Tag Archives: Electric Quilt

Arizona Quilt Block

Let’s take a look at the Arizona quilt block.

Arizona Quilt Block

It can be drawn with a 6 x6 grid.

Here is how the Arizona quilt block looks in a simple straight set:

Arizona Straight Set

Adding another color/value let’s us explore other design possibilities.  The darker value in the next design shows stars behind a grid.  Do you see them?

Arizona Straight Set 2

Moving the darker value also moves the eye to see stars in the grid, rather than behind the grid.  Yet, the initial design set has stayed the same.

Arizona Straight Set 3

I like to take my block and add, or delete, lines to create variations of the block.  In the following design, I’ve alternated a crossing block with the Arizona block.  I like it!

Arizona Straight Set 4

Sashing can also add a fun creative element to some quilt designs.  In the next design, it looks like there are floating stars.  These are easily made with the sashing and cornerstones.

More interest is achieved as well, by the size difference in the stars.

Arizona Straight Set 5

Color is often the first element that attracts a viewer.  Just because you see a quilt in yellow and white, doesn’t mean that you have to make it that way.  I’ve chosen golds, white, burgundy and black in these examples.  I don’t think they are very popular (although I like them).  Maybe you’d prefer Christmas green, red, gold and white for this one.

Arizona Straight Set 6

Whatever colors you choose to make your quilt creations with, just pay attention to your value placement and have fun!

Hunter’s Star Part One

I caught kaleidoscope fever, and I’ve wanted to create a Hunter’s Star for quite a while now.  Why not combine the two?

I purchased the Inklingo Hunter’s Star 9 Inch collection sometime ago.  I also received a wonderful design book for free!

I used both Inklingo and Electric Quilt to design my quilt.   It isn’t vital to use either one of these programs, but I do love my quilt toys!  You can certainly use graph paper and colored pencils.

Hunter's Star

This paisley is the fabric that I chose for my stars.  The white lines are chalk marks…I forgot to take a picture before I started marking fabric repeats.

Paisley Fabric

I’ve cut squares of fabric that I iron onto freezer paper and, using Inklingo, and my printer, will yield lots of diamonds to stitch.

Printed diamond shapes (very little waste here).

 Printed Diamonds

All of the fabric printed and ready to rotary cut and sew.

 Printed Diamonds

More shapes printed onto fabric that is backed with freezer paper.

Inklingo Printed Shapes

Printed, cut and sorted.  I’m ready to sew!

 Cut and Sorted

Anvil Quilt Block

I’ve been playing with the Anvil Quilt Block.

Anvil Quilt Block

I drew it with a 4 x 4 grid.

If you have BlockBase, it is #2645, but it is not difficult to draw, and is good practice.

Here is what the Anvil quilt block looks like set side by side in a straight set:

Anvil Straight Set

Still side by side in a straight set, but the colors have been changed up.  Some of the blocks are rotated as well:

Anvil Straight Set 3

Still using only the Anvil block, the next design looks like arrows:

Anvil Straight Set 4

I like it!

Adding sashing strips does make the quilt larger (a popular technique), but I don’t find it very exciting:

Anvil Straight Set 2

I have added a plain block, and a variation drawn from the Anvil quilt block, to the next design.  I find this a lot more interesting:

Anvil Straight Set 5

Two more designs:

Anvil Straight Set 6

Anvil Straight Set 7

Which is your favorite?  Why?  Which is your least favorite?  Why?

We’ll see what playing with the Anvil quilt block on point turns up next week.