Wonky Happies? Wonky Logs? Just Wonky?
45 x 54
I used a pile of 5 inch (or were they 6.5 inch?) black & white squares I swapped quite some time ago...
...and framed them with some bright short strings
I pieced together some leftover batting pieces and some leftover binding pieces...
...and pieced together a nice piece of cotton gingham I found at the thrift store long ago.
I quilted it on my plain Jane Janome DSM with some free motion squares and rectangles.
The quilting made it all poofy and cuddly.
I improvised - used what I had on hand - leftover fabric strings, leftover batting, leftover binding, thrift store backing. I get a good feeling using up what some others might give away or (gasp!) throw away.
This quilt will go into the donation pile. I like to have a pile of donation quilts handy for any occasions that arise and at the end of the year I send any left off to their destinations. This year I'm making some emergency car kits for Christmas gifts and including a small quilt along with some other survival items. So, some of these smaller quilts might go into those boxes.
Some Thoughts on Improv
I'm afraid you will only see me doing what some others define as "improv" with scraps. Improv to me is short for improvise - use what you have on hand. (Well, on second thought...with that definition of improv alone most of my quilts then would be considered improv since I rarely buy any fabric these days and am using what I have on hand). I really have no desire to cut willy-nilly into my"good stash" paid for with hard earned money, to do without all the rulers and other tools I have at my disposal, to not do my best to match points or seams . I started out like that but now I love piecing - actually I'm starting to enjoy the more challenging blocks to piece more and more - and have no need to go back to my old ways. I already feel "free" whenever I sew anything or work out in my garden or take off my bra and shoes and socks so no need to get liberated doing any specific type of quilting . I'm happy just doing my own thing whatever that may be for the day. But when there's scraps left over from doing what I want to do - then I might get a little wonky or do a little free piecing or some crazy quilting and I might even have some mismatched points. I like it all.
If you want to see some other improv interpretations and some Ad Hoc Improv Quilters you just have to visit Kaja's Sew Slowly blog and Ann's Fret Not Yourself blog.
Please note: I haven't gotten around to visiting my usual blog list lately to see what everyone has been working on or returned a thank you for each lovely comment because I have been feeling like the walking dead since Monday (as you can see from my Quilty 365 circle ) . I'm hoping to be around to visit soon.
17 comments:
That's a great idea, to trim out your black and white squares with all those colours! It really looks good. Feel better soon!
I love the idea of starting with a larger square and adding lots of strips of any size. I bet it's encouraging to have an 8 or 10" log cabin in quick time. These black and white squares are lovely. I really like the mix with the colors.
Hope you feel better very soon. From the looks of your walking dead circle, you've had it pretty rough!
I think how you improvise is exactly how woman used to improvise a hundred plus years ago. It all works and what you do ends up with some wonderful finishes! Love the way you started this one and how it ended up. Log cabins are a particular favorite of mine.:)
Oh dear... hope you feel much better soon!
That may be the perfect cuddle-up quilt! I love the colors and the happy skewiness. (Spellchecker, skewiness is so a word. I just used it right there <--- See? Word.)
I hope you feel better soon! Though you probably have a vast collection of zombie fabrics to use, I'd rather you didn't have to...
Hope you feel better soon - it looks like you've finished up the perfect quilt to snuggle under before it heads off to a new home. I'm with you on 'do whatever makes you happy' - and I like all sorts of quilting too :) Your wonky ones look great to me!
Looks great! Would be so fun to crawl under this quilt at night for a long winters sleep
Love your use of scraps and leftovers! Really is beautiful!
Hope you feel better soon.
Scraps are wonderful to use up, I've been trying to use all of mine for years now! But there always seems to be more... The term Improv is kind of new to me, not really sure what it means, or if it just means not using a pattern. Your quilt turned out beautiful, and hope you're feeling better soon.
I vote for "Wonky Windows." You have developed a real sense of confidence with yourself and your style, even as it keeps on evolving. Hope that you feel better than ever real soon!
This quilt turned out so well, Cathy. It's cheerful and fun with the bright strings and free piecing. I'm so sorry you've got the 'creeping crud.' It seems like everyone I know (including me) caught it this year. Really drains every ounce of energy. Take care. I hope you're on the mend.
Thanks for linking up with AHIQ.
What a gorgeous quilt! The bright colors and wonky borders are simply fabulous together. I hope you feel better soon. Bruce and I have that dang 100-day virus and it is awful feeling so awful for so awfully long....
This is a lovely finish; I like log cabins and hope to start on a wonky L.C. project soon. Thanks for giving some inspiration.
I alternate between improv and more precise quilting too. I know what you mean about not wanting to waste hard earned stash, even though improv is hardly ever wasting. This turned out great. It makes me think of chalkboards with those black centers.
Great log cabin quilt! Lately I can't seem to stay away from log cabin
blocks, I even dream about them.
I like your choice of backing too.
Feel Better soon - we have had it here to - and today - I feel like I am alive. I LOVE your style of pieceing, and enjoy that myself as well!
I hope you're feeling a bit better now: there are some vile germs around this year. Love your wonky Log Cabins; the bigger centres give it a good twist and it definitely looks like one to snuggle up in. I like that improv is a term that can encompass lots of different approaches.
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