Who Says

All Blocks Have To Be Square?

Nobody ever said all blocks have to be square. We just make them square from force of habit. But habits can be changed.

Do You Know

The Farmer's Daughter Block?

The Farmer's Daughter block is new to me. I thought it might be fun to try coloring it various ways to see what happens.

So I did.

What Do You See

When You Look At A New Block?

Do you see possibilities? Do you see potential? I wish I did, but I don't. When I looked at Kansas Troubles for the first time all I saw was a block I'd never seen before.

But that was no reason not to try playing with it to discover some of its hidden potential and possibilities.

Quarter of Nine #1

What You Can Learn From

A Disappearing Nine Patch Block

This quilt design was not made using Disappearing Nine Patch blocks; but it was inspired by them.

This Quilt's By Karen

Karen Trzcinski took this idea from my 30 July 2010 post and turned it into a quilt for her young cousin who chose the colors.

I like the fact that Karen used 3 colors instead of the original 2. But I really like the border treatment. The 2 vertical stripes is a great idea. I'm going to have to try that on one of my quilts.

You Don't Need A Fancy Block

To Make A Fancy Quilt

This is not a fancy block. In fact it's so not fancy that I don't know what to call it. But that doesn't mean it can't be a useful and interesting block.

You Aren't Just Choosing Colors

You Are Choosing Values

Choosing fabric for a quilt isn't just about picking colors you like. Color value is even more important than color in determining how well your quilt works. You need to select for both color and value.

What If We Go Back To June 2010?

A little over a year ago I was playing with this tessellating block.

Have You Tried

The Other Storm At Sea Block?

There is more than one Storm at Sea block. You can make a Storm at Sea quilt using either one. How is this possible?

Have You Tried

Playing With Storm At Sea?

Storm at Sea is a versatile block. Go looking and you'll find many wonderful versions of it. After a while you start thinking that everything that can be done has been done.

But has it...?

If You Try

You Discover You Can

There are a lot of quilters who design their own quilts. And I mean a lot. If so many can, there's no reason you can't too. But you never will, if you don't try.

Something You Should Know About Color

Dark Yellow Is Olive Green

Painters mix colors. Quilters choose fabrics.  But quilters need to know about the nature of color in order to pick the right fabrics.

Today I want to show you what happens when you add black to a color. Then consider how that can affect your color choices as a quilter.

You're In Charge

Do It Your Way

I found these these 4 versions of the traditional block Weathervane by surfing the internet.

They are not only colored differently, they are pieced differently as well.

You Can Try

Not-So-Subtle Wonky Blocks

Wonky blocks can be fun. They give you permission to try unusual things and not worry about whether your seams match, or if your points are perfect. Nobody expects really wonky blocks to be perfect.

Designing a wonky block can be as easy as changing the grid on a traditional block.

You Can Try

Subtle Wonky Blocks

It's fun to take a traditional block, change the grid dimensions, and watch the block go all wonky. You can get some interesting designs that way.

Some times a block that is a little wonky is all you need.

Do You Know What A Quilt Block Is?

What a foolish question to ask any quilter. You've made lots of them, so of course you do.

Or do you?....

Learn While You Play

The most useful design principles are the ones you teach yourself.

How do you do that? You play. You notice what's happening. You ask Why?

This Is Me

A few of my quilts were on display at the Linden Alberta quilt show, last Friday and Saturday.

Alice Klassen, of Jo-Al designs, does a great job of organizing the show every year.

While we were there, my wife Linda and I enjoyed seeing all the great quilts and meeting so many nice people who just happened to be quilters.

The Secret To Creating Quilt Designs

Look For The Hidden Shapes

In Familiar Blocks

Too often we look at a familiar block and take it at face value. We don't look for its hidden depths. Which is too bad. Because there is more to most blocks than what you see at first glance.

It's Okay To Try Something Different

You don't have to make the same quilts that your grandmother made. You can design quilts that are totally different.

Do You Want To Design A Quilt?

Play With

A Couple

Of Blocks









And See What Happens

Designing is playing.

Too many people think of it as problem solving. Who needs more problems? Not me. Not you.

However, everyone deserves more play time. So grab a couple of simple blocks, start playing, and see what happens.

The More You Look,

The More You Find

Often when you take a new look at an old idea you come up with new ideas.

Make Your Quilt Backs Interesting

I recently finished this quilt. It's called Airdrie/ Iron Horse Park. You may recognize the design from my 25 February 2011 post.

The big question when you finish piecing is always, "How should I quilt this?"

