Tag Archives: quilt blocks

Arkansas Crossroads Quilt Block

Posted on November 15, 2013 | 1 comment

I chose to play with the Arkansas Crossroads quilt block from Nancy Martin’s Perpetual Calendar 365 Quilt Blocks A Year.

You may know the block as Road to Oklahoma.

It is drawn with a 4 x 4 grid.

Here is how the Arkansas Crossroads block looks when set side-by-side in a straight set:

When the alternate blocks are rotated, one sees how this block got its name:

Let’s move the color around. As in the first design, the Arkansas Crossroads block is in a straight set (I see blue and yellow bow ties!):

Surprise! Stars show up when rotating the alternate blocks:

Another design using just the Arkansas Crossroads quilt block without altering the block and using variations of the block, or adding other blocks, or sashing:

Only the corner block has been altered. I simply deleted a few lines of the Arkansas Crossroads block to create space.

On another day, perhaps I’ll play with adding other elements. However, it is nice to know that all we need is one block, some color and rotation to create several unique designs.

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Tagged Arkansas Crossroads, Electric Quilt, LCsCottage, Nancy Martin Perpetual Calendar Blocks, patchwork, quilt blocks, quilt design, quilting, Road to Oklahoma

Arizona Quilt Block Part 2

Posted on October 18, 2013 | 8 comments

Last week, I shared the Arizona Quilt Block in straight sets.

This week, I’ve explored the block in on point sets.

In the following quilt designs, I’ve added another color, which allows the stars to be seen better. I’ve also used alternate blocks that were drawn from the same grid as the Arizona quilt block.

Of course, there are no quilt police that will come after you, if you decide to make a design in a different colorway!

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Tagged Arizona quilt block, Electric Quilt, LCsCottage, patchwork, quilt blocks, quilt design, star, star quilt

Arizona Quilt Block

Posted on October 11, 2013 | 3 comments

Let’s take a look at the Arizona quilt block.

It can be drawn with a 6 x6 grid.

Here is how the Arizona quilt block looks in a simple straight set:

Adding another color/value let’s us explore other design possibilities. The darker value in the next design shows stars behind a grid. Do you see them?

Moving the darker value also moves the eye to see stars in the grid, rather than behind the grid. Yet, the initial design set has stayed the same.

I like to take my block and add, or delete, lines to create variations of the block. In the following design, I’ve alternated a crossing block with the Arizona block. I like it!

Sashing can also add a fun creative element to some quilt designs. In the next design, it looks like there are floating stars. These are easily made with the sashing and cornerstones.

More interest is achieved as well, by the size difference in the stars.

Color is often the first element that attracts a viewer. Just because you see a quilt in yellow and white, doesn’t mean that you have to make it that way. I’ve chosen golds, white, burgundy and black in these examples. I don’t think they are very popular (although I like them). Maybe you’d prefer Christmas green, red, gold and white for this one.