Tag Archives: Electric Quilt

Swing in the Center Quilt Block

Posted on April 12, 2013 | 4 comments

The Swing in the Center quilt block was a bit of a challenge for me to draw. I don’t know why…perhaps because it was late when I decided to play with the block.

But I conquered it with a 6 x 6 grid!

In Nancy Martin’s Perpetual Calendar, 365 Quilt Blocks A Year, (my current source for Electric Quilt practice) the block is colored without an accent color. I like the way the accent makes the block ‘pop’.

One straight set without the accent, and one with:

Swing in the Center Straight Set

Swing in the Center Straight Set 2

You’ve probably noticed…the one with the accent color also has sashing between the blocks.

There is no right or wrong, just personal preference. There are times when one really wants a monochromatic scheme. Perhaps it fits the decor of a room the best.

Lines can be added/deleted from a quilt block to create alternate blocks to use with the original. I have three altered Swing in the Center blocks in this next design.

Open spaces in a design let the eye rest, and are opportunities for special quilting.

You can have blocks floating or anchored.

Swing in the Center Straight Set 5

Swing in the Center Straight Set 6

Again, there is no right or wrong. Just personal preference.

Swing in the Center set on point, with sashing and cornerstones:

On point design options:

Swing in the Center On Point Set 2

Swing in the Center On Point Set 4

Swing in the Center On Point Set 3

Swing in the Center On Point Set 5

Which is your favorite?

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Tagged Electric Quilt, LCsCottage, Nancy Martin's Perpetual Calendar, patchwork, quilt blocks, quilt design, quilting, Swing in the Center

Spinning Tops Quilt Block

Posted on March 29, 2013 | 3 comments

This week, I played with the Spinning Tops quilt block; also from the Nancy Martin’s Perpetual Calendar.

Spinning Tops is drawn with a 5 x 5 grid.

Get ready for bold color!

Spinning Tops set side-by-side in a straight set:

A little space was created by eliminating the four inner squares of the block and using this variation as an alternate with the Spinning Tops:

Again, creating an alternate block by eliminating elements from the Spinning Top quilt block:

Spinning Tops set on point:

Yet another variation set in the center and then surrounded by the Spinning Tops blocks:

The black in the corners is very bold. Perhaps too bold and overpowering for an already bold design. I think I’d break that up a bit.

Here is one possibility:

I don’t like it. Maybe I should’ve left the color in the border.

Fortunately, Electric Quilt makes it easy for me to try lots of options!

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Tagged Electric Quilt, LCsCottage, Nancy Martin's Perpetual Calendar, patchwork, quilt blocks, quilt design, quilting, Spinning Tops Quilt Block

Plaid Quilt Block

Posted on March 18, 2013 | 6 comments

Plaid, a block found in the perpetual calendar, 365 Quilt Blocks a Year by Nancy Martin, is drafted from a 5 x 5 grid.

It can also be found as #1827 in BlockBase.

Plaid looks like this when set side-by-side (a straight set):

I like it better with sashing and cornerstones. Some of the blocks have been rotated:

Small changes in color placement:

And the Plaid quilt block placed on point:

Sashing and cornerstones added:

Another color shift on the Plaid block in the center of the quilt, plus the addition of an alternate block and a plain block:

If I were to make the above quilt, I might redraw the alternate crossing block so that the seams match the Plaid block.

I thought I was gonna be bored with this block. Turns out that I was wrong! There are more Plaid designs to play with in my Electric Quilt file.

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Tagged BlockBase, Electric Quilt, LCsCottage, Nancy Martin's Perpetual Calendar, patchwork, Plaid Quilt Block, quilt design, quilting