Here's my Modern Improv Quilt, "Spinning J" based on "Score #9" in Sherri Lynn Wood's book, The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters.

It was a real challenge to get it from pieced arcs to a rectangular quilt! But the puzzle pieces did all fall into place one by one! It's now actually a fairly true rectangle but it sure doesn't look like it!

I used DMC Perle Cotton embroidery thread for the Big Stitch Quilting. It has a wool batt so the quilt is light and lofty. I picked the wool batt because I thought it would best accommodate the irregular piecing in the quilt. And that's why I did the hand quilting too.

I had completed the quilting before I knew the technique had a name! I just heard Carolyn Friedlander use the term on her recent Modern Quilt Guild member's webinar, "Handwork is Fun."

Here's more information about Big Stitch Quilting on a Craftsy.com blog post written by Diane Knott last year. I really like the look of the Big Stitch Quilting with the wool batt.

Even the label for this quilt has improv piecing!

This quilt is totally fun! I really learned a lot in the process of making it.

If you're interested in making an improv quilt, I recommend that you pick up a copy of Sherri Lynn Wood's book. I will really help you with the various improv piecing processes.