It's Time to Dabble in Free-Form Quilting ala Author Rayna Gillman

What is Free-Form Quilting?

In 2011, Rayna Gillman published a book through C & T Publishing called Create Your Own Free-Form Quilts: A Stress-Free Journey to Original Design. I am so happy that I came across her book and had the good sense to purchase it. Her ways of breaking out of the 'norms' and 'rules' of quilting are refreshing! The photos in the book are fabulous and inspiring. If you're looking for ways to break "free", consider her suggested techniques: "...no seams have to be lined up, no corners have to match, and you are free to do what you like." (p. 20)

Some of the chapter titles to entice you:

• "Start Stripping"
• "Slice, Dice, Combine"
• "Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide"
• "Fearless Color"
• "Reinventing UFOs..."

With inspiration bouncing around and filling my head for the past few days after reading and looking through her book again, I found some time today to do what she calls "therapy sewing." I needed it!

First I took out my plastic tub of miscellaneous scraps from other projects.

I selected various strips of fabric that were each at least 6-8" long.

I sewed them together somewhat randomly, varying lengths and colors. I tried not to get stymied by fabric colors, tones, patterns, motifs. These are the types of concerns that usually give me "creative constipation." I'm not confident when selecting fabrics for quilts, and I get overwhelmed by the vast array of choices and decisions I need to make.

Here's two blocks I made from the strips, after slicing, dicing, dividing, multiplying, and subtracting:

8.75" x 10.25"

8" x 10.75"

Which one speaks to you? Can you visualize a use for either of them? Can you imagine them being surrounded by neutrals and allowed to be the main feature? What about combining them somehow? What about transforming them yet again by slicing, dicing, dividing, multiplying, or subtracting? Could they become a free-form interpretation of: a tree? a house? a landscape?

They're both different sizes. I don't have a plan for their use yet. Thanks to Rayna, I'm not intimidated by these and other details. I can let my free-forms percolate in my mind for however long they need. I know I'll find a place for them to appear someday. They may get chopped up and used in new ways yet again! I'll just enjoy the process and let myself be free of constraints. 

This is a nice way to break free! Are you ready to take a break, too???

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