Tag Archives: Nancy Martin’s Perpetual Calendar

Swing in the Center Quilt Block

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:

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.

Swing in the Center Straight Set 3

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

Swing in the Center Straight Set 4

You can have blocks floating or anchored.

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

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

Swing in the Center On Point Set

On point design options:

Which is your favorite?

Star Crossed Christmas Quilt Block

I am either late, or very early.  You choose.

Regardless, this week, I played with the Star Crossed Christmas quilt block from Nancy Martin’s Perpetual Calendar.

Star Crossed Christmas Quilt Block

The block is drawn from a 9 x9 grid.

Here is how it looks in a straight set design:

Star Crossed Christmas Straight Set

I opened up the design a bit by adding the Snowball block to it:

Star Crossed Christmas Straight Set 3

There’s room now, for some lovely quilting!

Let’s try another alternate block:

Star Crossed Christmas Straight Set 4

You never know…by trying alternate blocks, you might come up with something that you really love.  And you might not.

I deleted the star from the block, as well as the red.  Now I have a chain block to use as an alternate with the Star Crossed block:

Star Crossed Christmas Straight Set 5

If you are really sharp, you would notice that I also deleted most of the  nine-patches from the Star Crossed block.  That gave me three blocks to play with…the original star, a star without the nine-patches (except in the center), and the nine-patches without the star.

Another design, simple, but lovely:

Star Crossed Christmas Straight Set 7

I can see the above design on my table.  It doesn’t have to be a full size quilt.

Here’s how the Star Crossed quilt block looks when set on point:

Star Crossed ChristmasOn Point Set

Perhaps you like it better with sashing and cornerstones:

Star Crossed ChristmasOn Point Set 2

Or perhaps you like it better with more open spaces (to show off your beautiful quilting):

Star Crossed ChristmasOn Point Set 3

I think I like this one the best, but I could change my mind tomorrow.

Spinning Tops Quilt Block

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

Spinning Tops Quilt Block

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:

Spinning Tops 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:

Spinning Tops Straight Set 2

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

Spinning Tops Straight Set 3

Spinning Tops set on point:

Spinning Tops On Point Set

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

Spinning Tops On Point Set 2

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:

Spinning Tops On Point Set 3

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!