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.

From My Pieced Alphabet:


Capitol Hill

I want to create an alphabet using this 6 x 6 grid. I want it to be simple. And I want it to be heavy.

I'm going to imagine that I have to chisel my letters out of a piece of very hard granite. I want to chisel out just enough to make readable letters.

Playing with Borders

On Point Kansas Star

Two weeks ago (16 May 2010) I designed this while playing with an on point Kansas Star block.

Quilting

I am going to start with this simple stitched pattern and explore making a quilting pattern with it.

Playing with Colors

Log Cabin

I want to color a Log Cabin block so that it doesn't look like a Log Cabin block.

When you sew a Log Cabin block you sart in the center and spiral out. What if I try making Log Cabin spirals?

Tessellation

If this block looks familiar to you, it's because I was playing with it a week ago on 20 May 2010.  I am going to play with it again today.

Quilting

I developed this stitched pattern on 23 May 2010. I want to play with it some more.

Playing with Blocks

Wonky King's Crown

A week ago, 18 May 2010, I changed the grid dimensions on a King's Crown block and got a wonky King's Crown block.

From My Pieced Alphabet:

Mission

Old calligraphy alphabets are often highly ornamental. The letters are drawn heavy and then embellished with thin decorative lines.  They are the inspiration for my Mission alphabet.

Quilting

You can't be a quilter and not do some quilting. Still, the truth is, I've always been more comfortable designing piecing than quilting. But quilting won't become easier unless I do more of it. So it's time I spent some time trying to design stand-alone quilting.

What if I start with a simple stitched shape like this?

Playing with Quilting

Card Trick Placemat

This placemat is made using 6 Card Trick blocks.

I am going to experiment with quilting for it.

Playing with Colors

Ohio Star

What if I try various monochromatic color schemes for an Ohio Star block?

Tessellation

A while ago I developed this tessellating pattern based on this basic unit. (See my 28 April 2010 post).

On Point

King's Crown

I want to design an on point quilt.


What if I start with a King's Crown block and turn it on point?

Playing with Blocks

Wonky King's Crown

Like most blocks, the King's Crown block is designed on a regular grid.

What if I change the grid on a KIng's Crown block so that it is part of the Fibonacci sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21...?

This is a remarkable change. The wonky King's Crown block looks nothing like the original.

From My Pieced Alphabet:

Glenmore

On Point

Kansas Star

I want to make an on point quilt.

What if I start with a Kansas Star and then turn it on point?

Playing with Borders

Broken Dishes

A week ago (8 May 2010) I designed this quilt top using 6" on point Broken Dishes blocks.

I added white all around the outside edge to make it 72" x 72". Now I want to design a border using 6" Broken Dishes blocks.

Playing with Quilting

Drunkard's Path Placemat

This placemat was made using 24 Drunkard's Path blocks.  I think some quilting might improve it.

Playing with Piecing

Part 2

Earlier today I was looking for the best way to piece a tessellated block. I found 2 solutions; one that used 28 pieces and one that used 24.  I thought I did a good job, but as it turns out I wasn't even close.

Playing with Piecing

Tesselated Block

I developed this tessellated block on 6 May 2010.

I need to decide how it should be pieced.

Playing with Quilting

Wonky Shoo Fly Block

This wonky Shoo Fly block is from my 4 April 2010 post.

In an even earlier post, 22 January 2010, I developed quilting for a regular Shoo Fly block. What if I apply that quilting to the wonky block?

Playing with Blocks

Wonky Oh Susannah

Like most blocks Oh Susannah is constructed on a regular grid.

What if I change the grid so that it is part of the Fibonacci sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21...?

I get a wonky Oh Susannah block.

From My Pieced Alphabet:

Tuscany

Playing with Borders

Tessellation

I discovered this tessellating block on 6 May 2010.

On Point

Broken Dishes

What if I take a 6 x 6 Broken Dishes block, turn it on point and add some color to the center?

Playing with Blocks

Rosewood

My Rosewood alphabet (See 4 May 2010) was designed for on point quilts. The letters are spaced far apart so words take up a lot of room. But it does what it is meant to do.

Tessellation

Using these 2 blocks that are the reverse of each other, I am going to see if I can create a tessellation.

Playing with Colors

Balkan Puzzle

I want to change the colors on this Balkan Puzzle block and see if I can create a 3D effect by casting virtual shadows.

Playing with Blocks

Rosewood

Yesterday I introduced this on point alphabet.

Like most alphabets it is designed to be used horizontally.

From My Pieced Alphabet:

Rosewood

Quilters often make quilts using blocks on point. I thought it might be a good idea to design an on point alphabet.

Tessellation

What if I start with these two blocks; can I make a tessellated pattern?

Playing with Colors

Hidden Star Placemat

Today I thought it might be fun to take a placemat made with 6 Hidden Star blocks and see what happens when I play with how it's colored.