Scrappy Improv Quilting Kickoff and a Giveaway!

Whoop, Whoop!  It's time, y'all.  Time to properly introduce you to my brand new book, and celebrate its release!  The publication process is a marathon, not a sprint and I have been patiently waiting for this day.  In fact, this book has been over a year-and-a-half in the making, and I am so excited to finally share it with you in detail.

Scrappy Improv Quilting is written with all of the information you'll need to complete the projects from start to finish,  so even a newbie quilter will be successful.  To kick off the blog tour, I'm going to give a little overview of the way the book is structured.

Before you even get to the 22 fun projects, Scrappy Improv Quilting starts off with a whole section dedicated to the many ways to use mini quilts.  Then, quilting tools, helpful tips, and techniques are covered, which are useful not only for mini quilts, but for quilting in general.  And, most importantly for this method, a full step-by-step tutorial is included showing exactly how to sort and piece your scrap fabric using improvisation.  There are lots of pictures to help you on your way, and you'll be shocked at how easy it is to create scrappy "fabric" that will create tons of texture and depth in your quilt.  It really is a comprehensive guide!

If you're a pro at improv, you might be comfortable with your own scrap piecing method, and that's fantastic, but it is always helpful to get a different perspective.  You might even pick up a new trick or two for your improv arsenal!  But if improv is brand new for you, this book walks you through the process and lets you dip your toes into it with all of the information you'll need for success.  It really is for everyone!  After the foundation is laid, the book begins with Single Block Beauties.

Each of the six quilts in this section is made with just one big quilt block!  A single block is the perfect way to start out if you're apprehensive.  The minis here offer a wide range of scrappy opportunity.  You can choose a project where scraps of different colors are mixed, one with a specific color palette, or one where the scrappy improv creates a textured background.  And one of the best things about this technique is that it is easy to customize to your own scrap color preferences!

The second section is Simple Shapes, and it contains five designs, which have simple repeating shapes that come together to make super fun quilts.  Once again, this section gives plenty of options for working with your unique scraps, and the patterns show a variety of colors and backgrounds.

There are lots more quilts to share with you and the blog tour will be following the schedule below.  I've been getting sneak peeks of projects from all of the amazing blogger friends and I know you're going to love the minis they've been creating.  I know they're excited to share them with you too!  

Because this book has so many projects, and because I want to finish the blog tour well before the holidays, we will be highlighting four projects each week beginning on 9/13- two on Monday, and two on Wednesday of each week.  For the duration of the blog tour, NTT will be posted on Thursday mornings, rather than the usual Wednesday evening, just to make sure that the posts don't get crowded. 

Scrappy Improv Quilting Blog Tour Schedule-

8/31- Intro, Single Block Beauties, and Simple Shapes (here!)

9/7- Seasonal Sensations, Standards With a Twist (here!)

9/13- Summer Blossom- Lori @ Crossquilt

           Up, Up, and Away- Sandra @ mmm...quilts!

9/15- Flutter- Rose @ Something Rosemade

           Botanics- Diann @ Little Penguin Quilts

9/20- Face the Sun- Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts

           Full Spectrum- Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal

9/22- Prismatic- Anja @ Anja Quilts

           Downpour- Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting

9/27- Funkytown- Vasudha @ Storied Quilts

           Cherub Wings- Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty

9/29- Chapel Window- Kris @ Sew Sunshine

           Winter Frost- Leanne @ Devoted Quilter

10/4- Heartstruck- Rebecca Grace @ Rebecca Grace Quilting

           Star Spangled- Christine @ Triangles & Squares

10/6- Birds of a Feather- Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts

           Fall Foliage- Susan @ Quilt Fabrication

10/11- Ornamental- Gail @ Quilting Gail

            Churn, Churn, Churn- Cynthia @ Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework

10/13- Sunset Crossing- Kate @ Katie Mae Quilts

             Positivity- Sarah @ Sarah Goer Quilts

10/18- All Dressed Up- Linda @ Flourishing Palms

             Shockwave- Anne-Marie @ Stories From the Sewing Room

10/20- Sweet Bee (a bonus thank-you pattern), Finishing, and Wrap-Up (here!) 

Signed copies of Scrappy Improv Quilting are available in my Etsy shop HERE, or ask about it at your local quilt shop.  It is also available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other major booksellers.  

And shop owners, you can get it from any of the major distributors- Checker, Brewer, United Notions, and EE Schenck.  :) 

Okay y'all!  To kick off this blog tour properly, I'm giving away a signed copy of Scrappy Improv Quilting to one reader.  To enter, just take a moment to enter a single comment on this post.  I'll announce the winner next week on 9/7, where I'll also highlight the other two sections in the book.  Happy scrapping and good luck!

This giveaway has now ended.  Thanks so much to all who entered!