Playing with Blocks

Empire Star

Yesterday I showed how Empire Star is made by reflecting this unit. 

The 2 on the left are the mirror image of the 2 on the right and the 2 on the bottom are the mirror image of the two on the top.

I found three new blocks by reflecting the unit differently.


What if, instead of reflecting the unit, I rotate it? What new blocks will I find?

Playing with Blocks

Empire Star

When I came across this block, Empire Star, I was delighted. It is one of the few blocks based on reflected symmetry.

Playing with Letters

From My Pieced Alphabet:

Mount Royal

Before the printing press existed all writing was calligraphy.  And much of it was very decorative.  Mount Royal is my attempt to piece an alphabet that resembles Old English.

Oops

There is an error in the last illustration in today's earlier blog.  The quilting for the 2 Shoo Fly blocks on the right side of the placemat is shown as connecting vertically.  Actually, each Shoo Fly block is quilted separately.

This is what the illustration should look like.

Playing with Quilting

Shoo Fly Placemat

This placemat was made using 6 Shoo Fly blocks.

I want to spice it up with some quilting

Playing with Quilting

Ninepatch Placemat

This 12" x 18" placemat was made from 6 Ninepatch blocks.

I am going to use it to experiment with some quilting.

What if I start by sewing arcs around the center square of the Ninepatch block?

Playing with Piecing

Hummingbird

I got out my gridded paper and drew this picture of a hummingbird. It will make a fine quilt block once I've figured out how to piece it.

Playing with Borders

Card Trick Quilt

Yesterday I created this quilt top starting with a Card Trick block.

Today I want to see about giving it a border.

Playing with Blocks

Card Trick

What if I make a Card Trick block that has 3 "cards" the same and one different?

What if I take 4 of the blocks and rotate them, then combine them?

Not much to look at yet, but then I've just started. There are lots of things I can try.

Playing with Blocks

Not a Balkan Puzzle

In my post on 16 March 2010 I rearranged a Balkan Puzzle block and found this block. The next day I tried coloring it 7 different ways.

What if I combine 4 of this block in a square so that they are reflected?  That is so that the left two are the mirror image of the right two and the bottom two are the mirror image of the top two.

What if I try this arrangement with my 7 color variations?

Playing with Letters

From My Pieced Alphabet:

Drunkard's

I was playing with Drunkard's Path blocks when I asked myself, "What if I based an alphabet on Drunkard's Path blocks?"

Playing with Quilting

Broken Dishes Placemat

This 12" x 18" placemat is made from 6 Broken Dishes blocks.  Yesterday I designed quilting for a placemat just like it. Today I want to change it.

Playing with Quilting

Broken Dishes Placemat

What if I make a 12" x 18"placemat using 6 Broken Dishes blocks?

My placemat needs some quilting to make it more interesting.

My First Book

I've written a book, Designing Quilt is Easy!  It won't be available from C&T Publishing until April.  However, the printer sends ahead a few copies to use for promotion and the publisher passes one on to the author. Today I received my copy.  So now I'm promoting it by showing you the cover.

Playing with Piecing

Elephant

I wanted to make an elephant block, so I drew what I thought was a reasonably good elephant.
Perhaps it's a little cartoony (Is this a word?); but it's recognizable.

Playing with Borders

Ohio Star Quilt

On March 14 I posted this idea for a quilt top based on an Ohio Star block.

Today I'm going to try and find a border for it.

Playing with Colors

Not a Balkan Puzzle

Yesterday I rearranged a Balkan Puzzle block and found this block.

What if I try coloring it several different ways?

Playing with Blocks

Balkan Puzzle

This is a Balkan Puzzle block.  If you look at it closely, it is obvious that it can be made from 4 identical units.  I want to experiment with the basic unit.

Playing with Letters
















From My Pieced Alphabet:

Underwood Block

Underwood block is a simple straightforward block alphabet.  It does have some interesting characteristics however.

Playing with Blocks 2

Ohio Star

Judy asked a question about a post I did earlier today - Playing with Blocks.  You will want to take a look at that and at her comment before you read this post. That is, if you want this post to make sense; otherwise go right ahead and read this now.

Playing with Blocks

Ohio Star

I want to design a quilt top using an Ohio Star block.

What if I arrange 4 Ohio Star blocks so that their corners touch?

I need to fill the large empty spaces.

Playing with Piecing

Nuthatch

I want a quilt block featuring a Nuthatch; so I drew this sketch of a Nuthatch on a tree branch.

The Nuthatch looks fine but the tree looks like a telephone pole with a fake branch nailed to it.

Playing with Quilting

Broken Dishes Quilt

Let's go back in time for a moment.  In my 5 January 2010 blog I played with a Broken Dishes block and created a quilt top. The next day I added some quilting. On 17 February I added a border.  You can see the result on the left.  Obviously, I now need to complete the quilting design.

Playing with Color

Drunkard's Path Placemat

I created this 12" x 18" placemat design using 24 Drunkard's Path blocks.

Now I'm going to revert to my childhood, take out my crayons, try different ways of coloring this, and see what happens.

Playing with Piecing

Nine Patch Quilt

If you go to my blogs for 27 & 28 January 2010, you will see how I designed this quilt starting with a Nine Patch block.

Now I need to determine the best way to piece it.

The borders I can ignore because they present no problem.

Playing with Quilting

Ohio Star

I am going to start with this arrangement of 4 Ohio Star blocks and see if I can devise some decorative quilting that will enhance them.

Playing with Letters

From My Pieced Alphabet:


Heritage

One day I noticed a cross stitch alphabet hanging on the wall of a fabric shop.  "Aha", I thought, "I could make a pieced alphabet based on that."  Shortly after that, my Heritage alphabet was born.

Playing with Piecing

Shoo Fly Quilt

This quilt was designed using Shoo Fly blocks.  On 21 January 2010, I added a border; now I want to determine the best way piece it.

The piecing for the binding and the outer white border is obvious; so I can ignore that.

Playing with Piecing

Snail

I drew my version of a snail on a grid using only straight lines.  I want to make a quilt block from it; so now I need to discover how I am going to piece it.

Playing with Quilting

Drunkard's Path Quilt

Two days ago I designed this quilting for this block.  Now I want to try something different.

Playing with Borders

Nine Patch Quilt

If you go to my 28 February 2010 blog, you will see how this quilt top was designed using a variation of a Nine Patch block.

Now it could use a border.

Playing with Quilting

Drunkard's Path Quilt

This block is made using 6 Drunkard's Path blocks.  On 24 February I posted a blog showing a larger block made with 4 of these blocks and a quilt made from 4 of the larger blocks plus sashing.  Ruthie asked, "...but how would you quilt it?"  Good question.

Playing with Piecing

Prominence Point C

At first glance, because squares are being used to form a circle, this looks like it will be an awkward letter to piece.

We're about to find out if it is or not.

Playing with Letters

From My Alphabet:

Prominence Point

This alphabet was my answer to the question, "How can I get smooth curves but only sew straight seams?"