fresh start {Improv Handbook Score #2}
Time to launch my second quilt from The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters! Score #2 is a strings quilt, but it doesn't really start with string scraps as I assumed. Nope. Sherri Lynn advises us to cut strings from yardage, selvedge to selvedge. This is a string quilt for anyone with fabric!
For starters, check out Sherri Lynn's example quilt. Oooh! Aaaah! Ok, now forget that one because we're all going to do our own thing, right? No pressure though. Truly. I'm telling myself there is no wrong way to make this quilt!
First I tossed lots of pretty fabrics in a grand pile on my work table. I've decided to work with grays this time, making something a bit more reflective of my mood and our drizzling, misty skies. Grays popped with purple, yellow and subdued cool tones. Lots of browns too.
Score #2 tasks us to define parameters for grouping and sewing strings into three distinct "sheets". A sheet is a new fabric made of sewing strings together in rows. Think of sheets as sewn yardage. They will be cut up later to make the quilt.
Sheet #1 (fabrics pictured on left) low value, low contrast, strips sewn randomly without planned order. I'm thinking this sheet will be used to create background or visual space in my quilt.
Sheet #2 (fabrics pictured on right) high value and low value fabrics, high conrtrast, strips sewn together based on an order set out entirely in advance. I'm thinking to sew up a small sheet along these lines to use as accents in the quilt.
Sheet #3 (group of fabrics above) more saturated, mixed value, strips sewn spontaneously making intentional parings and sequences on the fly as I go. I intend to make the largest sheet of these fabrics so that most of my quilt has this color personality.
Being true to myself, I opted to pull out my string scraps to identify any willing participants for my sheets. I didn't find a whole lot to use, but I'm still stoked to include them. Scraps just may while their way into every one of my improv quilts...
And now I've cut and sewn my first sheet, bubbles and all. No rulers and no advance planning = almost effortless. We'll see where this goes!
Anyone else starting Score #2?
::Endnote:: For those just joining me, I've decided to start work my way through All. Ten. Scores from The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters in order. I'm stretching myself to follow Lynn's lead, even when it's uncomfortable. Because that tends to be where the growth hides. Maybe you'd like to join me? I won't be kicking through these too fast. Perhaps in a few years we'll find ourselves on the other side with a stack of artistic wonders to use and share.
For starters, check out Sherri Lynn's example quilt. Oooh! Aaaah! Ok, now forget that one because we're all going to do our own thing, right? No pressure though. Truly. I'm telling myself there is no wrong way to make this quilt!
First I tossed lots of pretty fabrics in a grand pile on my work table. I've decided to work with grays this time, making something a bit more reflective of my mood and our drizzling, misty skies. Grays popped with purple, yellow and subdued cool tones. Lots of browns too.
Score #2 tasks us to define parameters for grouping and sewing strings into three distinct "sheets". A sheet is a new fabric made of sewing strings together in rows. Think of sheets as sewn yardage. They will be cut up later to make the quilt.
Sheet #1 (fabrics pictured on left) low value, low contrast, strips sewn randomly without planned order. I'm thinking this sheet will be used to create background or visual space in my quilt.
Sheet #2 (fabrics pictured on right) high value and low value fabrics, high conrtrast, strips sewn together based on an order set out entirely in advance. I'm thinking to sew up a small sheet along these lines to use as accents in the quilt.
Sheet #3 (group of fabrics above) more saturated, mixed value, strips sewn spontaneously making intentional parings and sequences on the fly as I go. I intend to make the largest sheet of these fabrics so that most of my quilt has this color personality.
Being true to myself, I opted to pull out my string scraps to identify any willing participants for my sheets. I didn't find a whole lot to use, but I'm still stoked to include them. Scraps just may while their way into every one of my improv quilts...
And now I've cut and sewn my first sheet, bubbles and all. No rulers and no advance planning = almost effortless. We'll see where this goes!
Anyone else starting Score #2?
::Endnote:: For those just joining me, I've decided to start work my way through All. Ten. Scores from The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters in order. I'm stretching myself to follow Lynn's lead, even when it's uncomfortable. Because that tends to be where the growth hides. Maybe you'd like to join me? I won't be kicking through these too fast. Perhaps in a few years we'll find ourselves on the other side with a stack of artistic wonders to use and share.