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Based on the classic precision pieced snake blocks, Sarah Ruiz asked us for improv snake blocks.

She pointed us to these two websites as examples of what the classic snake block looks like.

Sarah chose a palette of dark teal (for the arcs), magenta, coral, yellow, and cream. For each color family, we were encouraged to use various hues, and a minimum of two color families per section. We could include any type of straight-line improv piecing, with the only curved seams being the improv quarter circle arcs in dark teal.

After pulling fabric the first section I pieced was this corner section. I had pulled yardage and scraps in the appropriate colors and this quarter circle of magenta was calling to be a corner of one block. I slice and inserted three 1/8" wide skinny strips.

Then I started piecing boxy sections of magentas and corals to be a center section. Since I wanted to use different color combinations in the different background sections, I pieced yellow and cream for one corner.

For the second block I took inspiration from my round robin unit. I created a large wonky strip set wide enough to be trimmed on the diagonal to be the center section of my second block.

Again taking inspiration from my scrap shapes I used a triangular scrap and pieced around it to create the second corner for block two.

Finally, I decided to make another cream and yellow slab for the second corner of block one (below), heavier on the cream this time.

I attached the teal strip to the corner section first. Then I lay the resulting panel on top of the center panel of fabric (2nd photo above). I lined the edges of the corner up about 1/2" inside the edges of the center panel. Then I checked to make sure there was enough fabric in the overlap where I would cut and sliced through both layers at once (using this method) before piecing the curved seam (3rd photo above).

These blocks were such an opportunity to play. I loved choosing different color combinations and deciding on different styles of improv piecing.

It will be fun to see Sarah's quilt top come together. I like the visual interest of the teal arcs not lining up perfectly.

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I have fond memories of participating in a guild round robin with SCVQA back in 2019, so it was an easy decision to opt in for this year's round robin with Silicon Valley Modern Quilt Guild. There are 10 of us participating, rotating the project each month. I created my starting unit in February and passed it off to the next quilter this past weekend.

Since I'd used my favorite palette of lime, teal, and navy in my previous round robin I wanted something different, and I landed on vibrant, joyful colors. Due in part to a print that I'll use on the back (and I am not showing while the quilt is in process) I selected a variety of pinks, oranges, and yellows. The majority of my print fabric stash are blenders, fabrics that read as a single color, like you see here. I tried to have a ranch of values and hues within each set of fabric.

My initial plan was to piece strips of my fabrics. I drew this small sketch. Here I have four half square triangle units in the center, bordered by a small strip of white, then surrounded by my colorful strip sets. I liked the idea of smooth organic curves and thought I might trim the outer edges and add another round of solid white.

I didn't have a specific size in mind as I started piecing. True to form I chain pieced so I could be building multiple units at once. I found this process very meditative.

In the interest of time I reworked my plan a bit, deciding to sub in a single square of fabric in the center. I thought maybe I'd stop here. I really liked the piecing to this point.

But I couldn't stop thinking about my original intention for some improv curves. Though after spending the time to do all the piecing, I didn't really want to chop some of it off. These strip sets were only 3 inches wide, so it didn't leave much room for cutting improv curves on the outer edge. I reimagined my plan for curves and created them by adding strips of oranges and yellows to frame the center section and improv cut curved edges (using this method) to add my Kona White. My finished starting unit finished at 13" x 13".

I wish I'd taken a photo of my kit. I packed my fabrics up in an orange plastic box, with an orange notebook for notes during its journey. Stay tuned for pics of the project I'm working on for the round robin this month.

Notes to other participants in the round robin (summary of what's in the notebook):

I indicated that I'd like my quilt to have the vibe of a medallion quilt, with my starting unit as the center. That said, I don't need there to be symmetry throughout the quilt and folks can choose if they add to one or more sides (no need to each make a full trip around the medallion). I wouldn't mind if my starting unit ended up off-center. I'd like a lap size quilt that could be square or rectangular in its final shape. Regarding fabric, I supplied a bunch, including Kona White, and gave instructions to let me know if they needed more fabric and to feel free to add fabrics of their own in the same palette I've chosen, including solids if they wish. I also gave them permission to share photos of the progress, so we'll be able to follow along with how my quilt is going over the year.

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In January, Elizabeth asked us to make improv plus sign blocks.

Elizabeth provided this graphic with color recommendations (Red, Red-Orange, Pink, Violet, Lavender, White, Dark Green, Green, Yellow) and asked for 9 1/2" plus sign blocks that feel graphic and improvisational.

These felt like potato chips to me. So easy to not just make one.

I let the process of each block inform my decisions for the next block.

In my first block I created a green and yellow strip set to use for one stroke of my block. Before I trimmed it down, I really liked the shape of the yellow sticking out farther than the green.

So for the second block I pieced red and pink strips before making this strip sets. Red was my background for this block so this achieved the feature of the yellow pieces being taller than the pink in the finished strip. (It's a different proportion than the strip set for the first block.)

Following the same process I created a second strip set, leaving a larger center section. I pieced this strip into my red background before making a vertical slice to insert my first strip.

Blocks 1 and 2.

Blocks 3 and 4. In block three, I used a scrap of dark purple leftover from creating block one. And my dark green fabric was a small scrap, so I chose to use that with the dark purple to create the plus. Since these were both darks, I chose a lighter color that I hadn't used yet for the background. The plus is intentionally off center. In block four, I had cut a piece of white fabric as the background for a previous block before changing my mind. So I used that for my background. And my scrap of pink fabric was side enough to cut strips to insert across the entire width of the block. I hadn't used improv curves yet, so I went for a simple two-color block with improv curves.

Overall, I was happy with the variety of my blocks and I enjoyed working in the happy colors that Elizabeth chose for us. And now that I think about it, Elizabeth uses stripes in her work a lot. Maybe there was some subliminal inspiration for my first block. I look forward to see what everyone else creates for the prompt.