Strippy Improv Halloween QAL - Week 1
Welcome to the Strippy Improv Halloween Quilt Along!
I’m excited that you’re here, and excited to be doing some Halloween sewing. This is a very do-able QAL - just 4 weeks to make a 4-block design. Perfect for anyone whose fall feels super busy. We’re starting out Week 1 by talking fabric choices - keep reading for helpful tips and things to consider.
We're talking fabric in week 1!
But really, before that, let's talk block choices, because the blocks you decide to make will steer your fabric choices.
The pattern includes 9 different blocks (yes, I got carried away when I created the pattern, but what could I leave out?!?). I'm showing all 9 in the two photos below - you can use these as an overview, and you can also refer back to them as you read the fabric choice section below. Select 4 different blocks, or use all the same block, or maybe 2 and 2. It's up to you!
7 of the 9 Strippy Improv Halloween blocks: witch’s hat, spider, pumpkin, black cat, ghost, candy corn and bat
The last two blocks: the letters B and O - to make Boo! (make sure to pair with a ghost block!)
Here's where color factors in.
Block background:
Your block background should be dark (or darker) so the pieced strips don't show through the reverse applique. If you choose appliques that are typically black or very dark (like the bat, cat, spider, witch hat), you'll want to pick a block background that is light enough to create contrast (but not too light, like white!). I wouldn't go lighter than this light gray below.
Strip colors:
These blocks are great for using scraps, particularly leftover strips. I recommend paying attention to the value of your strips - for example, for the pumpkin, you want your oranges to have enough variety that the individual strips stand out. Otherwise, you could just use one piece of orange for the whole pumpkin.
I personally prefer prints that are more tonal, because I don't want individual prints distracting from the overall applique. But if you are making four pumpkin blocks, a little more variety might be fun! In my B-O-O blocks, I used more variety because I knew the letter would pop off the background.
A note on whites and blacks - these can be tricky, because so many black prints read as black. Look for some darker grays as well (as long as they're darker than your block background). For whites, definitely raid your low volume stash!
Whatever strips you choose, audition them by laying the strips together to see if you like the look.
And finally, take advantage of all the fun Halloween prints in quilt shops for the border! I’m using the Spellbound collection by Marin Sutton for Benartex. I love these prints! The colors aren’t super traditional Halloween, which I like, and the artwork is so cute and creepy at the same time.
Spellbound fabrics by Marin Sutton from Benartex
Have fun choosing your blocks and fabrics! Meet me back here on Thursday, October 3 where we'll talk about making the blocks.
Here are a couple more finished quilts so you can see fabric combos I've used:
Medium gray background so the black cat and witches' hat pop:
Busier tonal prints on two different gray backgrounds (psst...these prints glow in the dark!)
Black backgrounds so the orange and gray letters and ghost pop:
See how the lighter gray background allows the black prints of the hat and bat to show up?
Here's the QAL schedule:
Friday 9/19: Fabric and block choices
Friday 9/26: Make 2 blocks
Friday 10/3: Make 2 blocks
Friday 10/10: Assemble and finish!
I hope you'll join in the fun! I'll be posting here on the blog and also sharing posts on IG (@quiltyzest). If you're going to sew along, use the hashtag #strippyimprovhalloween to share your block and/or fabric choices! Need the pattern?
Get it here.