Scrappy Improv Quilting Book Release :: Full Spectrum

I'm very happy to be a part of Kelly's (My Quilt Infatuation) book release Blog Tour for her second quilting book called: Scrappy Improv Quilting.  It features Mini Quilts that are easy, quick and gorgeous to make, as well as a great way to use scraps that we accumulate along the way.

I've been doing improv quilting for years and one question I am asked over and over is 'how do you do that', or people say they could never do improv.  I'm here to tell you that you can do it!  Kelly takes you through step by step using clear and concise (as concise as improv can be!) directions.  The mini quilts patterns in this book are a perfect way to 'dip your toes' into improv without a huge commitment.  

When Kelly asked if I would participate in the book release I didn't hesitate and said yes right away!  Asked to make one of the mini quilts in the book, I immediatly choose Full Spectrum.  I love a rainbow and couldn't resist this beauty!  

FULL SPECTRUM

It's no surprise that I used solids for my mini quilt, is it?!  I wanted to make it my own with solids and a black background to show that there are alternatives to Kelly's design.  

Full disclosure, this quilt uses a triangle-in-a-square ruler which is used for several of the quilts in this book.  The directions are very easy to understand and follow.  Once the colorful units are pieced the rest of the blocks go together quickly!

In the directions it tells you what size to make your improv units so you have enough to cut the pieces needed for the blocks.  For this quilt I needed four (4) in red, purple, yellow and aqua in one size and four (4) in pink, orange, blue and green in another size.  

I couldn't wait to start cutting into the improv pieces!  This quilt went together quickly and with each step and block the excitement grew!

It was only a matter of time before it was finished and had to come up with a quilting plan...arguably the most difficult of the entire quilt!

One thing was certain, I'd be making some thread changes by using all the rainbow colors!  And black of course!

The center was the most intense part of my quilting, but it is the center and deserves a little extra pizazz I think!  

It's difficult to see black thread on black fabric, but I quilted 1/2" concentric lines around the the background.    

For the rainbow colors I quilted a geometric design using a coordinating thread.  I love this kind of quilting as it nearly always seems to be effective.  You know the proof is in the back...

The back shimmers and glows just as much as the front does!  It isn't always easy to see on the front which is why I love showing the back view!

There is no denying this quilt has it all!  Rainbow colors, amazing design, texture and depth.  Kelly knocked it out of the park!

If you want to learn improv or if you just want a book of cool patterns to make, I highly recommend Kelly's book!    

Please check out the quilts from the 'Scrappy Improv Quilting' blog tour here:  

9/13- Summer Blossom- Lori @ Crossquilt
           Up, Up, and Away- Sandra @ mmm...quilts!

9/15- Flutter- Rose @ Something Rosemade
           Botanics- Diann @ Little Penguin Quilts

9/20- Face the Sun- Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts
           Full Spectrum- Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal

9/22- Prismatic- Anja @ Anja Quilts
           Downpour- Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting

9/27- Funkytown- Vasudha @ Storied Quilts
           Cherub Wings- Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty

9/29- Chapel Window- Kris @ Sew Sunshine
           Winter Frost- Leanne @ Devoted Quilter

10/4- Heartstruck- Rebecca Grace @ Rebecca Grace Quilting
           Star Spangled- Christine @ Triangles & Squares

10/6- Birds of a Feather- Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts
           Fall Foliage- Susan @ Quilt Fabrication

10/11- Ornamental- Gail @ Quilting Gail
            Churn, Churn, Churn- Cynthia @ Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework

10/13- Sunset Crossing- Kate @ Katie Mae Quilts
             Positivity- Sarah @ Sarah Goer Quilts

10/18- All Dressed Up- Linda @ Flourishing Palms
             Shockwave- Anne-Marie @ Stories From the Sewing Room

10/20- Sweet Bee, Finishing, and Wrap-Up  My Quilt Infatuation