![Patchwork quilt blocks featuring fish and jelly fish](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0575/2756/6532/files/ACS_3917_480x480.jpg?v=1668777598)
When fabric designer Lisa Dolson gifted me some of her Ocean Adventures fabric for Paintbrush Studio Fabrics, I immediately knew that I wanted to have a play with improv patchwork. With so many lovely prints to incorporate, I wanted to be free to experiment and see how the creative flow took me.
So what is Improv?
Improv is when you design a quilt without specific design rules. There are no set measurements or layout that you need to follow, no boundaries or specific intentions; it's an organic process that's very free and spontaneous. It's freeing and liberating too!
My Idea
I came up with the concept of 'Structure and Improv.' The idea being that I make a series of 'traditional' quilt blocks, that provide the 'structure' within the quilt, and then I use improv quilt blocks to join all the blocks together. In this blog post I shall be sharing a bit about the 'Structure' and in part 2 I'll be sharing more about the 'Improv'.
Structure
I do love a traditional quilt block and so I decided to go with a couple of my favourites. First of all I created three Flying Geese blocks and stitched them all together.
![Flying geese quilt blocks](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0575/2756/6532/files/ACS_3918_480x480.jpg?v=1668778768)
A few months ago I had fun with curves making some drunkards path quilt blocks and so I thought I'd make some more.
I also made a 'porthole' block to give the effect of looking through a window, perhaps from a submarine, or at an aquarium. (I love this method! I use it in my Dresden Porthole Pillow Pattern.)
![A porthole and drunkards path quilt block featuring jellyfish and a fish](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0575/2756/6532/files/ACS_3920_480x480.jpg?v=1668779187)
Finally, I made a couple of square in a square blocks, with fussy cut centres, again to show off the fish and the jellyfish prints.
![square in a square quilt block](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0575/2756/6532/files/ACS_3921_480x480.jpg?v=1668779407)
Improv
This weekend I'm going to be making some improv quilt blocks and joining them all together with the 'structured' blocks to make it into a mini quilt. I can't wait to tell you all about it and I look forward to sharing progress in Part 2 with you soon. (**EDITED - Part 2 Available here!)
This post may contain affiliate links.
You can read my full disclosure privacy policy here.