Create Your Own Improv Quilts

November 20, 2017
Gillman (Hand-Printed Cloth) encourages readers to break from the confines of traditional quilting in this practical guide to the improv method. An avid quilter since 1974, Gillman decided to ditch patterns in 1996 when she took up improv quilting and began creating “wonky, improv, original” quilts instead. Rather ironically, she has written a clean-cut guidebook for being spontaneous, using what-if prompts to encourage readers to add their own creativity. She discusses designs and fabrics, including “repro” prints and batiks, before digging into the how-tos: “Start simple. Clear the decks. Start with solids. Select three colors. Use one geometric shape.” She recommends beginners start with the rectangle as a base and use black, white, and a “medium-value color that makes you smile.” Then she looks closely at the art of improvising, especially with strips and strings. She offers a gallery of other improvisers’ work—Catherine Whall Smith and Cindy Grisdela included—and cites examples and mistakes from her own quilts. For intermediate or experienced quilters looking to get into the improv technique, this is an excellent starting point. Color photos.

March 1, 2018

Veteran quilt artist Gilman (Create Your Own Free-Form Quilts) guides quilters through the process of designing and creating improv quilts in this handy book. The content is split evenly between design skills, such as understanding color, movement, and layout, and sewing techniques, including clever methods for sewing improvisational blocks. There aren't any patterns--in true improv quilting fashion, Gilman provides jumping-off points, and it's up to the quilter to create their own masterpiece. Improv requires an experimental streak, and Gilman isn't afraid to show off her mistakes, explaining why the quilt didn't work out as expected and providing useful hints for quilters to troubleshoot their own problem pieces. VERDICT Improv quilting continues to be a hot topic among modern quilters, and this guide provides a thoughtful, concise, and design-centered approach.

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