
In March, I took an Improv class, hoping that I would learn something that I could use to make the quilt for this month’s challenge! And I did. (You can see information about that class and what I learned HERE. I decided to use the freehand curved piecing technique (more pictures below).
The fabric I was given for this blog hop is Napa Valley, designed by Kathy Engle. I LOVE the colours! They are so rich! The motif’s on the fabric are so fun! There are grapes, wheat, pumpkins, corn, leaves and dots! Such a fun collection! And of course, the fabric is fantastic!

I started by pairing an 8″ square of Napa Valley with an 8″ square of Island Batik grey solid. Then I free-hand cut the quarter circles.



I sewed the print and the grey together without using pins. In the picture below, you can see the print of the inner circle with the grey on the outer circle. The reverse is just below it. The blocks were then trimmed to 6 ΒΎβ.

The blocks were arranged on the design wall. And, I forgot to take a picture! The quilt was webbed together, sandwiched and then the quilting began. I used Hobbs Heirloom Natural Cotton batting.

I used Schmetz Quilting Needle 90/40 for both the piecing and the quilting.

All of the quilting happened on my domestic machine: Janome M7 Continental. Aurifil #2600 (Dove) was used. I love how is contrasts slightly with the grey solid fabric!



And, a close up of the quilting



And a picture with the last of the pink “snow” (cherry blossoms)

You have 2 chances to win fabric!
- Island Batik is giving away precuts of Glacier Bay: Click on the Raftercopter link

2. From Me! If you want to win fabric from me you have to be from Canada (and sorry, not Quebec). In the comments, answer the following questions: (they won’t be published)
- where in Canada do you live?
- have you made a modern quilt?
For those of you that have difficulty leaving comments, you can email me with your answers (quiltinggail@yahoo.ca)
Each entry will be given a number and I’ll use a random number generator to pick the winner.
I’m giving away 19 pieces of Napa Valley that are 8″ x 9.5″

Next:
Be sure to visit Emily at the Darling Dogwood. She used the same collection of fabric and her quilt is stunning! And totally different than mine!
Disclosure: The fabrics, thread, batting and needles were generously supplied by the following companies:


It’s always fun to get to use new skills. I like that you were able to use the block and its inverse, and the way you laid them out and quilted them.
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Thank you, MrsV!
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Ooh. It’s not often that living in Canada means I can join a contest rather than being excluded.
I live in Waterloo, ON. I wouldn’t say I’ve made a full sized modern quilt, but I’ve been making some little challenge projects with a friend and some of them I think would fall on the modern side of the spectrum. My default is not modern though.
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Gail your Improv curves are beautiful and the quilting is too much fun! Another beautiful collection of IB fabric.
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Thanks, Carol!
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Pretty and creative quilt design.
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Hi Gail, what an amazing quilt – love the quilting!
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Thanks AndrΓ©e! It was fun to quilt!
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I really like this collection of Island Batiks, Gail!! Your pattern is great too!
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Thanks, Brenda!
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Such a pretty quilt. So clever how you used the reverse layout of blocks on each half. I love those Island Batik fabrics. Actually, I seem to love all Island Batik fabrics. lol
Thank you for the chance to win.
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Thank you KJ! It’s not hard to LOVE all of the Island Batik fabrics!!! π
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Love this last quilt, Gail. Nice to see you using some of the new Improv techniques we learned!
Cheers!
Valda
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Thanks, Valda! Speed Dating was sure a fun class! We did learn a LOT!!!
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Love your modern take on the Drunkard’s path block. Your quilt looks like parents with empty nests sending their kids to college. Watching them soar even as they miss them.
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Love your interpretation, Pretti!!! Both of my kids have left the nest – many years ago!!! π
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What a fun quilt! You did a great job on those curves. Have a fabulous day.
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Thanks, Jennifer! π
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Hi Gail! Beautiful collection and beautiful finish. I love the direction you took this modern quilt. ~smile~ Roseanne
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Thanks, Roseanne, it was a fun quilt to make! And to quilt! π
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What a clever layout, and all that delicious quilting! Aren’t freehand curves fun!?
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They sure are, Wendy!!!
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I love this line and it looks gorgeous in your quilt. Thanks so much for sharing
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Thanks, Bonnie!
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This is an awesome quilt. Kind of reminds me of the War Memorial quilt you made from Pearl Harbor I believe.
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Thanks, Denise! WOW … you have one great memory if you can remember that quilt!!! That was 2 years ago!!! π
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The quilting on that quilt is pretty amazing. I love the way you fit it to the design of the quilt.
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Thanks, Gene! To be honest, I had sort-of planned aspects of the quilting before I put the quilt together! π
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Your quilt is very pretty. Love the curved piecing and the quilting is stunning!! Great job!
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Thank you, Sue!
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I love this–hope there will be a “pattern”–although easy to follow with your pictures and measurements π
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Hi Dorothy,
You aren’t the first one to ask about a pattern! SEW … I’m thinking about it! π
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