Blocks

Wonky Dutchman's Puzzle

What if I take a Dutchman's Puzzle block and change its regular grid into one that is based on the Fibonacci series 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21...?

I get a wonky Dutchman's Puzzle block.

Piecing

Hooded Merganser

This was my first attempt at creating a Hooded Merganser block. I was working from several pictures and, of course, the exact details are different on each one. What varies most is the shape of the head and the white "fan" depending on whether the "hood" is up or not.

From My Pieced Alphabet:

Electric Avenue

In order to create letters, quilters use fabric and thread.  What if I create an alphabet that emphasizes this fact?

Applique

Tear Drop

I used this simple tear drop shape to create several quilting designs on 19 June 2010.

My wife, Linda, pointed out that a tear drop shape is available as one of the dies for the Accuquilt Go fabric cutter that we bought from our friend Nulagh. It is used for making applique feathers.

This inspired me to see what other applique designs I can come up with for this tear drop shape.

Piecing

Common Merganser

This my attempt to piece a Common Merganser.

Not bad for a first attempt but the beak is too fat.

Colors

Log Cabin

Yesterday I decided I liked this setting for this Log Cabin block.

What if I change the colors in the block?

Blocks

Log Cabin

The Log Cabin block on the left comes from my 2 June 2010 post. I've changed the colors slightly to create the one on the right. I want to try this new and livelier version in various settings and see what turns up.

Piecing

Red -Winged Blackbird

I created this design for a Red-winged Blackbird assuming that that there would be divisions at the neck and the tail.

Blocks

Wonky Ohio Star

What if I start with an Ohio Star block and change the grid so that it is part of the Fibonacci series 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21...?

From My Pieced Alphabet:

Ogden

In many alphabets round letters, such as o, b, and p, are based on circles. I want to try an alphabet based on an octagon instead.

Piecing

Yellow-Headed Blackbird

This is my first attempt at designing a pieced block featuring a Yellow-headed Blackbird.

I thought it looked fine until I colored it in and then it looked way too fat.

Quilting

Using only this simple tear drop shape, and by repeatedly asking what if..?, what if...?, what if...?, I want to see what sort of quilting patterns I can create.

Quilting

Checkerboard Placemat

This 12"x 18" placemat is made using 3" squares. I want to design some quilting for it.

What if I lose the checkerboard squares in the center and just keep the ones around the outside?

Piecing

Black-Capped Chickadee

I created this simplified drawing of a Black-capped Chickadee. Now I need to decide how to piece it.

Playing with Blocks

Crow's Foot

When I first saw this block referred to as Crow's Foot, I was surprised. I'd always thought of it as Bear's Paw.

But the block most often called Bear's Paw is this. So I've had to revise my thinking.

Tessellation

What if I start with this tessellating shape, can I create an interesting tessellated pattern?

What if I put 4 of them together rotated?

Does this pinwheel tessellate?

From My Pieced Alphabet:

Point McKay

Point McKay is an attempt to create an alphabet that has no horizontal strokes. All the strokes are verticals or diagonals.

Playing with Colors

On Point Kansas Star

This is from my 30 May 2010 post. When I made it, I liked it but I wasn't smitten by it. The background pattern competes with the on-point Kansas Star Diamonds.

Both Elsie and Judy left comments as to how I could improve it.

Piecing

Black-Billed Magpie

I've drawn this simplified picture of a Black-billed Magpie. I need to decide how I'm going to piece it. I've left the legs off, as I'm going to applique them.

On Point

Balkan Puzzle

I'm turning Balkan Puzzle on-point. I want to see what kind of design that will produce.

What if I change the colors so that it no longer looks like Balkan Puzzle?

Tessellation

What if I start with this simple tessellation and see if I can use it to build a more interesting one.
(To review tessellation go to my 17 April 2010 post)

Playing with Blocks

Balkan Puzzle

What if I start with a Balkan Puzzle block but try coloring it differently?

Quilting

I borrowed this from my 1 June 2010 post.

What if I add to it with some petal-like shapes?

I think this makes a perfectly good quilt design for filling a square space.

From My Pieced Alphabet

Research Park

If you are wondering what the above letter is, I completely understand. It is the letter B, and it is the most problematic letter in the whole Research Park alphabet.

Playing with Colors

Log Cabin

The other day (28 May 2010)  I had fun turning Log Cabin blocks into spirals. I want to try it again today.

Playing with Colors

Wonky Kansas Star

Yesterday I was playing with a wonky Kansas Star and I produced this pattern.

I wasn't totally satisfied with the colors; so today I thought I'd explore the colors a little more.

Playing with Blocks

Wonky Kansas Star

What if I change the grid on a Kansas Star block and create a wonky Kansas Star?

On Point

Ohio Star

I've decided to see what I can do with an on point Ohio Star block.

Playing With Colors

Log Cabin

The last time (28 May 2010) I changed the colors in a Log Cabin block I played with spirals. Today I want to play with squares.

Quilting

Starting with this simple stitched pattern, I want to see what kind of quilting pattern I can devise.