Improv

Hi – I had a lot of fun making two improv baby quilts.

This goal for the first one was to use about a bunch of 1/2-square triangle blocks. I learned the trick from Jenny to sew an extra seam when making 1/2-square triangle blocks so you have a whole other block, rather than a bunch of triangles that are harder to use.

I have made several quilts using this method, so I had A LOT of 1/2-square triangles. I was able to use them all and added some other improv piecing to make this adorable quilt to donate to Project Linus.

I love the outcome so much. The palette and piecing make me so happy. And I made a boy’s quilt!

When I posted this quilt on instagram, a friend asked me to make a quilt for her niece in purple and grey. I got about 1/2-way through making a giantized swoon block and then decided I hated it. The grey was too muddy for the block to have impact. So I started chopping and adding in some more improv. You can see remnants of the swoon block shape in the quilt. It took 2x longer to make than I expected, but I love the results. Again, I think the restrained (at least restrained for me) color palette makes all the difference.