Quilt Improv by Lucie Summers

It’s really no secret that I admire Lucie Summers’s quilts, as I’ve mentioned them as inspirations for my Painted Pebbles Quilt and included her book in my list of wish-worthy quilting books for 2013.

Her publishers must have picked up on my love because they’ve asked me to be part of a blog hop to promote Lucie’s book Quilt Improv: Incredible Quilts from Everyday Inspirations.  So, here I am, helping to make sure you’ve heard of this fine book!  For more stops on the blog hop, check out the schedule at Stitch Craft Create.  There should be interviews and reviews and a lot of peaks inside the book!

For my part, I decided to make a block from the book and blog about it.  Which block?  Well, I thought I would try one that was new to me: Chevrons!

Chevrons block in Lucie's book

I found Lucie’s directions very clear and easy to follow.  I was able to turn out quite a lot of patchwork in a short time.

Chevrons on the design wall

The book is set up to teach you to make each of these blocks to a
certain scale (finishing at 12.5×12.5″)  so that the blocks are easily combined into quilts that mix the
blocks.

The blocks also lend themselves to being made in a variety of sizes.  I didn’t stop my strip of patchwork at 12.5″ long, I just kept going.  And I didn’t reverse the angle for my second strip, which probably means I’m not making chevrons, but rather “chevs” or is it  “rons”?  🙂  I’m planning on making a twin-sized quilt of all “rons”!

I didn’t feel like I was violating the spirit of the book by doing things my own way, because Lucie is very encouraging of her readers to find their inspirations and follow them wherever they lead! Hooray for true improv!

Chevrons with variations

On a similar note: I also really like that Lucie has the quilter add the strips of fabric one at a time, rather than suggesting strip piecing or other shortcuts.  I find that strip piecing can ruin the look of an improv quilt because it makes angles and fabric pairings uniform, where they should all be just a little different!  To get the “improv look” a person really has to improvise!

I definitely recommend giving this book a look if you’re interested in improvisational quilting!

One of my lucky readers is going to win a copy of this book (courtesy of the publisher, who is also donating a copy to the Ann Arbor Modern Quilt Guild‘s Library).  For your chance to win, please comment below!  I will use a random number generator to select a winner on December 27th!  If you are a “no reply” blogger, please include your email address in your comment. A winner has been chosen.

Rossie

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This Post Has 61 Comments

  1. I really like your chevs and your rons! And those long red-purple verticle strips…

    Thanks for the giveaway. vjwildman a t yahoo do t co m

  2. Great review – I like that with your block you went free form, in the spirit of the book. I'm a big fan of Lucie's work, thanks for the chance to win her book.

  4. I love working improv
    I'm finding more and more that I'm looking at a pattern for inspiration and going off in my own direction with aspects of it
    I'm sure this book of Lu's will inspire us all

  5. Improv quilting is something I'm hoping to work on more next year, I find it quite freeing (is that a word) making blocks and quilts without using much of a pattern, it's always interesting seeing what happens.

  8. Great to remember piercing each strip seperately! Love how golden and warm your piercing looks, each strip pieced with a lot of attention!

  10. hi r0ssie, just pooping in to say THANK YOU for 'getting' the book – that's the very reason i make my chevrons piece by piece & not in long strips – some would say time consuming, but i think it's so obvious done the other way. and of course i totally applaud your chevs or rons, am completely inspired to make my own now! can't wait to see it made! xxx

  18. Those vertical strips breaking up the angled lines are fabulous. I can't wait to see this quilt when it's finished. I think breaking out of the block and experimenting with improv might be my goal for the new year. 🙂

  26. I am finding that improv is where I most enjoy piecing. A lot less stress and a lot more fun! I would love to own a copy of this book.

  35. Having been a traditional quilter for much longer than I've been a modern quilter, this book would be very helpful to teach me how to get over my aversion to improv. Would love to be able to pick up fabric and "run" with a create-it-as-you-go design. Thanks for the chance to win!

  39. I am so wanting this book since I read your first review a week or so ago. Thanks for a chance to win and happy holidays.

    deb
    ladara at cfl dot rr dot com

  51. I love how we "modern quilters" take an idea and use it as a launching point – not a recipe for repetition. I do have a bit of trouble letting go to the point of "improv" though… serendipity is good, serendipity is good…:-) This might just be the nudge I need… thanks for the chance to win!

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