I've been PLAY!-ing, and I have to say, its the most quilting fun I'm having! Patty from Elm Street Quilts is hosting an Improv QAL called PLAY! and gives a prompt each week for you to play with--no patterns, no fabric requirements, not even 1/4" seams (though I have to admit, I'm keeping with them) and you get to go a little quilting crazy. Elm Street Quilts play link-up
I love it! I chop up some fabric and do some lay outs, and then just start sewing! I love the fabrics I'm using, I love the freedom to cut any-which-way, and I love the designing!
The greys are leftover from my niece's quilt and I got the pinks from my SIL who's down-sizing her stash (lucky me, right?).
The first prompt was 'wonky log cabin.' Here's one of mine:
I love it! I chop up some fabric and do some lay outs, and then just start sewing! I love the fabrics I'm using, I love the freedom to cut any-which-way, and I love the designing!
The greys are leftover from my niece's quilt and I got the pinks from my SIL who's down-sizing her stash (lucky me, right?).
The first prompt was 'wonky log cabin.' Here's one of mine:
It looks less wonky at this angle, but its fun anyway! I want to do at least 4, total, of these... I already am designing a quilt in my head!
Second prompt was 'triangles,' which always give me headaches, so I went crazy on this prompt, putting in lots of them:
Second prompt was 'triangles,' which always give me headaches, so I went crazy on this prompt, putting in lots of them:
Next came 'stack, cut, sew' and it came out looking a bit tame to me... it might need another try:
"Wonky geese' was this last week's prompt. Mine look like a house of geese... I guess i should have used another color for the border!
If you haven't tried it yet, please do! You'll enjoy it! Here's a few insights and suggestions:
#playimprovqal Elm Street Quilts play link-up
- I found it most difficult to square off the 'play' pieces to put them together into a usable block. Try not to fall in love with your creations--you might have to slice off a chunk to get it to fit!
- If you don't like a prompt, skip it! Or do your own wonky block. The point seems to be to play with ideas of what quilt blocks "should" be and make them your own.
- Pick good fabrics--scraps or otherwise--because with all the wonky-ness, bias cuts happen all over and those cheap fabrics buckle and stretch!
- Oh! Starch starch starch all your fabrics before you start and you will have more fun! Fabric just plays better when starched! (I actually don't use starch, but you know what I mean: use your spray of choice!).
#playimprovqal Elm Street Quilts play link-up