I was honored to be asked to make a project from Kelly Young’s new book – Scrappy Improv Quilting. Kelly blogs over at My Quilt Infatuation and is known for her Improv Quilting technique. All the projects in this book are mini quilt size and so incredibly cute. I chose the Summer Blossom project which is a single flower.
I first chose my colors to be more daisy-like than the sunflower colors in the book project and I found the perfect fabric in my stash for the background. It adds a bit of interest with the birds but does not detract from the main composition.
Then I started making my slabs. Part of Kelly’s technique for slab making is to start with scrappy similar colored strips and sew them together in different directions until you get to the size slab you need for the project. My favorite snippet in her book states that she likes to use strips but if you want to use odd angled scraps then do so. It’s your quilt so do as you will to make sure the slab ends up the correct size. She knew that I would do just that with my slabs.
The directions were so clear and I was able to complete the four slabs pretty quickly and start the process of growing that sweet flower. It turned out so dang adorable! I love it so much.
I wanted to practice some free-motion quilting but haven’t sewn much this year so opted for a wavy diagonal cross-hatch that I love. I pulled in more of that dark blue into the binding to really help those petals pop.
There are so many projects in this book that I want to make – the hot air balloon, the houses, the butterfly, the cover quilt. I really love them all.
The book itself is so colorful and bright. The photos and process illustrations are so clear. It’s a beautiful book to work with. Be sure to check out all the stops on the blog tour. I’m heading to Sandra’s post right now to check out her take on that hot air balloon!
Scrappy Improv Quilting Blog Tour Schedule–8/31- Intro, Single Block Beauties, and Simple Shapes
9/7- Seasonal Sensations, Standards With a Twist
9/13- here – Summer Blossom- Lori @ Crossquilt
Up, Up, and Away– Sandra @ mmm…quilts!
9/15- Flutter– Rose @ Something Rosemade
Botanics– Diann @ Little Penguin Quilts
9/20- Face the Sun– Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts
Full Spectrum– Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal
9/22- Prismatic– Anja @ Anja Quilts
Downpour– Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting
9/27- Funkytown– Vasudha @ Storied Quilts
Cherub Wings– Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty
9/29- Chapel Window– Kris @ Sew Sunshine
Winter Frost– Leanne @ Devoted Quilter
10/4- Heartstruck– Rebecca Grace @ Rebecca Grace Quilting
Star Spangled– Christine @ Triangles & Squares
10/6- Birds of a Feather– Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts
Fall Foliage– Susan @ Quilt Fabrication
10/11- Ornamental– Gail @ Quilting Gail
Churn, Churn, Churn– Cynthia @ Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework
10/13- Sunset Crossing– Kate @ Katie Mae Quilts
Positivity– Sarah @ Sarah Goer Quilts
10/18- All Dressed Up– Linda @ Flourishing Palms
Shockwave– Anne-Marie @ Stories From the Sewing Room
10/20- Sweet Bee (a bonus thank-you pattern), Finishing, and Wrap-Up – My Quilt Infatuation
You know what happens when you put a bunch of purses in the washer? A tangled up pile of purses. That was fun and a little time-consuming to undo all the straps but the end result was worth it.
I used my evening TV watching time to do the seam-ripping. It was super satisfying to tear those seams open and see the inside construction of the bags. I’ve always liked seeing how things are put together.
It’s a simple design with a big impact. The bags are apart and the design is set. It’s time to cut the pieces. I can’t wait to see if it transfers to reality as well as I think it will. The first cuts look very promising.
Sewing this together is going to be a blast!
This sewalong took a lot of planning as we did have to post each day on Instagram to be eligible for any prizes. I started out 2 weeks ahead in my sewing and I ended 2 weeks ahead but those in between times were sometimes a battle to be sure I had the block done and photographed on the proper posting day.
This finish will be soon but it’s not there yet. My setting circle color is a dark blue chambray. I want the illusion of rainbows with denim and I think it will look fabulous!
This is going to be so cute when it’s done.
I have a few tips to share for when your background fabric is running scarce or is super precious and you don’t want to waste it.
By sewing the tree blocks first, you will have some offcuts that you can use on the cars.
See that white offcut? It can be used for the 1 1/2″ half-square triangles on the cars. Trim it to 1 1/2″ square then place it on the correct fabric for the car or tire or whatever.
Line up the sides as if it was a full square – placing the wonky cut to the side that will be cut off and discarded. Sew your diagonal line using your favorite method. I just eyeball it.
Trim the corner as you would if it was a full square and press.open.
The background I was using on this quilt is one I’ve had to order multiple times so I hate to waste any little bit of it and this trick sure did save a whole bunch of it. This pile of offcuts is just from the two tree blocks shown above.
Planning how you make this quilt will really save on fabric. I’m not a pre-cutter so this worked out perfectly for me.
My quilt guild is currently involved in a local Shop Hop so I had a great opportunity to pick up some Christmas low volumes to use with some focus prints from my stash. I’m having a lot of fun pairing everything up.
Christmas themed projects are in full swing around here and it’s not even July yet! Have you started your Christmas projects yet? Either way – happy sewing!
crossquilt 