Why I Love Improv Quilting and Resources for Getting Started
The first quilt I ever made was an improv quilt! It was a scrappy, wonky house quilt backed with flannel and up until my toddler son got into some paint and painted the basement family room with it, including said quilt, it was one of the coziest too.
I’m here to chat about improv quilting today; what it is, how to get started, and project ideas!
What is Improv Quilting?
Improvisational quilting is pretty much what it sounds like — piecing a quilt together in whatever way sings to you, picking out fabrics and adding lines, curves, and details as the wind takes you. Of course you can have some sort of idea of where you’re going with the project before you get started, but only if you want to!
Improv quilts range from simple to complex, but are always interesting. You can play with solids or prints, curves, intricate piecing, or keep it simple with a traditional quilt block, but make it slightly askew or “wonky” as we used to call this quilting style in the 2000s when I was getting started with quilting.
After moving into our newest fixer upper a few weeks ago, I was desperate to sew for some stress relief. I didn’t really care what I made, I just really needed the therapy, so I put my sewing room together as soon as I could and got busy with some scraps. I made a mini quilt by sewing strips together that matched a certain striped fabric I love, making a few of the lines not quite straight. Working in a loose log cabin design of sorts, I added stripped section until I had a good sized square.
I love how this mini quilt turned out and I’ve already hung in on the wall in my new sewing space! It’s the first thing I sewed in our new house, I felt so relaxed and rejuvenated making it, and I’ll always love it for that reason.
Getting Started with Improv Quilting: 6 Resources for Beginners
Improv quilting might be a totally new concept to you, or maybe you just feel confused about how it actually works, so I’ve put together some top resources for you to get started with improv quilting! Some of these are books that I’ve either found personally useful or have on my wish list, and some are resources created by talented quilting bloggers that I know are amazing!
If you’re brand new to quilting and/or improvisational quilts, I recommend starting with a less complicated concept, like in this book, Log Cabin Improv.
Or, to really dig in to improve quilting, check out Improv Quilting by Irene Roderick (this one is on my list!)
The lovely quilting blogger Amy Ellis has a 20 page ebook called Getting Started with Improv Quilting that gets great reviews! Check it out if you want accessible instructions from a pro.
For a FREE resource, try this blog series! You can make an improvisational quilt from start to finish. It’s beginner friendly, but any level will love the result.
Another book on my wishlist is The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters.
And the book that sparked my curiosity in improv quilting! Out of the Box with Easy Blocks mades improv quilting feel so fun and easy. You can create all kinds of things using the concepts in this book. I made my pineapple mini quilt using the instructions!
I hope you’re inspired to try improvisational quilting for yourself! I find it very relaxing and since my least favorite part of quilting is having to cut everything out beforehand, the plan-as-you-go process really floats my boat.
Happy Sewing!
Nikki
