Strippy Improv Halloween QAL - week 2

 Hello! I'm so excited that you'll be sewing along with me for the Strippy Improv Halloween QAL! If you still need the pattern, you can order it here.

It's Week 2, time to make your first two blocks! 

Which blocks have you decided to make? Let me know in the comments. 

Block Making Tips: 

Tip 1:

If you're not already set up like this, move an iron an cutting mat adjacent to your sewing machine. These blocks assemble with a press and cut after every seam, so you'll enhance your efficiency if everything you need is together. 

Tip 2: If you accidentally cut through the muslin when you're trimming strips, don't worry! I've done it as well. Just keep sewing - the hole in the muslin will be covered. 

Tip 3: 

If your fabric marking pen erases with heat, consider using pencil to trace your templates onto muslin. 

What comes next: 

If you've completed the strippy improv piecing part and wondering if your blocks look "right," here are what mine looked like after piecing. After you cut out the reverse applique background and fuse in place, you can trim the excess. Note that for the bat, I pieced the strips on an angle. Choose your strip direction based on how you want the final block to look. 

If you learn better by video, I have a YouTube video showing this same technique used for my Holiday pattern. You can find it here.

How are your blocks coming? Any questions? 

Leave a comment below or reach out via DM on IG!

Happy block making and I'll see you back here next Thursday, 10/6, when we'll talk about making two more blocks.

Here's the QAL schedule: 

Thursday 9/22: Fabric and block choices

Thursday 9/29: Make 2 blocks

Thursday 10/6: Make 2 blocks

Thursday 10/13: Assemble and finish!

I hope you'll join in the fun! I'll be posting here on the blog and also sharing posts on IG (@quiltyzest). If you're going to sew along, use the hashtag #strippyimprovhalloween to share your block and/or fabric choices!

Press the easy button and order the kit for the version below here.

Choosing/using your own fabrics? Order just the digital pattern here. 

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And one more last thing...
If you're new here, welcome! I hope you'll stay and look around a bit. 

If you like what you've seen here, you can also find me:

To find all of my quilt patterns, visit my Etsy shop. 

Find me on IG here.

Sign up for my newsletter in the right-hand sidebar or here. 

(You'll receive a free pattern for my Diamond Drama quilt (below) as a thank you!)

Strippy Improv Halloween Sneak Peek

Who's ready for Halloween? We haven't started talking costumes at my house yet (I'm still recovering from the back to school busy-ness!), but I know it's right around the corner. As are hidden bags of Halloween candy for me to snack on! :) 

When I created the Strippy Improv Holiday pattern last year, I knew I could have a lot of fun using the technique for other holidays--especially Halloween! 

I've been working on a spooky version and here's a sneak peek at the blocks. Aren't they fun?!

 I learned a lot about bat shapes as I worked on a template block--bats come in so many different varieties! I wanted one that didn't look like Batman (ha!) but also would fill a square block nicely. 

I love choosing white tonals and light grays for a haunting ghost block. Does he remind you of Casper? 

The back arch for the black cat is key!

The pumpkin is hands down my favorite. I think a wall hanging, table runner or pillow of just pumpkins would be fun too! 

The Strippy Improv Halloween pattern will include the templates for all four blocks (plus a few extra surprises!), as well as instructions for the strippy improv technique and both table runner and wall hanging finishing options. And wait until you see the fun fabric I have for borders!

If you want to receive a heads up when the pattern is released (week of Sept. 20th), sign up for my newsletter below and/or follow me on IG - scroll down for the links.

Thanks to Benartex for the fabric and Thermoweb for the HeatnBond Lite fusible webbing to make this project!

Here's a quick look at the Strippy Improv Holiday table runner:

The pattern is available in my Etsy shop.

If you're new here, welcome! I hope you'll stay and look around a bit. 

If you like what you've seen here, you can also find me:

To find all of my quilt patterns, visit my Etsy shop. 

Find me on IG here.

Find me on Facebook here.

Sign up for my newsletter in the right-hand sidebar or here. 

(You'll receive a free pattern for my Diamond Drama quilt (below) as a thank you!)

Strippy Improv Blocks Pattern + Video Tutorial!

 Ok, so it took a couple days, but my Strippy Improv Holiday pattern is now available in my Etsy shop! 

Purchase the pattern here.

When I first started making blocks using this technique, I had no idea how many people would be interested in it. But you were, and so I wanted to share! Here's the ornament I made in the video tutorial (more info below!)--red and green stripe!

The pattern includes step-by-step instructions and diagrams to make a strippy improv ornament block, and then finishing directions to transform four blocks into a small quilt or table runner. It also has templates and additional steps for making four other holiday shapes: a snowman, a star, a Christmas tree, and a candy cane, plus some layout ideas for various ways to use the blocks. 

Just for fun, here are the two snowmen I finished. One I embellished, the other I left as a minimalist snowman. :)

Because improv can be intimidating if it's not something you do regularly, I also created a YouTube tutorial that you can watch here to walk you through the steps of making a block. 

The reverse applique is my favorite part because it transforms the pieced section into something recognizable so quickly! 

Purchase the pattern in my Etsy shop here. (10% off through Saturday using code HOLIDAY10)

Watch the video here.

If you like what you've seen here, you can also find me:

To find all of my quilt patterns, visit my Etsy shop. 

Find me on IG here.

Find me on Facebook here.

Sign up for my newsletter in the right-hand sidebar.

Strippy Improv Blocks, aka My New Obsession

It started with this postcard. Our guild (Great Lakes Modern Quilt Guild) is having a virtual holiday party, and everyone was asked to make a fabric postcard and mail to it, Secret Santa style. I procrastinated as usual and then started playing around with this idea. 

Once I had the postcard finished, the idea kept growing. Decorations on the tree using those fancy machine stitches! 

Ornaments!

And the kids got involved. 

Sidenote here...can I brag on these two a bit? The 6-year-old (above) is very independent. I helped him sew the tree, but he insisted on doing the machine quilting himself. Including the pedal. Pretty impressive, right? And I like the gradation of his tree--I'll be copying that for my next one! 

And below--this kid is 9. Look at his tree (which he gave to me as an early Christmas present!). It was his idea to upsize, his idea to add a star and ornaments, and he did ALL the sewing himself (except joining the ends of the binding strips--that's hard! 

Ok, back on track: And then I made a little video (with the 11-year-old's help) for IG (find it in my feed) and it blew up - or at least as much as IG blows up for me. Which was pretty fun!

And my imagination kept going... 

Snowmen!

Stars!

Candy canes!

Decorated trees!

For those who have asked, I'm currently working (as fast as I can!) on two things--a video tutorial on the basic technique, and then a more involved pattern that will include all of the shapes you see here as well as a wall hanging/table runner assembly. When both are ready, I'll post about it here, on IG, FB, and in my newsletter, so make sure you're connected (links below)! 

These go together so fast, and they're so fun! Plenty of time to make some before Christmas.

If you like what you've seen here, you can also find me:

To find all of my quilt patterns, visit my Etsy shop. 

Find me on IG here.

Find me on Facebook here.

Sign up for my newsletter in the right-hand sidebar.