Black and White Improv
Back in February, I decided to join in the Black and White Improv challenge with Quilt Improv Studio. We were to use black and white fabric (solids or prints) along with a third color as accent. I chose Grunge in Key Lime. The quilt must be a minimum of 24″ x 24″.
Not all of the above fabrics made it into the quilt. As much as I wanted to use the polka dot, it just didn’t seem to fit. I enjoyed making the blocks, playing once again with curves, but adding in some improv stripes, too.
I spent quite a bit of time playing with layouts as I made each block.
Admittedly, I was a bit nervous about joining in this challenge, but I needn’t have been. The group has been so encouraging as I’ve shared my work-in-progress photos. Once the layout was decided, it was time to quilt. I considered how to quilt the curves, but I don’t feel confident enough with my free motion to do that yet. So I went with organic lines.
I chose to use 50 wt. Aurifil thread in black and white, and 40 wt. Aurifil in Spring Green (#1231).
I found it was difficult to see the black thread quilting, so some of my lines weave a bit and overlap. Other places look like I have a gap, but there is black quilting that can’t be seen.
Once the quilting was done, I added the faced binding. It takes a bit longer than regular binding, but I really like the look of that clean edge.
Here is the finished quilt, which I have titled “Searching for Spring”. At this time of year in the Midwest, we are weary from the dirt and snow and looking for the little peeps of green fighting up through the soil.
Quilt Details:
- Title: Searching for Spring
- 26″ x 32″
- Fabrics from stash
- Aurifil thread, 50 and 40 wt.
- Hobbs Cotton Batting
- Faced Binding
I thoroughly enjoyed this challenge, and look forward to participating in more of them.
Linking up with:
- Confessions of a Fabric Addict
- Powered by Quilting
- Off the Wall Friday
- TGIFF
- Quilting Patchwork & Applique
- Peacock Party
Enjoy your weekend, everyone! Happy Easter!
Wendy
Thursday Thinking
31 Comments
Cindy Pieters
WOW! Wendy this is gorgeous! A faced binding does take a little extra time but is well worth it in the end.
nanamickie
I LOVE this one! It’s so perfect and thanks for sharing your process! Have a great weekend Wendy!
Riceford Streams
Searching for Spring is a great little quilt! It’s been fun to see your progress along the way and this one is a winner.
Laura
Wonderful little quilt, Wendy! 🙂
laura bruno lilly
The facing-binding is perfect for this piece, as is the name you’ve chosen.
Thank you for detailing your process in creating this mini-masterpiece…it is striking without feeling cluttered.
karenfae
looks great I have never done a face binding
Barbara J Stanbro
This turned out so cute. I like what you did with the quilting and the face binding.
Brenda @ Songbird Designs
Really cute! We had a freeze warning from yesterday until 9 AM this morning and next week it will be in the 70s and 80s! So I think my search for spring is finally over!! Have a great weekend!
Carol Swift
Oh my gosh, Wendy, this is incredible! I love the colors, design, and quilting.
Helen
I have loved watching this one come together over the weeks. And, I love the final product.
Vicki in MN
I hope you will enter it into Quilt Con next year. It is super duper!!
Diann@ Little Penguin Quilts
Love how this turned out, Wendy! All along, I’ve enjoyed the peeks of black and white with a pop of green every now and then. The quilting you did and the faced binding are perfect for the design, too. Hope Spring is showing its face at your house soon!
Nancy Bekedam
All that crazy improv! And it looks so organized and calm. I love your matchstick quilting in various colors. That facing is perfect. It looks adorbs hanging on your wall, Wendy! BTW, have I ever mentioned that I really like that “Like This” button on WordPress blogs?!!
ROCHELLE SUMMERS
What a wonderful finish. The touches of green provide extra life to this quilt. Improv piecing and improv quilting go hand and hand. I think the facing looks great. I’ve done a few and though they are extra work, it is worth it. Congratulations.
LA Paylor
big intake of breath! It’s outstanding
Elizabeth V K
Awesome quilt!
Laura M
Fun to see your improv project. If you like circles and improv, I wonder if you’ve ever checked out fellow Canadian https://www.instagram.com/mariquilts/ She does the coolest things and is an expert in QAYG.
rl2b2017
Hi Wendy! Ooh-la-la! Look at all the quilty goodness in that first photo. You’ve won me over and I need to read all about it. I love every bit of this piece and I think the addition of the lime Grunge just pushing it over the top into the fabulous zone. I’ve never faced a piece but it sure has a nice look to it. {{Hugs}} Great job! ~smile~ Roseanne
Juliana Ellington
Beautiful quilt, and I love the name you gave it. I lived in SD for a bunch of years, and I well remember the search for Spring.
Connie Wolfe
Eye catching in every way! I enjoyed the peeks of green and the curves.The faced binding gave a clean, neat edge. Your choices of quilting thread colors and lines fit the piece well.
Connie
quiltinggail
ah, yes, I can certainly see “Searching for Spring” in you beautiful improv quilt! 🙂
The Joyful Quilter
Love, love, LOVE what you ended up with for your challenge piece, Wendy!! The Key Lime may or may not have played a part in that. 😛
texasquiltgal
You certainly had no worries about joining this challenge – you nailed it! Key Lime is in my top 5 Grunge faves. I really like your use of it. I just Googled “faced binding” and definitely want to try this method – it looks so, so neat. I like the hint of quilting that black thread provides. Beautiful job Wendy!
Sandra Walker
This is just all kinds of wonderful Wendy! As I said on Instagram, I love black and white with pops of lime. A fun and apt little quilt!
Cheree Hull
I keep thinking this belongs in a museum or something! It really is so pretty and again, I love the thread choices.
Louise Hornor
Is Grunge Key Lime the new Pickle? You can’t resist a good acid green! And I love it in combination with the black and white. Fun, vibrant piece, Wendy! 🙂
Frédérique
Lovely finish, congratulations! I love the effect made by the green strips, beautiful! Great quilting design too, a gorgeous modern look!
Thank you for linking up today 😉
Kathleen McCormick
Searching for spring is so perfect! I love your choices…fabric, little strips of color, all perfect. Yes, you should not have worried…me not so much. I admire what you create with improv, and hope someday to have some success with it!
la tulipe
I love your quilt, your fabrics, your blocks 🙂 I follow the quilt improv studio. I hope I’ll make one… soon! Perhaps the next challenge!
Needle and Foot
Really cool finish Wendy. Your improv work is getting better and better and better. Well done!!!
marissthequilter
This is such a striking quilt and I also really like the title. If I were you I would just sit and admire this piece while you wait for spring to come! Well done.