Improv Quilt Composition / Joy has no Plan
Joy Has No Plan, 72 × 54 inches, Freestyle Quilt, Orange Peel variation, made from quilting cottons, vintage bed sheet and thrifted materials.
Surprises
It feels like joy and is definitely reflective of my current state of being. I just had no idea this would turn out like this and I'm loving every single bit of it. Harnessing emotional energy.
It's true, that JOY has no plan and neither does improv quilting. It is and it happens in the present. We can't force joy, maybe we can set some parameters that invite it into our lives, but how it plays out, is totally unpredictable. I'm so thankful that I can realize this through patchwork. The lesson hits home when there is a visual witness to the lived experience in the making of a quilt. When this happens in a quilt it's magic!
Satisfactions
Every Orange Peel in this quilt was made or started as a demo, for the Improv That Block Squad quilt-along. There is nothing particularly special about any of these individual blocks, but together they sing! I love the feeling that I can trust the universe that everything I make will find its place.
Discovery/Learnings
I had one very odd demo petal that I boxed in at the top with a green frame, a'la Rosie Lee Tomkins. (FYI-that odd demo, which anchors the rest of the quilt was made due to a last minute request by one of my students, who needed a recap on how to stack and cut the peels.)
My Growing Edge
I really leaned into practicing what I preached about balance and weighted this insignificant, odd and small set of peels - with a heavy dark strip at the top - from which everything flows. Very pleased with the balance of this composition. Notice how that dark strip and green framed section balance the huge amount of red at the bottom.
Overall, I seem to be learning as much as folks in the Squad are about this process of Piece Flow and Joy! Feeling so much gratitude for the Brave Patch School community right now!
Improv Quilt Composition Notes
This year in the Brave Patch Groove, we are focused on improv quilt composition, through monthly guest speakers, conversations, and workshop/practices and of curse the hive mind of the community. It’s been amazing, and I’m learning to understand and evolve the way I compose and balance my improv quilts. Every session is recorded and if this is something that you’re looking for to grow your improv quilting skills then please join us in the GROOVE! So here is my composition break down for Joy Has No Plan.
I'm not thinking much at the start, just picking fabric colors for the demo. More colors will be added later.
I follow some design habits, like finding natural block fits, checking color blends, and the sewing order for easy assembly.
Unexpected things happen, like using nearby color strips that catch my eye. I might sew something backward, such as with green and maroon strips around small pieces.
I always look at my design wall, moving things to sew or rearrange them, and notice what I like. I take photos if I want to remember something.
I make small decisions based on what I like and follow my instincts until the end.
I practice saying "Yes And" - always focusing on what I do like, and building on that.
Your thoughts on Improv Quilting composition? How do you compose your improv quilts?
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How do you compose your improv quilts? JOY has no plan and neither does improv quilting. It is and it unfolds in the present. We can't force joy, maybe we can set some parameters that invite it into our lives, but how it plays out, is totally unpredictable.