Playing with Quilting

Shoo Fly Placemat

This 12" x 18" placemat is made from 6 Shoo Fly blocks.

How can I use quilting to make it more interesting?

What if I start by sewing a circle in the center square of a Shoo Fly block?

Not much of a start but a start none the less.


What if I try parabolas in the white squares?

This changes the Shoo Fly block dramatically.

What if I join the ends of the parabolas with gentle arcs?

I like this. It's time to put 6 of them together in a placemat.

The placemat is wonderful.  The quilting and the blocks work well together.  In this case the whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts.