Tag Archives: quilt block

Leavenworth Nine Patch Quilt Block – Part 1

For this week’s practice, I chose the Leavenworth Nine Patch block from Nancy Martin’s Perpetual Calendar.NM CalendarI thought that I would be bored with this block.

Leavenworth Nine Patch

It is simply drafted from a 7 x 7 grid of squares.

Light, medium, and dark values can be placed in a myriad of ways to create lots and lots of designs.  Here is a version from BlockBase…#2280c:

Leavenworth Nine Patch BB

My challenge was to play with just these two variations.

Turns out, I’ve kept myself entertained for hours and I now have two large project files for this block; one for straight set designs, and one for on point designs.

This week, we’ll look at some of the straight set designs.

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

Leavenworth Nine Patch Straight Set

For me, the above is unappealing.  How about rotating some of those blocks?

Leavenworth Nine Patch Straight Set 2

That’s better.  We could rotate some more, but let’s move on.

The following is the BlockBase version set simply side-by-side.  It looks like it has been set with sashing, but not so.

Leavenworth Nine Patch BB Straight Set 3

Leavenworth Nine Patch BB Rotated Straight Set 4

Now we have a bit of an Irish Chain look with sashing, and yet, it is the Leavenworth Nine Patch (BlockBase version) set side-by-side with the alternate blocks rotated.

To create the following alternate block, I’ve deleted some lines in the Leavenworth Nine Patch grid.

Leavenworth Nine Patch Alternate

Here’s what happens when the two blocks are set together.

Leavenworth Nine Patch BB Straight Set 5

I like it!  Not boring at all!

Next week, I’ll show Leavenworth Nine Patch set on point.

Indian Maze Quilt Block

I have been enjoying playing with the Indian Maze quilt block.

Indian Maze

This block is drawn with an 8 x 8 grid.

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

Here’s what the Indian Maze quilt block looks like in a basic straight set with borders:

Indian Maze Straight Set

Let’s play!

Using Electric Quilt, it is very easy to delete a few lines from the original block and create a variation of this block.

Indian Maze Variation

Now let’s pair the two together:

Indian Maze Straight Set 2

Here is another variation created simply by deleting lines from the original Indian Maze block:

Indian Maze Variation2

And a quilt designed with the original block and the new variation:

Indian Maze Straight Set 3

Now, for comparison to the straight set, let’s see what the Indian Maze quilt block looks like turned on point (with sashing and cornerstones).

Indian MazeOn Point Set

I like it!  It looks like tapestry to me.

And more designs on point, with the variation blocks included:

Indian MazeOn Point Set 2

Indian MazeOn Point Set 3

Indian MazeOn Point Set 4

It isn’t hard to design your own quilts.  Just by deleting a few lines to create new variations of a block, and perhaps adding a plain block, one can create lots and lots of quilt designs.

Play with color too.  Be sure to have dark, medium and light values.  Move them around…you’ll be surprised what a difference it makes!

Which design do you like?

Fifty-Four Forty or Fight Quilt Block

Today, I am showing the Fifty-Four Forty or Fight quilt block from Nancy Martin’s Perpetual Calendar collection of blocks. 

Fifty-Four Forty or Fight is drafted from a 6 x 6 grid.

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

Here is the what the Fifty-Four Forty or Fight quilt block looks like in a basic straight set with borders.

Fifty-Four Forty or Fight Straight Set

The following design alternates Fifty-Four Forty or Fight with the Snowball block.  I love using the Snowball quilt block in designs because it gives the illusion of curves.

Fifty-Four Forty or Fight Straight Set 2

Next, I’ve designed with another alternate block, the Basic 4X.

Fifty-Four Forty or Fight Straight Set 3

And this design uses a big half-square triangle block as an alternate.  With a little simple rotation, large stars can be seen in the background.

Fifty-Four Forty or Fight Straight Set 4

It is worth the little extra time to try out a few simple alternate blocks, rather than just putting a quilt top together with one main block.

Have a look at the Fifty-Four Forty and Fight blocks placed on point:

Fifty-Four Forty or Fight On Point Set

Sashing and cornerstones separate the blocks, making it easier to see them.  The sashing also adds another design element.  Sashing can be filled with other blocks to create a new design, but I’m keeping it simple here.

Fifty-Four Forty or Fight On Point Set 2

And again, using the Snowball quilt block as an alternate:

Fifty-Four Forty or Fight On Point Set 4

This last one uses a simple plain block as an alternate.  And I like it.

Fifty-Four Forty or Fight On Point Set 5

Which is your favorite?