Black Improv Progresses

Black Improv - Sept. 2025
Black Improv – Sept. 2025

I have been working diligently on the Black Improv. Surprisingly it is getting quite large. Not king-sized or anything, but large for one of my donation quilts.

After having this piece languish for a long time, I thought it would be a chose to finish it. Even though I am not finished yet, I am having fun working on it. So many stripes!!

I am using the strips I cut for color strip blocks to make the quilt bigger and to make the piecing a little easier. I know I will make more black scraps at some point, so why not?

At the widest and tallest points in the photo above, the piece is 38w x 35l. It is getting to be the size I like giving to the Community Giving project.

Patchwork Palooza Block 9

Patchwork Palooza block 9
Patchwork Palooza block 9

I finished Patchwork Palooza block #9, Starboard and Steady. 

In Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Quilt Patterns**, this block is called Aunt Addie’s Album from Hearth & Home.

I wanted the darker pink on the outside of the star points, but got the pieces mixed up. I am not super fond of all of the medium pink and might make this block again so I can change the center. We’ll see once I have caught up with the blocks I missed. 

 

 

 

 

 

**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this website.

 

 

 

 

**N.B.: Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.

Patchwork Palooza Block 10

Patchwork Palooza 10
Patchwork Palooza 10

I made Block 10 almost as soon as I received it last week. I am trying hard to keep up.

The Patchwork Palooza project calls this block Turn, Turn, Turn. It is, however, a classic Dutchman’s Puzzle. This is one of the blocks I use when I teach my Sampler class. It is a great block and using the 4-at-a-time method for making the Flying Geese makes it easy to put together. I pressed some seams open in order to lessen the bulk. I haven’t done that before, but might make it a habit. 

To trim, I used the Wing Clipper ruler by Studio 180 Designs**. You can easily use any ruler as long as you are careful. As you know, I love that ruler and the lines on it make lining up the ruler to trim super easy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this website.

Black Improv Progresses

Black Improv in process
Black Improv in process

I haven’t made much progress on this piece, but I haven’t given on it either. After I posted about the most recent Color Improv finishes, I got some nice feedback and decided to get back to this piece.

I had a couple of the strip blocks and I decided to add them to the piece so as to make it larger sooner. 

It has been a struggle, because I have the half 16 patch blocks for the next Sidewalk quilt as leaders and enders as well as the Four Patch Fun piecing

So much quilty goodness!!

 

Cosmic Crazy Complete

Cosmic Crazy donation top
Cosmic Crazy donation top

I quickly completed Cosmic Crazy over the weekend so it would be ready when I went to Sew Day. I didn’t know how much time I would have to sew after my mom’s surgery.

I didn’t have the kind of gold fabric I was imagining, so I used this yellow with red dots. I hope that it isn’t too ugly. 

Cosmic Crazy Back
Cosmic Crazy Back

 

I used some greens as the back and am calling this one done. Not a great work, but someone will like it. At least that is what I am telling myself.

Patchwork Palooza 3

Ooops! I skipped block #2. I’ll have to get back to that one!

Also, today block 10 comes out. EEKK! I need to get sewing.

Patchwork Palooza Block 3
Patchwork Palooza Block 3

Block 3 took a long time after I cut it out, because I sewed it using leaders and enders while I worked on something else. I am pleased with the way it came out.

Of course, I am not sure how it will look once I start making the setting blocks, but for now I am happy.

Patchwork Palooza 1

Patchwork Palooza block 1
Patchwork Palooza block 1

Friend Julie is doing much better at the Patchwork Palooza than I am. However, I am undaunted! After my success with the Patchwork Palooza 8 Redux, I couldn’t rest on my laurels. I stopped myself from making too many of these blocks all at once. After all, I have other projects on which to work. I did make this block, n.1. I want to catch up and then start making the secondary blocks.

The dots will be the background and I have added in a new Art Gallery Natural Elements print for the Flying Geese. I have kind of decided to use that Grunge lavender every time I have to cut a 4.5 inch square. I may need to buy more. I’ll need to add in some other fabrics but will do that over time.

This is basically a Sawtooth Star with some shenanigans in the corners. In Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Quilt Patterns, this block is called Magic Cross Design from Woman’s Day 1931. I didn’t find this block in Jinny Beyer’s The Quilter’s Album of Patchwork Patterns. I  didn’t find a reference to Women’s Day in the bibliography. I guess you have to draw the line somewhere.

Patchwork Palooza 8 Redux

After the other day’s disappointing start to the Patchwork Palooza I tried again. This time things went a lot better. I actually got a seam allowance and didn’t need to drag out the Simple Folded Corners** ruler.

Patchwork Palooza block 8 redux
Patchwork Palooza block 8 redux

The block came out much better the second time.  I followed the directions exactly except I did sew a little to the left of the drawn line so the flippy bit covered the whole corner. The flippy corners method is actually a good way to make the block.

I guess I should have trusted the directions the first time out.

I also changed the pink to a lighter one.

Later I was looking for the Wing Clipper ruler and found a Square-in-a-Square ruler** by Studio 180 designs.  I have no idea where or when I bought this. Maybe it was a gift? Since Square-in-a-Square blocks are one of my least favorites it seems like a odd choice. Maybe I bought it to use for the Boy Scout Patch quilt that’s lingering on my Dream Projects list.

