Improv Patchwork: Dynamic Quilts Made with Line & Shape

by Maria Shell

Overview

Explore new options in improvisational piecing and empower your creativity! Cut and combine solid-color fabrics to create your own “prints”—stripes, polka dots, chevrons, plaids, and more. Forget the rules (and even your ruler) as you piece colorful solids into compelling quilt designs. Use color, pattern, and repetition to develop your personal design aesthetic as you stitch freely to create unique quilts that pack a punch!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781617454974
Publisher:	C & T Publishing
Publication date:	02/04/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	232
File size:	36 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

While Maria Shell's work is firmly grounded in the craft of quiltmaking, she uses her years of experience to create surprising combinations of pattern, repetition, and color. The recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, Maria lives in Anchorage, Alaska.

Table of Contents

Contents
Start Where You Are
My Journey as a Quiltmaker • Your Journey To Developing a Quiltmaking Practice • How to Use this Book • The Psychological and Emotional Benefits of Being a Maker • Tips on Being a Fearless Quiltmaker

Space and Tools
Quality Tools
Sewing Machines
A Short Discussion about Space
Finding the Perfect Iron

Color, Pattern, and Repetition
Color
Basic Color Theory • Color from a Quilter’s Perspective • Four Simple Things You Can Do to Improve Your Color Sense • Value • Building a Color Palette •
Print, Pattern, and Repetition
Finding Quality Solid Fabrics
Search Garage Sales, Thrift Stores, and Ebay • Buy Commercial Quilter’s Cottons • Dye Your Own
Tips on Being Fearless with Color


Ruler-Made Stripes
The Simple Stripe
Fabric Prep • Cutting Stripes • Stitching Stripes
Designer Stripes—Creating Recipes for Ruler-Made Stripes
Working with a Ruler-Made Stripe
Piecing off the Grid
Press Like a Professional

Mat-Made Stripes
Preparing and Cutting Mat-Made Stripes
Controlling Wonkiness in Mat-Made Stripes
Ruler-Made Stripes versus Mat-Made Stripes
Short Row Stripes—Another Fun Stripe to Make
Tips for Cutting and Sewing without Rulers
Mat-Made Stripes Quilt Ideas

Polka Dots
Classic Polka Dot
Multi-Colored Polka Dots
Polka Dot Stripes
Polka Dot Quilt Ideas
Triangles
Triangles Made with Lines
Isosceles Triangles Made from Shapes
Half-Square Triangles / Right Angle
Triangle Rulers
Perfect Pinning
Triangle Quilt Ideas
Chevrons, Herringbones, and Zigzags
Chevrons
Herringbones
Zigzags
Chevron, Herringbone, and Zigzag Quilt Ideas
Checks, Tracks, and Plaids—The Ultimate Linear Print
Checks, Ginghams, Plaids, and Tartans Defined
Checks
Lattice Checks • Regular Checks
Tracks
Plaids

Resources

About the Author

Editorial Reviews

11/15/2017
Contemporary quiltmaker Shell specializes in prints made from combining solid fabrics into stripes, polka dots, plaids, and other common patterns. Her first book walks quilters through the various techniques used for creating these prints, many of which involve freehand fabric cutting and improv-style assembly. Each chapter explores the creation and use of a different print type, beginning with simple ruler-made and mat-made (freehand) stripes, and proceeding through polka dots (small, repetitive prints), triangles and other triangle-based prints such as chevrons and herringbones, and linear prints such as checks, tracks, and plaids. Samples from Shell's work are included throughout, demonstrating the vibrant designs that can be made from each of the component prints. VERDICT Shell's work echoes traditional American improvisational folk quilting and will appeal to quilters interested in exploring color and pattern via one-of-a-kind patchwork.

Library Journal

There's a lot of talk about improv quilting but not all of us are confident enough to achieve the improv look. This book shows you how to cut and combine solid-colour fabrics to create your own 'prints', including stripes, polka dots, chevrons, checks, and more. Maria Shell encourages us to forget the rules (and even your ruler) as you piece colourful solids into compelling quilt designs.

Today's Quilter

We've been waiting for this gorgeous book. Maria Shell lets the reader into her process and creative mind in the confines of a colorful read. She writes, 'With your heart, you bring the essence of yourself into your work.' Maria definitely embodies this in her artwork. Her method comes alive as she reveals first her journey, her favorite tools, and how she arranges her studio. She explains how she chooses color for her quilts—and offers tips to get the contrast and complements just right. Lessons for making prints out of solids follow with well-illustrated, step-by-step instructions, This book allows the reader to dive into the vibrant world of Maria's improvisationally pieced artwork, see art quilts through her eyes, and provides encouragement to adapt her techniques to your own vision.

Quilting Arts

Maria demonstrates an exceptionally well thought out approach to improvisational piecing and use of color. Through study and practice she developed a system for creating what she calls 'prints made from solid fabrics.' Even a beginning quilter could follow her lead and successfully create uniquely personal pieced designs. Quilters wishing to create or improve their own improvisational designs will be well served by Maria's clear instructions and uplifting approach.

Machine Quilting Unlimited

There's a lot of talk about improv quilting but not all of us are confident enough to achieve the improv look. This book shows you how to cut and combine solid-colour fabrics to create your own 'prints', including stripes, polka dots, chevrons, checks, and more. Maria Shell encourages us to forget the rules (and even your ruler) as you piece colourful solids into compelling quilt designs.

31 Today's Quilter

Maria demonstrates an exceptionally well thought out approach to improvisational piecing and use of color. Through study and practice she developed a system for creating what she calls 'prints made from solid fabrics.' Even a beginning quilter could follow her lead and successfully create uniquely personal pieced designs. Quilters wishing to create or improve their own improvisational designs will be well served by Maria's clear instructions and uplifting approach.

January/February 2018 Machine Quilting Unlimited

We've been waiting for this gorgeous book. Maria Shell lets the reader into her process and creative mind in the confines of a colorful read. She writes, 'With your heart, you bring the essence of yourself into your work.' Maria definitely embodies this in her artwork. Her method comes alive as she reveals first her journey, her favorite tools, and how she arranges her studio. She explains how she chooses color for her quilts—and offers tips to get the contrast and complements just right. Lessons for making prints out of solids follow with well-illustrated, step-by-step instructions, This book allows the reader to dive into the vibrant world of Maria's improvisationally pieced artwork, see art quilts through her eyes, and provides encouragement to adapt her techniques to your own vision.

December 2017/January 2018 Quilting Arts