Tag Archives: quilt block

Ferris Wheel Quilt Block

Posted on November 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

This week, I am presenting the versatile Ferris Wheel block from Nancy Martin’s Perpetual Calendar collection of blocks. Why versatile? Just the options in color and value alone make this block an endless project to play with.

Ferris Wheel is drafted from a 4 x 4 grid.

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

Here is the what the Ferris Wheel quilt block looks like in a basic straight set with borders.

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.

Alternate blocks give a secondary design element. Also, value can make a big difference. Light, medium and dark values emphasize certain aspects of a design.

The following design alternates the Ferris Wheel quilt block with the Snowball block.

And this design uses the Square-in-a-Square block as the alternate block. It echoes the center of the Ferris Wheel block, as does the border.

Have a look at the Ferris Wheel blocks placed on point:

And with sashing so you can easily see the block on point:

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

This last one is too much yellow for me, but I like the design.

Which is your favorite?

Four Knaves Quilt Block

Posted on November 9, 2012 | 2 comments

While working through a series of quilt blocks chosen from Nancy Martin’s Perpetual Calendar, I am exploring basic quilt design. Although graph paper and pencil works well to draft these blocks, Electric Quilt makes drafting and designing so easy to do.

This week, I’ve chosen to explore the Four Knaves quilt block.

Four Knaves is drafted from a 4 x 4 grid.

If you have BlockBase, it is number 1197.

I like to start by seeing what the Four Knaves quilt block looks like set side by side in a simple straight set with borders.

Then I’ll try sashing and cornerstones:

I like to introduce alternate blocks, in this case the Basic 4X block:

Alternate blocks will sometimes give a secondary design element. I rotated some of the Basic 4X blocks, and I can see a star surrounding the center block in the above quilt design. If I look at it another way, I can see the Four Knaves resting on a light background, or a square in a square effect.

This is where value comes into play. It will make a big difference where the light, medium and dark values are placed as they can emphasize the aspects of the design that I choose to show off. I’d play with value and color more before I’d sew up this design.

Next, I’d like to see the Four Knaves blocks placed on point:

And, again, with sashing and cornerstones:

This time, I’ve chosen to set the Four Knaves quilt blocks with an alternate block…the Snowball block.

Lots of space there to introduce some great quilting designs!

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Tagged Basic 4X, Electric Quilt, EQ7, LCsCottage, Nancy Martin's Perpetual Calendar, patchwork, quilt block, quilt design, quilting, snowball block

Fool’s Puzzle Quilt Block

Posted on October 26, 2012 | 2 comments

The Fool’s Puzzle drafted from a 4 x 4 grid.

If you have Block Base, Fool’s Puzzle is number 3224.

Electric Quilt makes it quick and easy to visualize what this block will look like set side by side in a simple straight set with borders.

Above, the block is composed of two fabrics. Below, the same block is made with three fabrics. Also, the alternate blocks in the setting below are rotated.