 

 

 

 

 

 

**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this website.

More Four Patch Fun

I have been working on these little blocks here and there. I have a few more to show. They go together really fast and are great for leaders and enders, which is the whole point, after all.

Now that I have all the blocks done for the next Sidewalk quilt, I can focus a little more on these.

Patchwork Palooza #8

Patchwork Palooza
Patchwork Palooza

I spent a little bit of time yesterday starting the Patchwork Palooza Project (PPP??). I started with Block 8 as that was the most recent one. I’ll go back and do the others as I have time.

I pulled out the Art Gallery Natural Elements fabrics I bought at Quilter’s Hollow a few months ago. They aren’t the fabric pull I discussed when I first mentioned this project but I think they will look nice. Ultimately, the blocks are too small for the fabric pull since the two main fabrics are comprised of big blowsy prints.

I also added a lavender Grunge print I bought on a whim.

Patchwork Palooza block 8
Patchwork Palooza block 8

Talking about the fabric was the most exciting part as the sewing didn’t go well. Despite my years of experience and careful cutting this block came out terribly. I cut off all of the points. Even after I fixed it it didn’t look right. This is a write off and I’ll do it again. Maybe it can be used as the beginning of a improv piece? An improv piece that I slash up so nobody sees how terrible it is. 

Improv Pieces Finished

Grey Improv quilted & bound
Grey Improv quilted & bound

I wasn’t able to make the guild meeting on the 17th, but Lee Ann was kind enough to send me some photos of the recently finished quilts.

The grey looks really great. This grey improv quilt is one of my favorites. I am kind of sad to see it go to some random person. I am sure that person will appreciate it.

Since I have been using quite a bit of grey recently, I expect to work on another in the not too distant future. 

 

Green Improv #2 quilted and bound
Green Improv #2 quilted and bound

The recent green one is also finished. It is not a favorite, but I know someone will like it. 

I really appreciate the other guild members’ efforts in finishing these. It allows me to do the parts I enjoy.

 

Sidewalk #3 Finished

Sidewalk #3
Sidewalk #3

I made good progress on Sidewalk #3 and was able to get this finished quickly. Using one patch, instead of improv piecing or Half 16 patch blocks, for the 8.5 inch x 4.5 inch units helped make the piecing go very quickly.

This is already with Laura waiting to be quilted. 

I noticed after it was gone that I forgot to put a top border on. WTH? Oh well. I’ll do better next time.

I know I made a back for this quilt, but I didn’t take a picture of it. Again, WTH? Not like me at all.

Diamond Test Blast from the Past

At a recent guild meeting, we talked about themes for the Fair challenge. One idea was an ugly fabric challenge. Been there done that. I am not a fan. 

Diamond Test Piece
Diamond Test Piece

When I was rummaging for the Handbag Sampler a few weeks ago, I found a few small pieces and some blocks about which I had forgotten. One of the pieces was a diamond test I worked one before I made the Fabric of the Year 2010 quilt and to test a border idea for one of the Bullseye quilts. I also found a post about it. I thought it was older, but I guess 15 years is old enough. This test was made with ugly fabrics. I think the outer brown might be a Civil War print. Yuck.

I didn’t remember making this when I saw it and knew I wasn’t going to make it the center of a quilt. I decided to make it into a donation quilt. My mantra is “someone will like it” whether I like it or not. 

Diamond test with borders
Diamond test with borders

The color scheme was a bit depressing to me. That is one reason why I am not excited about an ‘ugly fabric’ challenge. I decided to pull out the greens. The more subtle greens in the background of the border print are hard to see, but the odd greens I found worked very well. I used a lot of green not only to make the quilt a decent size, but also to overwhelm the brown.

Diamond test with outer borders
Diamond test with outer borders

The piece wasn’t quite big enough, so I found some browns that weren’t hideous and added some additional strips. I didn’t have enough to put on both sides. I used two different prints that are similar colors.

The brown borders are ok. And I’ll be able to say I used some brown. 😉

Diamond test back
Diamond test back

The back was with the test piece. it started as that beige with the stripes around three sides. It was small, so I made it larger as well.

Blue Improv #2 Finished

Blue Improv Donation top - finished
Blue Improv Donation top – finished

The blue improv top and back are finished and delivered to the community giving team.

I am not sure about the border, but I wanted it bigger and it is too late to go back now.

The border also kind of stabilizes all that improv piecing and bias edges.

Blue Improv #2 back
Blue Improv #2 back

I am doing quite a bit of rummaging in my fabric bins, so there are some interesting fabrics on the back.

I enjoy these improv pieces and may need to get back to the Black Improv piece pretty soon.

Sidewalk #3 Start

Sidewalk #3 unpieced
Sidewalk #3 unpieced

This is a different kind of Sidewalk design. I thought of this design after cutting some 4.5 x 8.5 rectangles for another another Rectangle donation quilt. Remember the first one I made last year?

I had cut enough rectangles to make another of those rectangle quilts. However, I saw that the size would work with this design as well. While I was on the sidewalk roll, I decided to try it. It will be super easy to sew together.