Improv Scrappy Block Project 2017 Completed

It's (finally) done:  My 2017 year-long Scrappy Block Project!  Every month last year I sewed 2-3 improv blocks from two bags of odd scraps I had collected. At the end of the year I had 30 blocks that were 12 1/2 inches square.

I set the improv blocks between rows of blue and white blocks which were "orphans" from another quilt which I never made. The result is a bit wacky, but this is a quilt that is going to be used and definitely not too precious for the dogs for the dogs to sleep on it!!

The quilting is as improvisational as the blocks themselves!  I took my clues for the quilting from the composition and the fabrics in each block.  The quilting is a mix of straight line walking foot stitching and free motion quilting.  It seemed to take forever!!  But I had a good laugh when I was done and put it on a bed....I'd forgotten how big this quilt is!  I had thought I was quilting a twin size quilt, when reality it's a good size queen!  No wonder the quilting seemed never ending!!

Here are a couple of close-ups of the free-motion quilting in this project. 

Scrappy Improv Block Project 2017 Coming Together

Wow!  My Improv Scrappy Block Project had a total of 30 blocks that finish at 12 inches square. i took a set of 9 patch variation blocks from on old project that didn't work out and used them as vertical sashing.

I can't believe this project has turned out to be a queen size quilt!  I put it on a bed to see what the top looked like. Two of the dogs instantly gave it their seal of approval!

I found a sweet light blue 30's floral feedsack reproduction fabric to use for a backing. The quilt is all ready to be basted and quilted! I'll do a final post when it is completed. Hopefully soon!

Here is a better view of the quilt top

Improv Scrappy Block Project 2017

2017 is coming to and end and so is my Scrappy Block Project 2017.  My goal was to make at least 2 blocks a month for a year. I ended up with 30!

Other than using scraps and left over components of quilt blocks, I really didn't initially have a plan for these 12 inch blocks. As time went on, I started putting an animal or other feature fabric somewhere in each block. Some months I also added plain white blocks which I really liked. I wish I had done that more consistently. In this busy quilt, those white patches offer a resting place for the eyes.

At 5 block wide and 6 blocks long, quilt will be long enough but I want it a bit wider.  I found some orphan blocks from a project that just didn't work and there are enough blocks to add sashings between the vertical rows. The orphan are a bit bold, but I like them!  I'll post a photo of the completed quilt sometime in 2018!

So that wraps of this year long project.  And what happens when a project is done?  A party of course!!  (Though I had to do some canine management to prevent the party from starting before I had all the photos I needed for this post)!

Dog Party!  Hazel and Tipper playing among the blocks

Happy New Year!!

Improv Scrappy Block Project 2017--Summer blocks

Here is a gallery of the June, July and August blocks for my year long Improv Scrappy Block Project.  I think I'm going to call the finished quilt, "Improv, Gone to the Dogs!"

Many of the blocks from previous months have a white patches. Somehow none of these summer blocks do!  It's clearly the season of high color!

Improv Scrappy Block Project 2017 May Blocks

May blocks for my Improv Scrappy Block Project 2017.  This really sums up the month of May--the last daffodils in the beginning of the month and Memorial Day and the beginning of summer at the end!

The first block has my newest Spoonflower fabric/wrapping paper, Daffodil Trio. It's available at my Spoonflower.com shop. The preview of the design online look ragged except in the "Test Swatch" but it prints very well.  I actually think this design is probably best used as a wrapping paper though I do like the flowers peaking out of this block!

Improv Scrappy Block Project 2017 April Blocks

Here are the two blocks I made in April for my Improv Scrappy Block Project.  Now a quarter of the way through this project, it's clear that I'm headed in a modern direction, using quite a bit of Kona® white in the blocks. Looks like there are quite a few dogs, too!

Here's what I have so far.

Improv Scrappy Block Project 2017 March Blocks

I didn't get any improv blocks sewn for my Improv Scrappy Block Project sewn in February.  But I made 4 improv blocks in March, so I'm back on course with my 2017 project. (April blocks to follow in a later post)!

Three of these blocks have scraps of fabrics I designed--the dogs and the concentric circles on the teal background-- which were digitally printed at Spoonflower.com. (These designs and others are available at my Spoonflower shop).

These colors make me happy!  They match the feel of March which is very early Spring/still really Winter in New England!

Improv Scrappy Block Project 2017, January blocks

Here are the January blocks for the Improv Scrappy Block 2017 Project.

Work I am doing on other project does influence what I do with my improv blocks. The day I made Block 3 (shown above) and I had been working on a traditional log cabin block. The improv block has some elements of the log cabin courthouse steps design. 

I had also just finished the Dalmations in Diamonds quilt top, in which I was making triangles using the fold over technique. I used the same technique in the orange and brown strips in this block.

Here are all my January Improv Scrappy Blocks.  I've been putting their number on the back of each block so I can keep them in chronological order. That's easy now, but soon won't be!