heard of it before. Thanks for the update! LOL!, and thanks for the giveaway!
No, I have never even heard of improv piecing, but would love to learn.. Thanks for the giveaway and the chance!
Oh yes, I´ve done quite a lot of improvisational piecing, one of my first tries being a Hundertwasser house quilt top. Now and then I love to just cut loose and sew willy nilly, no pattern or plan–it´s freeing! I´ve drawn up some lettering to applique many times, but I may have only pieced letters once or twice in over 15 years… I´ve seen this book a couple of times on different blogs now and it looks like it´s full of inspiration.
Wishing you much joy and success in all you do, and thank you for sharing!
Hugs from Germany,
Bobbi
Yes. I love to improvise!
Yes I have! I wasn’t very good at it but would like to do some more. Would like to try some letters and this book would be a big help. I know several bloggers that have it and use it a lot. I have made some crumb blocks and that is improvisational!
I’m a big fan of Tonya’s and have made three or four quilts with her lettering on them. I don’t own the book though and would love to win this copy.
Wow thanks for the chance…I would love to win Tonya’s book.
No, I’ve never used the improvisation method. I’ve had my on the Word Play book though. I love words (I was an English major and love to read!) Would love to learn now to add words to my quilts!
I try to improvise on all my quilts. My goal is not to totally copy another’s quilt or pattern. Of course, I’m more suceessful sometimes than other times. I would love to start adding words and names on quilts and borders.
Does this mean randomly adding shapes and colors? Like crazy quilting? Never done it, but would like to try.
LizE
I have been eyeing this book for months now. Thanks for a chance to win!
Being math and science minded, I love geometric block quilts. I would consider it a privilege to be chosen.
Thank you,
Lee in MA
I’ve never tried improvisational piecing, but I’m interested in learning about it. Thanks for having a drawing for this book.
Admired the book for a while. I love wonky piecing! Even when I try to sew 1/4″ seams it sometimes turns out a little free form!
Yes…doing a quilt for my brother..from a dog photo.
I. Would love to own this book
Ever since I seen Tonya interviewed on The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims
I did try improvisational piecing once. It ended up looking way too regular. I need more practice!
I would love to own this book
I seen Tonya being interviewed on The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tim’s
Marlene
Improvisational piecing—hmmm?? Perhaps making crumb blocks could cover that? Anyhow, I have been wanting that book of Tonya’s!!! Would be really awesome if I won.
I have come up with my own patterns for baby quilts, but have not done any lettering
on them. I am making a quilt for my first granddaughter who is getting married in June,
2012 and would live to put lettering on her quilt. The book sounds very interesting and would be a handy tool to add to my sewing room. Thank you for the chance to win the book.
I’m so inspired by your quilt and the book would be such an asset as I’m trying to use inspirational words in some WH for church to serve as 5 of 14 sound “baffles” planned
Don’t know if not having a website disqualifies me, but have fingers crossed…
Yes I have added some things to my quilts to make them different. I do like to create designs to use on my embroidery machine and then put them in a quilt or sometime household items. Thank you for the chance to win this word play book. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Great book! New Inspirational stuff!!
Well, of course I’d like to win Tonya’s book!
I enjoy improv piecing as well as liberated piecing — with as many different fabrics as possible. I used my photocopies of Tonya’s blog posts about her letters to make the words on this baby quilt:
http://withstringsattached.blogspot.com/2011/11/design-wall-monday-orca-bay-and-more.html
That was the first time I’d used the concept. It would be much easier to have the book to go by!
No, I have not tried improvisational piecing. I have been sewing clothes and home dec for over 45 years. I have just gotten into quilting in the last 2 years and didn’t even realize this process existed. It is right down my alley since I rarely follow a pattern 100%. I have always “modified” something to make it my own. I would love to win the book to learn more about the process. Thanks for the chance to win!
I have not done much in the way of adding letters to my quilts but I usually make changes to a pattern to make it more mine. Love the letters, will have to try some soon.
Yes, I’ve tried improversational piecing a few times. Once I was trying to replicate something my 4th grader painted…trying to make it into a quilt. It was really hard to figure out and I’ve put it aside. Hope to get back to it. I tend to improvise when I make quilts of my own design. I find it to be a very creative process. I would love to learn more about TOnya’s methods, especially her letters. She’s a master!
I love what you did to your quilt ,thanks for the idea. I would love to win a copy of Toyna’s book.
I do have an embordery machine but still learning how to do it. Thanks for giving us a change to win the book.
Happy Quilting,
Carol in Delaware
I love your quilt and especially with the words Merry Christmas. And I would love to win the book!
A great design for a wonderful season. Thanks for the fun!
My first 2 quilts were somewhat improvisational–the first was from “Snippets”, a quilt representing my interpretation of Monet’s Water Lilies. It hangs on my sister’s living room wall. 2nd was from Jan Mullen, Butterfliez, which is a wonky, scrappy butterfly quilt that I made when my niece was born. I had SO MUCH FUN with that one, using lots of “kid prints” and brights. Really want to do another one of those. I also love Tonya’s lettering. I envision a tote bag with the word PEACE on it, maybe the “C” a peace sign.
I’ve gotten distracted by the bizillion other quilts I’ve fallen in love with, but have lots of fabulous fabrics I could use to do some of this again. Tonya’s book is awesome, and I’d love to have it! Thanks for the opportunity!
I have done improv piecing once, and look forward to more! I made a scarf and added some free piecing to add panache. It was so liberating…I loved it.
I love what Kim did with her version of the quilt. I’ve been in touch with her for the last couple of weeks and she has given me so much helpful information regarding the scrap squad. I love what she did with Tonya’s book. I’d love to win a copy. Hugs
I have never tried improv piecing. I am a rule follower and a “things are done a certain way” type of person. However, (just this year) I have begun to see beauty in improv and modern quilting (as opposed to traditional). It is very exciting to me!
Wow, what a fantastic job Kim has done with my pattern! I really love her interpretation, great job!
I never to make quilt before. Frist time I try to make small of quilt so I like your
quilt. I try my best.