Change This

To This

And What Do You Get?

Sometimes You Need

A Small Alphabet

If you've ever sewn a pieced alphabet, you've noticed that a lot of them can be quite large and take a lot of sewing.

Even if you haven't noticed this, I have. I wanted a pieced alphabet that was small, very small. And simple to sew. So I designed Foothills.

Sew Half-Rectangle Triangles

Method 3


It's nice to have a choice. When you are sewing a block it's nice to be able to pick the method that's best suited to your talents and tastes.

I've shown you 2 methods of sewing half-rectangle triangles in my last 2 posts. Now, I'd like to show you a third method using freezer paper.

Sew Half-Rectangle Triangles

Method 2

There is no one right way to do things. Each of us has different abilities and sensibilities. What works for one person doesn't for another.

When I teach quilting I've learned never to say, "This is how it should be done." I've learned to say, "This is how it can be done."

In my last post I showed you one way to sew half-rectangle triangles. Today I'll show you another.

Sew Half-Rectangle Triangles

Method 1

A few days ago, on 22 January, I showed you quilt designs using this wonky block.

 Caroll Drudy of Attic Window Quilt Shop liked my designs and tried making the block. She reported, "I had to make those rectangles several times before I got them to come out right."

Now, I think it would be great if you were to make a quilt or two using this block. And I don't want you to have trouble with the rectangles; so I'm going to show you how to sew them.

Never
Try Anything New

Never
Do Something Different

Never
Take A Chance

It's easy to follow these 3 simple rules and do the same old thing over and over and over and over. I must confess; I'm as guilty of this as anyone.

But once in a while something happens and instead of thinking inside my usual box I find myself thinking inside a different box.

What Kind Of Block is This?

It's a block made from 4 half square triangles that I made wonky by changing the grid dimensions.

You Can Make

Quarter-Of-Four Block Quilts

Starting With Job's Troubles Blocks

Job's Troubles is a traditional 4 patch block.

Like all 4 patch blocks it is made from 4 units. All 4 quarters of a Job's Troubles block are the same.

What Kind Of Block Is This?

Well, to start with, it's not a traditional block.

What Can You Do

With One Color? 

I chose red as the color I want to explore today.

When I think of one color quilts done in red I immediately think of redwork quilts - red embroider images in a setting of red patchwork designs. You probably do too.

This post isn't about that. It's about making monochrome quilts. Which is just a fancy way of saying one color quilts. But it implies the possibility of using different versions of the one color.

Paired Blocks #21

What Can You Do

With Two Simple Blocks?

Shoo Fly and Nine Patch are two simple blocks.

What if you combine them? What kind of quilt designs would they make?

I don't know but I'm willing to try to find out.

Offset Block #11

When You Offset Blocks

You Create Design Opportunities

Clay's Choice is a traditional block. It's also a very simple block, so you might think there's not a lot you can do with it.

Simple Blocks

Can Make Wonderful Quilts

I can't imagine anyone not wanting to design her own quilt. It's not hard to do. Especially if you start with a simple block.

You Can Make The Same Block

In Different Sizes

And Then Design With It


What if You take a Classic block like Clay's Choice...

..and make it three different sizes?  Perhaps, 8"x8", 6"x6" and 4"x4".

You Can Make

Quarter-Of-Four Block Quilts

Starting With Storm At Sea Blocks

Storm at Sea is a traditional block that is designed on a 4x4 grid.

You Can Make

Quarter-Of-Four Block Quilts

Starting With Balkan Puzzle Blocks

You Can Make

Quarter-Of-Four Block Quilts

Starting With Clay's Choice Blocks

Quarter of Nine #5

You Can Make

Quarter-Of-Nine Block Quilts

Starting With Churn Dash Blocks

Quarter of Nine #4

You Can Make

Quarter-Of-Nine Block Quilts

Starting With Calico Puzzle Blocks

Quarter of Nine #3

You Can Make

Quarter-Of-Nine Block Quilts

Starting With Spool Blocks

Quarter of Nine #2

You Can Make

Quarter-Of-Nine Block Quilts

Starting With Shoo Fly Blocks

It's Not The Block You Start With

But The Quilt You End Up With

That Matters

Yesterday I showed you one of the two blocks I contributed to Modern Blocks from C&T Publishing. Today you get to see the second block.

It's Not The Block

It's What You Do With It

C&T Publishing has a new book out called Modern Blocks. It's Subtitled 99 Quilt Blocks from Your Favorite Designers. I am one of those designers. I contributed 2 blocks to the book.

When You Start Playing

You Never Know What Will Happen

This seemed like a quiet and unpretentious four patch block, until I began playing with it. Then all sorts of wonderful things started to happen.

How You Design A Quilt

Isn't Always How You Sew It

Yesterday I designed this quilt using the block beside it to the left. But if you look carefully you'll notice you can't use that block to actually sew the quilt. Its corners would get in the way.

Change The Colors

Make A Traditional Block

Your Own

What if I start with this block - Frolic, draw it in outline and then color it several different ways? What will I get?

Do You Need Inspiration?

If you look for inspiration for your quilts in the images and colors of the world around you, you might want to check out the photos of Bill Quayle at Quivertree Consulting.

You'll find sunrises, storms, flower, butterflies, Africa and more.

It Doesn't Matter Where You Start

You Can Always Go Someplace Else

Try Making White The Feature Color

In  A Block

Or In A Quilt

This 3x4 block is from three days ago. I'm going to play with it to see if I can make the white stand out. I want the colors to be in the background and the white to be in the foreground.

     You Can Feature White               

     You Can Feature White               

     You Can Feature White               

I did a trunk show a little over a week ago and somebody mentioned that I use a lot of white in my designs. It's true; I do. I often use white as a background and I have to make a conscious effort to use other colors instead.

I was at a quilt show a couple of days ago and saw some white lace flowers on a colored background. I suddenly realized I could be using white as a foreground color.

Yesterday, while designing blocks on a 3x4 grid, I discovered this block which features white.

So today I'm going to play with it and see what happens.