Even If At First You Do Succeed,

Try,Try, Again

It's easy to stop designing when you find something you like. But sometimes, if you keep designing, you find something you like even more.

Do You Want To Design A Quilt?

Try Adding Icing To A Cake

Okay, I admit it, this title doesn't make a lot of sense. But if you give me a chance I'll try to explain it.

Think of a traditional block as a newly baked cake that you can decorate. If you start with a simple block like Shoo Fly, or Sawtooth Star, you can add to it and make it your own. Think of what you add as the icing.

Here, let me show you.

Planning Your Lettering

Adding lettering to a quilt takes a little planning.

Try This Simple Exercise

For Designing Quilts

An easy way to start a quilt design is to take a simple block and then add to it.

This Alphabet Is For You

Deerfoot

I thought you might like to try out my Deerfoot alphabet and see what you think of it.

Here's 3 Cats For You

Sometimes I start designing with a goal in mind. It doesn't happen often. Usually I just start playing and what happens, happens. But this time I wanted to make cats.

If You Find Something You Like

Look For More

Yesterday I designed with these 2 blocks and I liked the results. So why not see what else can be done with them?

Don't Know Where You're Going?

Then You'll End Up Someplace Else.

That Could Be Fun!

The nice thing about looking for new block designs is that you never know what you'll find.

Too many quilters think of quilt design as problem solving. Who needs more problems? Think of it as a treasure hunt and it becomes an adventure. New adventures are fun.

Come with me now on my latest adventure. It starts with a random design on a 3x3 grid.

Here's An Easy Way

You Can Explore Color

When you are designing a quilt, color is very important. And color is very personal. It's worth the time it takes to find the colors that are just right for you.

I'm going to show you how I use the Invert Colors option in the Paint drawing program to help me find my colors.

Paired Blocks #20

You Can Do A Lot

With 2 Simple Blocks

Part II

How easy is it to design a quilt? It can be as easy as picking 2 simple blocks and playing with them until a design you like appears.

Let me show you.

What Do You Think?

Is This A Cat Tilting Its Head?

Add eyes, whiskers, and a tongue, and this could very well be a cat cleaning itself. Caroll was playing with a block design of mine and discovered this.

Paired Blocks #19

You Can Do A Lot

With 2 Simple Blocks

Designing quilts does not have to be difficult or complicated. Start with 2 very simple blocks. Play with how they are arranged. Experiment with how they are colored. You'll be amazed at all the different designs you create. It's easy. And it's fun.

Let me show you.

You Need To Play With Color

If You Are Going To Design A Quilt

Nothing is more important than color choices when it comes to designing a quilt. Color is the first thing you notice about a quilt. And color is the most important factor in determining whether you like a quilt.

You can change a quilt design just by changing its colors.

An Easy Way For You To Design

A Tessellated Quilt

A tessellated quilt uses a single shape repeated over and over to fill the space. You might think it would be hard to design a tessellating shape. But it's not.

There are several ways to do it. I'm going to show you my current favorite way.

Have You Sewn

An Interesting Border Lately?

You want your quilts to look their best. Right? So why would you dress them in drab uninteresting borders?

The right border can make a world of difference to a quilt. To prove this to you, I've taken some designs from my last 2 posts and added borders to them that are anything but plain.

If You Change Something Old,

You Get Something New

Yesterday I added an outside design to blocks with 3x3 grids and got new blocks with 5x5 grids.

SaraJoan liked the idea but used a block with a 4x4 grid and got new blocks with 6x6 grids. She also put borders (which I like) on her ideas to make them quilts. To see what she came up with go to Iridescent weasels and other beasties.

Another Way

You Can Design A New Block

Using An Old One

Admit it, you've always wanted to design a block. Other quilters do, so why not you? What's holding you back is not knowing where to start. Well, that's not a problem any longer because I'm about to show you any easy way to design a new block by starting with an old one.

Paired Blocks #18

You Really Should Try Mixing

Drunkard's Path Blocks

With Other Blocks

Drunkard's Path is an interesting block that is very different from most bocks. Usually it is used in combination with other Drunkard's Path blocks. Which is too bad, because combining it with a variety of blocks can result in some unique designs.

Keep Trying

Sometimes it's a good idea to leave a design you've been working on and come back to it later. This gives your subconscious a chance to mull things over and come up with some new suggestions.

Try Something New

I spend a lot of time in this blog trying to convince you to try designing a quilt or two. I guess if I want you to try something new, it behooves me to try something new once in a while too.