Tag Archives: Nancy Martin’s Perpetual Calendar

Spider’s Den Quilt Block

Spider’s Den, a quilt block from Nancy Martin’s Perpetual Calendar, is the block that I have chosen to play with this week.

Spider's Den Quilt Block

The block is drawn with a 12 x 12 grid.

This is how it looks when set side-by-side in a straight set:

Spider's Den Straight Set

And here is how it looks set with sashing and cornerstones:

Spider's Den Straight Set 2

Spider’s Den makes a wonderful two color quilt!

But let’s add some blue; just for fun!

Spider's Den Straight Set 3

Now let’s throw in a crossing block and a snowball block and see what we get:

Spider's Den Straight Set 4

Reminds me of baseball; must be because I’ve been listening to my team in spring training.  I’m glad the baseball season is almost here!

Next, I’ve taken out most of the blue and added a different crossing block.  There is a small change in the Spider’s Den block, too.

Spider's Den Straight Set 5

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

Spider's Den On Point Set

Next, Spider’s Den is still set on point, but set with an alternate block.  I think it makes a great red and white quilt!

Spider's Den On Point Set 2

This next one is similar to one of the straight sets up above: 

Spider's Den On Point Set 3

Last, and maybe least (my least favorite), is a crowded design:

Spider's Den On Point Set 4

The last one has too many elements competing for attention.  Or maybe it is a simple matter of moving the color around.  I may work on that another day.

Plaid Quilt Block

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

Plaid Quilt Block

It can also be found as #1827 in BlockBase.

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

Plaid Straight Set

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

Plaid Straight Set 2

Small changes in color placement:

Plaid Quilt Block 2

And the Plaid quilt block placed on point:

Plaid On Point Set

Sashing and cornerstones added:

Plaid On Point Set 2

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

Plaid On Point Set 3

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.

Medieval Walls Quilt Block

At first glance, Medieval Walls, a quilt block I found in Nancy Martin’s 365 Quilt Blocks a Year Perpetual Calendar, looks rather plain and unexciting.

Medieval Walls Quilt Block

The block can be drawn with a 9 x 9 grid.

Set side by side (a straight set in quilt lingo), the block still looks plain and unexciting.  Unless you are looking for a quiet, subtle design…then this could be the one for you.

Medieval Walls Straight Set

But if you want more excitement, add a dark value.

Medieval Walls Quilt Block 2

With this one simple change, the design now has more definition, and lines for the eye to follow around the quilt.  It also has the illusion of having sashing strips between the blocks.

Medieval Walls Straight Set (2)

Change where the dark value is placed in the block.

Medieval Walls Quilt Block 3

Medieval Walls Straight Set (3)

Or keep the value changes in both places in the block:

Medieval Walls Straight Set (4)

More experiments with moving value around in the block:

Medieval Walls Straight Set (5)

 

Medieval Walls Straight Set (6)

Medieval Walls Straight Set (7)

Alot can be accomplished with design simply by value placement.  The Medieval Wall block is a very good example of that!

I’ve had so much fun with this block playing with value and straight set, that I haven’t explored using it with on point sets yet.

Which design do you like the best?

*Clicking on any of the photos will show a larger view.