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Inspiring Improv: Explore Creative Piecing with Curves, Strips, Slabs and More
No patterns here, but definitely a plan!
Explore the freeing power of improvised piecing with Nicholas Ball in his first book, Inspiring Improv . Learn his step-by-step technique-based process to explore six fundamental piecing structures. Practice how to stitch fabric together in an improvisational manner to create blocks or sections before using them to sew unique quilts all your own.
Improv piecing doesn't have to mean chaotic end results. Look to the eight original projects included to see how to create sophisticated quilts with structure focusing on repeating blocks or large-scale scrappy designs. Follow along as Nicholas walks you through his original inspiration and follow his plan through to finished pieces, as he discusses which combination of his core piecing methods he used, and how to achieve showstopping, exciting work.
From simple strip piecing through to complex circles and rings, you will be eager to experiment with making slabs, gentle curves, insets, triangles and even 9-patch and Log Cabin stacks. In no time, you'll be using them as a stepping stone to sewing original full-sized improvisational designs.
Explore the freeing power of improvised piecing with Nicholas Ball in his first book, Inspiring Improv . Learn his step-by-step technique-based process to explore six fundamental piecing structures. Practice how to stitch fabric together in an improvisational manner to create blocks or sections before using them to sew unique quilts all your own.
Improv piecing doesn't have to mean chaotic end results. Look to the eight original projects included to see how to create sophisticated quilts with structure focusing on repeating blocks or large-scale scrappy designs. Follow along as Nicholas walks you through his original inspiration and follow his plan through to finished pieces, as he discusses which combination of his core piecing methods he used, and how to achieve showstopping, exciting work.
From simple strip piecing through to complex circles and rings, you will be eager to experiment with making slabs, gentle curves, insets, triangles and even 9-patch and Log Cabin stacks. In no time, you'll be using them as a stepping stone to sewing original full-sized improvisational designs.
- GenresQuiltingCraftsNonfiction
128 pages, Paperback
Published April 23, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 6, 2019
This is a first person story of one person's improvisational quilting journey.
For "practical" information to inspire YOUR journey, try Sherri Lynn Wood and Gwen Marston.
For "practical" information to inspire YOUR journey, try Sherri Lynn Wood and Gwen Marston.
March 21, 2022
It's always interesting reading a guide book to improvisation: the balance between direction/instruction and freedom can be difficult to strike. Ball's approach is to discuss ideas/creativity, then share techniques (insertion, slab assembly, gentle unpinned curves, stacking-and-slashing), then show his patterns using said techniques.
Slab assembly is rather like the constructed fabric of Mori's Ultimate Scrap Quilt, and gentle curves/stack-and-whack are familiar enough. His style of building a ring using many straight-edged pieces dovetails nicely with my existing love for straight-edged curves, so I'm eager to try that technique.
A mild frustration: all of his fabrics seem to be very low-volume tone-on-tone blenders, so it's harder to get an idea of how to improvise with something a bit larger in scale.
Some of the quilt names, for my own later reference: Foliage (string quilting), Desert Dwellings (casual triangles), How to Age a Tree (straight-line curves), The Night Garden (gentle curves), Tally (stack and whack), After Seurat (watercolor effect through stack and whack).
Slab assembly is rather like the constructed fabric of Mori's Ultimate Scrap Quilt, and gentle curves/stack-and-whack are familiar enough. His style of building a ring using many straight-edged pieces dovetails nicely with my existing love for straight-edged curves, so I'm eager to try that technique.
A mild frustration: all of his fabrics seem to be very low-volume tone-on-tone blenders, so it's harder to get an idea of how to improvise with something a bit larger in scale.
Some of the quilt names, for my own later reference: Foliage (string quilting), Desert Dwellings (casual triangles), How to Age a Tree (straight-line curves), The Night Garden (gentle curves), Tally (stack and whack), After Seurat (watercolor effect through stack and whack).
July 17, 2021
I love the philosophies in this book. Iron, don't press, and admittedly, NOT angling the binding sold me 100% on loving this guy's quilting techniques. Love to see my ideas in print. 😁. Fun ideas and projects. Love the stories behind them too.
March 8, 2021
I'll probably add this one to my personal library as a reference book...Nicholas Ball is such an inspiration and this book is an endless source of ideas.
January 24, 2023
Nice to look at the quilts and the quilting. Nice brief explanations on how to create quilt blocks. Should an improv book have patterns for quilts - is that improv?
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews