Intro to Controlled Improv
A Guided Practice to Help You See Differently
Supply List
This workshop requires a little prep before class begins — and it's worth it!
The more you do ahead of time, the further you'll get in the guided practices during our session together.
Read through all the steps below so you arrive ready to create.
What to Bring — REQUIRED
- Fabrics: Scraps of 30-50 fabrics of only solids
and blenders only. Bring a variety of lights, mediums, and darks. Include some
neutrals in your selection. - Scissors
- Glue stick(s)
- Notebook & Pen or Pencil
- Templates provided by Mitzie above
- Assembled Design Space Pages provided by Mitzie
What to Bring — NICE TO HAVE
- Colored Pencils
- Free Color Flow Theory Workbook by Mitzie (PDF
Download)
Before Class Prepare the Following
- Print 2 to 3 copies of the page titled Controlled Improv Design Practice Templates and cut out the shapes on the page.
- Print 16 copies of Page 4, with the light gray grid. Using the instructions at the bottom of the template page, tape 4 pages together to a Design Space larger page. Make at least 4 total (or bring tape
with you and make them in class). - From each of your fabrics, cut at least 10
pieces for each of the 11 shapes on the template page. If you want to cut as many as 30, you will have more design options during the class. Cutting out shapes in advance will ensure you can maximize your class time on designs. If you decide to start with 10, you can always cut more during class from the scraps you bring.
FABRIC GUIDELINES
What works
- Solids: Single-color fabrics.
- Blenders: Fabrics with a very subtle, tone-on-tone pattern that reads as a single color from a distance. Hold the fabric at arm's length — if it looks like one clean color, it's a blender. It should be free of any contrasting spots, dots, or printed images.
Aim for This Mix of Values and Colors
Bring a variety of colors — including neutrals — and be sure to include lights, mediums, and darks. Value contrast is one of the five design controls we'll explore in class, so the more range you have in your pile, the more you'll learn. The more I teach this, the more I see most students reaching for mediums with their projects. They are givens, go tos. Try to resist this urge when selecting your fabrics.
What to Avoid
In Controlled Improv, the arrangement of shapes and color is the design. Prints compete with that and distract the eye from the layout you're building. Keep it clean so your design decisions can do the talking.
Questions before class?
If you're unsure about anything — feel free to email with questions.
No one should leave guessing, and that starts before you even arrive.
Visit jitterywingsquiltco.com or find Mitzie on Instagram at @jitterywings.