Little Penguin Quilts Through the Year

Little Penguin Quilts Through the Year

Friday, March 31, 2017

A Modern Rainbow

I was all done with my red sewing for the month of March, so I decided to play with a different rainbow of fabric this week.


These are the Kona Cotton solids that I've been working with during the Play Improv QAL hosted by Patty at Elm Street Quilts.  Bordeaux, Pomegranate, Citrus, Cactus, Pool, and Oyster.  I love those names!

I've posted quite a bit about this project in the last month or so, mainly because I am having so much fun trying the prompts that Patty gives us each week.  This week's prompt was *Strips and Curves!*

The piece I've been working on has a lot of strip piecing in it.  That's been a fun way to fill in some spaces and use up the scraps that have been generated, for example, in this corner from a few weeks ago.


But... Curves?  Scary!  (For me, anyway!)  Thankfully, Patty always includes a short tutorial with her weekly prompt, and I also found this post by Debbie from A Quilter's Table, and carefully read the section on piecing improv curves.

I started with two strips  - bordeaux and pool - of about 5 x 22, followed the tutorials, and ended up with this section that I added to the bottom of my project.  


Hey, those went together really easily, and they were fun!  Who knew?!  :)

To make this section fit, I cut off two pieces from each part that were about 3 x 6, and I decided to keep going and use those up.  What I found out was that curved piecing is addictive!  I just kept adding another section, and another section, and...


This piece was sewn onto the left side of my project - and here's what it looks like now!


So. Much. Fun!  No wonder this QAL is called "Play!"

Angela at SoScrappy has chosen multi-color fabrics for our April Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects, so I'll be heading into my sewing room to see what I've got that fits in with that idea.  Sounds like fun to me!  See you over at the Scrap Happy Saturday link-up tomorrow, too.




18 comments:

margaret said...

love what you are doing here, I gave up did the first block but then could not understand how to do the triangles and thought I am never going to ba able to make anything nice so not putting myself through the stress and strain!!

Ariane said...

This top is looking great so far. I love it!

Vicki in MN said...

You are getting really good at this girl!! I LOVE that left border with the short pieces:)

Nell's Quilts said...

You are definitely having fun with the improv piece. The curved strip looks great.

Ivani said...

So cool Diann! You rock!!!

Marly said...

Your improv piece looks really good. The colour choice is perfect and your curves are excellent.

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

That looks great!

Cathy said...

Your improv rainbow is quirky, fun and really growing on me! In fact, I absolutely love it! Congrats on the curved piecing!!!! xo

The Joyful Quilter said...

Sounds like you are enjoying your Improv piece and it looks AWESOME!!

Katie Z. said...

Ooh, what a great piece!

Pamela Arbour said...

Your quilt is fantastic! I wanted to participate in that QAL but just didn't have the time. I am a little anxious to see how you quilt it.

claudia said...

I just love how your play improve quilt is coming along. Now I have to start some curved pieces. I hadn't yet, because they scared me. You have changed my mind on that!

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

"PLAY" indeed! It looks wonderful! :)

Scrapatches said...

The wavy blocks add a wonderful frame to your improv quilt in progress. I really like your color combo ... sew striking ... :) Pat

gayle said...

I love the way you play!
(Is anybody else seeing fish and ocean waves in this beautiful beachy piece? Or just me?)

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

Look at you go! Way to tackle each new challenge :)

PaulaB quilts said...

Congrats on your success with curves. The border of little ones balances the left side very nicely. Your color sense is great, it makes the whole thing alive.

Kate said...

Love the your new curves!