New Improv Stripes Project

Remember the wavy, curvy improv stripes from a while ago? 

Don't they look awesome cut into 2 1/2" strips? I just love the curves and varying widths!

I got the itch to pair them with an ombre fabric, and knew I had some in the stash somewhere - I just didn't know what color. Fortunately, I didn't have to turn the room upside down looking for that ombre! In the fourth bin I opened, I found this green, which has tiny black and white dots in it, working perfectly with the stripes.

So, after a bit of cutting and sewing yesterday, I now have this on the design wall:

Doesn't look like much at the moment, and not sure if it will turn out really cool, or be a wild mess to look at! Every time I walk by it though, I keep thinking there's a bunch of zebras hiding out in a forest, which is odd, since zebras live on the tree-less grasslands of Africa. But the zebra image is certainly providing inspiration for a quilt name!

So what am I absolutely loving about this? Those curvy stripe strips - say that three times fast! - in the block centers. This is one of the center blocks,

and this is an end block, for one column style at least.

The plan is to have two more columns, switching the light and dark areas, and off-setting the blocks. I'm thinking of topping off each block with a black strip, giving the whole thing a bit of a woven look. That might work, and it might not.

Today's project is to finish up making the other blocks, testing the black strips, and hopefully birthing a quilt top!

Wish me luck!

Update: check out Zee Quilt, the fabulous finish!

Have a great weekend quilting everyone!

Love Match

Do you have a love match? I know I do!

Not only do I have a wonderful match in my hubby of over 30 years, but I also have this very striking Love Match!

This striped heart runner - so bold and modern - it makes my heart sing! What started out with a vague idea of freehand cut stripes paired with hearts, has evolved into this stunner! Though not quite the style of the Improv Patchwork (affiliate link) book, the inspiration is there, and ultimately, the result is my style.

I want to thank everyone again for their suggestions and words of encouragement after making the blocks, as I really had no idea where this was going. Only when I put them up on the design wall in a staggered arrangement did the on-point setting appear - bingo! Paired with an unusual sashing arrangement, plus more black and white for balance, and well, the rest is history!

For the quilting, I kept it simple, though I would have loved to put the feathered heart motif in there. Ultimately, straight lines added to the bold, modern feel in the negative space, and curls add to the sweetness of the hearts.

Fortunately for me and everyone else who loves the Love Match table runner, a pattern is available so that you, too, can have your own Love Match!

Happy Quilting!

 

Improv Stripes Update

Pretty, isn't it?

I snapped this picture of one of my most pretty quilt motif drawings, just before I erased it off the vinyl forever. I had high hopes that feathers and/or hearts in the sides of the quilt top would look nice. Everything I drew was pretty, but nothing played well with the quilt top - bummer. 

But at least I captured it before I erased it, as it's one that I'd love to use somewhere, someday. Maybe you have a quilt that it would look lovely on - feel free to use it, and send me a picture!

I'll admit, there was a lot of procrastination regarding the improv stripe/heart blocks. I want to thank everyone for their suggestions and support as to layout ideas. And I am so happy to report that I now have a fantastic quilt top - notice I didn't tell you what kind of quilt top. But alas, it's not finished yet, so giving you a sneak peek.

The quilting is almost done, as I got a late start yesterday. Spent the morning with contractors regarding installing air conditioning ahead of the coming summer. It would be wonderful to have, but boy, is it expensive!


Hard to think about AC when it's February, and equally hard to dive into a new Book of the Month with so much left unfinished. So I've decided to continue with Improv Patchwork, (affiliate link) working on those very curvy stripes, and possibly another heart idea. Hopefully, I'll have the next one figured out a bit better!

Happy Quilting!