Improvisational quilting, or improv quilting, is a creative approach to quilt-making that celebrates spontaneity and personal expression over patterns and templates.
Unlike traditional quilting which follows predefined designs, improv quilting allows quilters to make design decisions in the moment, following their creative flow. This leads to unique and individualized pieces.
A Brief Overview of the History of Improv Quilting
Traditional quilting often follows set quilt patterns, but improv quilting breaks free. Improvisational quilting, also known as improv piecing, is about spontaneously creating quilt designs. It does not rely on pre-set patterns, letting your creativity guide you as you build the design.
Early Influences and Development
Pinpointing the exact origins of improvisational quilting is difficult. It’s often linked with African American quilting traditions, but improv’s roots are diverse. Quilters of various backgrounds have engaged in improvisational techniques across the globe, as noted by quilting historian Teresa Duryea Wong.
One standout group is the quilters of Gee’s Bend, Alabama. Their vibrant, abstract designs, born from necessity and resourcefulness, brought national attention to improv quilting’s unique contribution. This attention brought both praise and controversy regarding improv’s origins. These women subsequently rose to national stardom.
Key Figures in Improv Quilting
Several influential figures helped shape improv quilting. Artist Irene Roderick, with her background in painting and sculpture, transitioned to quilting and embraced improvisation wholeheartedly. This added to her fine art skills and allowed her to fully realize herself as an artist.
Rosie Lee Tompkins, another notable quilter, created incredible, expressive compositions by combining traditional quilts with unexpected colors, fabrics, and textures.
Sherry Byrd, whose family has a six-generation legacy of improv quilting, describes it as “playing jazz with a needle and thread.” This description highlights the spontaneous, creative energy that fine art embodies.
The late Eli Leon amassed a collection of over 3,000 quilts made by African Americans. He showcased his collection at the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. His dedication to recognizing underappreciated quilting talents was essential to solidifying and sharing their creativity. Eli’s focus on improvisational quilts gave them well-deserved recognition.
Modern Improv Quilting
Improv quilting continues to thrive today, largely thanks to the Modern Quilt Guild (MQG). Contemporary artists constantly push the boundaries of the craft. Today, improv quilting blends traditional quilting techniques with modern aesthetics, using bold colors and innovative designs in a spirit of experimentation. Laverne Brackens is one of those artist who are well known in this space.
Organizations such as the Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) and the Surface Design Association (SDA) actively promote art quilting. The SDA, with its history in the fine arts, recognizes how art and art quilts contribute greatly to contemporary culture and our understanding of human civilization. They also provide education about art quilts and textile art history. Both groups aim to help spread awareness about quilting so that quilters can achieve their dreams of sharing their talents.
Getting Started with Improv Quilting
Want to try improv quilting? Simply gather some fabric scraps, your sewing machine, and unleash your imagination. Here’s a simplified approach to making your own improv quilt. Don’t forget about all the quilt patterns available for use.
- Gather Your Materials: Assorted fabric scraps, sewing machine, rotary cutter & mat, thread, iron and pressing mat. A wool pressing mat and an Oliso Pro Smart Iron are recommended.
- Start with a Block: Select a fabric piece as your starting point. Intuitively add other fabrics around it.
- Cut and Sew: Cut fabric pieces into freeform shapes, sew them together, and press them into place. Remember, there are no straight lines in improv quilting.
- Building Your Design: Keep adding pieces and watch your unique creation emerge. Trust the process and have a basic understanding of how elements of art interact. This can help you make design choices.
- Piece Your Blocks: Repeat steps 3-4 until you reach a top measurement slightly larger than your desired finished quilt size, keeping the “no rules or straight lines in improv” mindset.
- Layer Your Quilt Top: When satisfied with the pieced top, create your backing using standard measurements and add batting.
- Quilt and Bind: After quilting and binding, you’re finished. A wool pressing mat is useful for this step.
Get Involved In Quilting By Learning More
Whether you’re creating, researching, or simply learning about it, the history of improv quilting brings a captivating art form to life. It has profound implications for creative paths everywhere. Improv quilting is an art that requires finding the perfect balance between structure and chance, guided instruction and improvisation, traditional skills and cutting-edge design.If you are making a quilt using a liberated approach, you have discovered modern improv. This history gives so much more freedom for exploring design through improvisation. Want to learn more? Check out Carolina Oneto’s Teaching & Lectures.
