Many of the skills art quilters use every day can be traced back to the basics. Kestrel Michaud shares drawing techniques she learned in art school that will help every quilter hone their skills of observation and explore their options when designing a quilt. Next, Lisa Thorpe uses stamped and colorized designs in repeating patterns to create focal points, borders, and even printed yardage. Creativity abounds in this episode of QUILTING ARTS.

Applique quilts are always in vogue, and this episode offers two approaches to this style of quilting. Artist David M. Taylor shares an overview of his process for creating representational art quilts that incorporate his unique applique technique. Next, using a longarm machine, Satomi Hoar introduces us to using invisible thread to hide stitches and create a beautiful tulip applique design.

Forget the rulers and the rules... today's theme is improv, by hand and by machine. Teresa Duryea Wong starts off with making an improvisational quilt complete with thin strips and odd shapes. Next, Heidi Zielinski adds a touch of free-motion machine quilting and hand embroidery to her abstract art quilts. On this episode of Quilting Arts, free your creativity with a little improvisation!