Improv Quilt with Dyed Focus Fabric

I started work on a series of improvisational quilts this week. My goal is to submit to Studio Art Quilt Association’s (SAQA) Primal Forces: Wind. Here is a link for more information:  https://www.saqa.com/events/primal-forces-wind-saqa-global-exhibition-call-entry. 

I want to create a quilt that embodies the feeling of wind. And now, I have some work to do. How do I create a wind quilt? I usually view wind as blue, so that is where I started.

I choose a purple-blue-green ice dyed focus fabric. Using this fabric, I selected an array of blue, green, and purple fabrics of varying values to support the colors in the focus fabric. I also selected some bright yellow fabric as a complement and accent color. I hand dyed the fabric myself using Procion Mx dyes. To get this effect, I used a ice dyeing with a scrunch technique.

Next, I thought about the size of the quilt. Since this is part of a series, I knew that I wanted to begin with an 18 x 24 inch or 12 x 18 inch quilt. I find this a really great size for trying out new ideas and techniques. This is the same method that I used for my log cabin series.

I plan to do a series of small size quilts to explore my ideas. Then I’ll construct my submission quilts and use the ideas and techniques that I developed.

Ice dyed focus fabric

I started by constructing a variety of different technique blocks and assembling them in different ways on my design board. My goal is to convey the ideas of flow and dispersion (thinking wind thoughts). I selected two different techniques: a triangular focus shape and two pieces featuring curved piecing techniques.  I wanted to create the impression that the dyed fabric was flowing through the quilt, with the yellow fabric acting as bumpers to the flow.

This quilt was an opportunity to identify and describe the techniques that I use in the construction of this quilt. During the construction process, I wrote about the techniques that I used in this improvisational quilt. I’ve used this experience and my notes to develop a three hour, face to face workshop that I hope to teach at a local quilt shop. (This might show up as a free, downloadable pdf on my site!)

I constructed two quilt tops: one features triangles dispersed throughout the quilt while the mini quilt explores the idea of air movement.  I quilted the airflow quilt using a walking foot and the lines of quilting flow around my yellow bumpers. I’ve set aside the triangular quilt top for now, I plan to quilt this top more organically.

Progress

Flow Quilt

Dispersion Quilt Top

I will be continuing to explore these ideas over the next few weeks. I plan to spend about a week developing my quilt language for the topic of wind. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be exploring and blogging about:

• improv curves (wind is very twisty)

• incorporating photography into my improv quilts (I need bees in my quilts)

I’ll write about the techniques and products that I will be using in my quilts!

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