Strippy Improv Holiday Sew Along Part 1
Welcome to the Strippy Improv Holiday Sew Along!
I don't know about you, but this time of year, I have big plans to finish projects before Christmas - either for gifts, or to decorate my house. And most years, very few get finished. I'd like to change that this year and I hope you'll join me.
The Strippy Improv Holiday pattern uses a combination of improv piecing (you can piece straight strips if you prefer) plus reverse applique to make your choice of five different block designs. The pattern includes options for a table runner or wall hanging finish. Since either one is a smaller project, you'll even be able to quilt and bind it before December 25th! Here are the blocks:
Back to the Sew Along: I'm hosting the Strippy Improv Holiday Sew Along to help nudge us all along to a holiday project finish. Keep reading to see the schedule. You choose your blocks and your layout. I'll provide encouragement, tips and photos here on my blog, on IG and on Facebook on each of the dates listed. Together, we can do this!
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| Purchase the pattern here and join the Sew Along! |
Strippy Improv Holiday Sew Along Schedule:
Thursday, November 18th - Intro and Fabric Selection
Tuesday, November 23rd - Make a block
Tuesday, November 30th - Make a block
Thursday, December 2nd - Make a block
Tuesday, December 7th - Make a block
Thursday, December 9th - Assembly
Tuesday, December 14th - Alternate options
Thursday, December 16th - Finishing
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It's Day 1, so let's talk fabric selection.
You can go in so many different fabric directions for this project - traditional Christmas, modern, whimsical...
The keys?
1) Choose a non-white or light fabric for the block backgrounds so the pieced strips don't show through.
2) Select a background color that contrasts with the strip colors for your blocks. For example, if you make a tree block, you don't want the background fabric to be green, or your tree won't show up.
3) Aim for high contrast for the skinny frames around each block. This creates definition between your blocks and your sashing/border fabric.
4) Raid your stash for the strip pieced sections of each block. The scrappier, the better!
The first time I made this project, I used black/silver tonals and jewel tones for a more modern look (see above). This time, I couldn't decide, so I'm sharing two different fabric combinations. Which do you like better? What will you use? I can't wait to see! Share your fabric choices on Instagram using #strippyimprovholiday so we can all see!
