Create Your Own Improv Quilts: Modern Quilting with No Rules & No Rulers

Gillman (Hand-Printed Cloth) encourages readers to break from the confines of traditional quilting in this practical guide to the improv method. An avid quilter since 1974, Gillman decided to ditch patterns in 1996 when she took up improv quilting and began creating “wonky, improv, original” quilts instead. Rather ironically, she has written a clean-cut guidebook for being spontaneous, using what-if prompts to encourage readers to add their own creativity. She discusses designs and fabrics, including “repro” prints and batiks, before digging into the how-tos: “Start simple. Clear the decks. Start with solids. Select three colors. Use one geometric shape.” She recommends beginners start with the rectangle as a base and use black, white, and a “medium-value color that makes you smile.” Then she looks closely at the art of improvising, especially with strips and strings. She offers a gallery of other improvisers’ work—Catherine Whall Smith and Cindy Grisdela included—and cites examples and mistakes from her own quilts. For intermediate or experienced quilters looking to get into the improv technique, this is an excellent starting point. Color photos. [em](Jan.) [/em]