We had a little show and tell (you better believe that these ladies are talented!) and then set to work with a technique I've dubbed "Sew and Slice." I'm sure some real quilters out there have come up with a better name, but I'm going for the basic descriptive term.
Start like this:
- Cut strips of the same widths or varying widths (2.5" is a good place to start, though anywhere from 2-3.5" wide is pretty good too.)
- Sew them together to form stacked strips of fabric (like the one you see on the left, below).
Improvisational Quilting: Sew and Slice |
If you're going to slice it up, here is a place to begin ...
- Make 1, 2, 3, or 4 vertical cuts to slice the stacked strips into smaller strips. Rearrange or flip smaller strips, then re-sew into a block. Look at the photo above on the right: no, I did not cut all those little squares and painstakingly piece them together in a checkerboard pattern. I just did a sew and slice, and inverted two strips!
- If you're trying to do some quilting math, here's a little pointer ... every time you sew something together, you lose 1/4" on each side of fabric for a total 'loss' of 1/2". So, in the block on the right above, I had it 1 1/2" wider than I really wanted it to be. I sliced and re-sewed, and ended up with the right size.
If you want to get a little crazier, try this ...
- Trim your stacked strip to a desired shape (rectangle, square, triangle) and sew white strips of fabric to the sides to make your block as big as you want. (See the triangle/Christmas tree/party hat on the left)
Improvisational Quilting: Variation on Basic Sew and Slice |
- Or, make 1, 2, 3, or 4 straight or diagonal cuts to slice the stacked strips into smaller strips. Rearrange or flip smaller strips. Sew solid strips between the pieced strips. Re-sew back into a block. (again, on the left)
Improvisational Quilting: Variation on Basic Sew and Slice |
- Make lots of little vertical slices (at least 1" apart - either all the same or varying widths) and then re-sew, staggering the seams ever so slightly. Here's what I mean:
A little improv take on bargello quilts! |
- You'll end up with something rectangle-ish - just trim the uneven edges, add white (to get the size you're going for) or just leave it as-is.
There you have it, my friends - improvisational quilting a la sew and slice! Happy day to you :)
PS. You can see what we were up to in our first improv quilting class by clicking here. You know, if you are curious.
fun! wish i could take your class! :) and it's been a while since i've clicked over to your blog... usually read it in my reader - i like the redesign.
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