Blueberry Compote quilt block

The quilt block called Blueberry Compote is a quick and easy one to construct. It uses only squares and half square triangles.

My first block was designed using only three colours, but I thought it was a little drab, so I decided to add the bright orange --the complementary colour to the blue. By using a little of this colour, it gives the block just the spark it needed. (However, if your goal is to create a more subtle colour palette, then the choice on the left is the one for you.)

Blueberry Compote quilt blocks

Below I have used both blocks to create the sample quilts. The first selections show the quilt blocks set side by side in groupings of four blocks. Rotations by 90 degrees of some of the blocks in each group, results in a quilt with a secondary pattern appearing.

Quilts designed with the BLUEBERRY COMPOTE quilt block. Side by side block setting

This second set of quilts uses the quilt blocks set on point. Several blocks are also rotated to once again utilize the directional nature of the blocks, and create an entirely different quilt design.

More quilts designed using the BLUEBERRY COMPOTE quilt block. On Point block setting

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Chisholm Trail quilt block

The Chisholm Trail quilt block is named for the famous cattle drive path from from Texas to Kansas in the post-civil war era. The "Chisholm" part of the trail was blazed and marked in 1864 by Jesse Chisholm, as a way to supply his own trading posts in Indian Territory, which is now part of Oklahoma.

Chisholm Trail quilt block

The design of the Chisholm Trail quilt block fits its name as it has a directional nature, which seems to me, to be appropriate. Directional blocks have lots of opportunities for the design of your quilt. By rotating some of the blocks by 90 degrees, you can develop all sorts of interesting variations.
This simple four patch quilt block is ideal as a starting point for a new quilter. Squares and half square triangles are the only patches used in this block.

The sample quilts illustrated are made with simple settings. Your biggest decision is how much colour do you want to add to the final quilt.

Quilts designed using the CHISHOLM TRAIL quilt block

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A quilt block by any other name ....

Do you see what I see? Do these two blocks look the same?

On the left you are looking at Fox and Geese

On the right you are looking at Old Maid's Puzzle

Fox and Geese quilt block                                                      Old Maid's Puzzle quilt block

I don't know the history of how these blocks were named, but I suspect that two different quilters both had the same brilliant idea for an easy four patch block and here you see the results.

Since today's post offers two different quilt blocks, here are two sets of quilt layouts.

Quilts designed using the FOX AND GEESE quilt block

Quilts designed using the OLD MAID'S PUZZLE quilt block

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Chinese Puzzle quilt block

I had created Chinese Puzzle pattern a couple of years ago and just updated it to feature one more block size and one more sample quilt layout.

Chinese Puzzle quilt block

This four patch quilt block features half square triangle units as well as quarter square triangles to make another patch which quilters often refer to as the three quarter square triangle. Can you spot those patches?



The Chinese Puzzle block was fun to play around with because I used multiples of the block with 90 degree rotations to create new and interesting designs. One of the quilts also mirrors the fabric placement to create an additional design option. Although I chose to use only three different fabrics, quilts made from this block would be ideal as a scrappy version.

Quilts designed using the CHINESE PUZZLE quilt block

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God's Eye quilt block

I'm always fascinated when I stumble upon a quilt block that I have never seen before. Today's featured block is one of those -- God's Eye. This quilt block is an eight patch which is constructed as an uneven nine patch, just to make the sewing simpler.

God's Eye quilt block

The quilt block features lots of half square triangles and flying geese patches -- those pieced patches are the ones you learn first as a beginner quilter.
The two sample quilts illustrated both use standard settings, but in the case of this quilt block, notice that a secondary pattern seems to appear (formed by the background fabric) -- the sort of "starburst" shape -- when the blocks are placed side by side. I'm always a fan of secondary patterns. :-)

Now you have a new addition if you are collecting Biblical quilt blocks.

Quilts designed using the GOD'S EYE quilt block

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Depression quilt block

The Depression quilt block is one of my favourites -- for two reasons. First, it is an easy block to construct featuring only half square triangles. Secondly, this block lends itself perfectly to making a scrappy version, thereby clearing out a lot of the little bits of fabric in your stash.

DEPRESSION quilt block

This four patch block is a perfect choice to practice up on sewing half square triangles, as the whole block is comprised of only those patches -- which are the most commonly used patches in quiltmaking (after the square of course).

The two sample quilts give you an idea of using this block to create a sort of optical illusion (left quilt) -- as in "Am I looking at light diamonds framing dark diamonds or is it the reverse?" The quilt on the right gives even more attention to the scrappy look by adding extra blank blocks in a variety of colours. There is no end to the designs you can come up with.

Quilts designed using the DEPRESSION quilt block

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West Virginia quilt block

The West Virginia quilt block is an eight patch, but is constructed as an uneven nine patch due to the different sizes of the patches.

Check out other "location" quilt blocks too: Cities, States and Other Places

There are lots of interesting things going on with this block -- a star, a "frame" around the star and the corner sections make a secondary pattern of sorts, depending on how you lay the blocks out next to each other in your final quilt.

West Virginia quilt block

I have assigned this quilt block to an intermediate category of difficulty -- not because there are any hard-to-sew patches, but simply because there are many pieces and therefore many seams in the block. Careful attention to sewing a precise quarter inch seam allowance will make this block go together in no time. The block features half square triangles and square in a square patches.

The two sample quilts illustrated give you an idea of how the secondary pattern can emerge -- do you see the extra "stars" that appear where the sashing strips separate the blocks?

Quilts designed using the WEST VIRGINIA quilt block

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Crow's Feet quilt block

I have to say that I don't think I would ever choose the name Crow's Feet for a quilt block -- or for anything else for that matter. Maybe that is because I am of "a certain age" and this is a term I am not crazy about. However, the designer of this quilt block did not ask me. :-)

Crow's Feet quilt block

I was pleased how this block turned out. I was asked to create more quilt block patterns with neutral colour schemes, and so I went with the brown family of colours. I actually like it! The dark brown and the orangey browns perk it up quite a bit, but it still "reads" neutral.

The two sample quilts below look entirely different, yet are created using the same block. The "arrows" are quite prominent in the quilt made with blocks set side by side, but almost disappear in the quilt set on point -- your eye is drawn elsewhere.

Sample quilts made using the Crow's Feet quilt block

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Woven Four Patch quilt block

Well hello again. It's been a while.

Actually, I have been blogging all along, but I had deviated on a different course, which divided my focus. Now, after much thought, I just wanted to get back to my first passion -- and that is making quilts.

Woven Four Patch quilt block

Today's featured quilt block -- Woven Four Patch -- is one that could not be simpler to sew -- as it contains only squares and rectangles. The fun begins when you make lots of these blocks and then start to play around with the layout of the quilts.
In the two sample quilts illustrated below, you will notice how very different they look from each other. The quilt on the right looks (at least to me) kind of like a plaid, while the quilt on the left had a border made of three quarter square triangles giving a look of a "picket fence".

Woven Four Patch sample quilts

Download the free quilt block pattern and see what I have also included in the way of extra instructions as a bonus!

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