Tag Archives: quilt blocks

Old Favorite Quilt Block

Posted on February 16, 2013 | 4 comments

Another block, from Nancy Martin’s 365 Quilt Blocks a Year Perpetual Calendar, that is fun to play with is the Old Favorite quilt block.

It is drawn with an 8 x 8 grid.

Sometimes we just want a simple calm, masculine looking quilt. Using just three fabrics (a dark, a medium, and a light), and setting the block in a straight set gives us just that.

And sometimes we want a bright quilt, so I’ve recolored the block.

And I’ve set the block in a straight set with an alternate block. Alot more energy is happening now!

And again, Old Favorite in two colorways, set in a straight set with an alternate block.

Let’s not forget to play with the on point setting (lots of interesting things can happen when turning a block on point). Here I have added some plain blocks to the mix.

Much more can be done just by moving color and value around the block. Have fun playing with this one!

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

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Tagged LCsCottage, Nancy Martin calendar blocks, Old Favorite, patchwork, quilt blocks, quilt design, quilting

Gentlemen’s Fancy Quilt Block

Posted on December 14, 2012 | 2 comments

I have been practicing my EQ7 skills by working my way through some of the blocks from the Nancy Martin’s Perpetual 365 Quilt Blocks A Year Calendar.

* I could just as easily have chosen any other block based book or source to practice with.

For this week’s quilt block, I’m playing with Gentlemen’s Fancy.

This could be drawn with a 3 x 3 or 6 x 6 (easier) grid.

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

Let’s see what the Gentlemen’s Fancy quilt block looks like in a basic straight set with borders.

And with some sashing and cornerstones added.

Or paired with an alternate block, in this case, the Basic 4X. Some of the 4X blocks were rotated.

A simple half-square triangle block was used as the alternate block in the next design.

It’s amazing what a simple block can do!

Now, for comparison to the straight set, let’s see what the Gentlemen’s Fancy quilt block looks like turned on point.

I like it better with the sashing and cornerstones included.

In this last design, notice the one little color change in the Gentlemen’s Fancy block?

It makes a big difference. So does placing a plain block here and there.

Which design do you like?

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

Four Corners Quilt Block

Posted on November 2, 2012 | 2 comments

This week, I’m introducing the Four Corners quilt block, also found in Nancy Martin’s Perpetual Calendar.

Four Corners is drafted from a 6 x 6 grid.

Here is what the Four Corners block looks like set side by side in a simple straight set with borders.

With sashing and cornerstones added:

Let’s try some plain blocks:

Plain blocks open up spaces that allow for embroidery or to show off quilting. Plain blocks allow spaces for the eye to rest and sometimes create wonderful design surprises.

Below, the simple plain block is actually the Snowball Block. It has triangles of color in the four corners, and is often used as an alternate block in design.