Cat's Cradle quilt block

The Cat's Cradlee quilt block is the perfect choice if you would like to make a "scrappy" quilt. The quilt block uses half square triangles and squares -- easy peasy. All of those bits of leftover fabric can be used in this block to make a stunning quilt. The big decision is whether you want to make a light or a dark quilt.

CAT'S CRADLE quilt blocks

The second decision when using this nine patch quilt block is to take a serious look at all of the possibilities of a quilt layout as this is another of those directional quilt blocks. By using 90 degree rotations of some of the blocks, a secondary pattern appears. All sorts of variations are possible.


These two sample quilts show two of the possibilities you can create when you use the rotations of the blocks. In the light quilt, the blocks are used in groups of four blocks, creating large stars.The dark quilt is just one of many that can be created as an overall design by selectively rotating the blocks to form the desired result.

Quilts designed using the CAT'S CRADLE quilt block

<sub>All images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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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

<sub>All images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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Auntie's Puzzle quilt block

The Auntie's Puzzle quilt block is a simple five patch featuring squares and half square triangles. Those are the first patches you will learn to use as a beginner quilter, and that is because these are the most commonly used units in quiltmaking.

Auntie's Puzzle quilt block

After having described this block as a five patch, I then change it up because my personal preference for constructing the block is as an uneven nine patch simply because I like to work with "chunks" rather than in rows. (However, if you prefer to work in rows, then that is perfectly fine as well.)

The Auntie's Puzzle quilt block is also a "member" of a group of blocks that are directional in nature. This opens up all sorts of interesting ideas for quilt designs by rotating some of the blocks by 90 degrees, which often results in creating a secondary pattern. If you look closely at the quilt shown on the left you will see "stars" forming when using groups of four blocks. Switching up the colour options and/or including an additional colour can make this feature stand out even more.

Quilts designed using the AUNTIE'S PUZZLE quilt block

<sub>All images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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Arrows quilt block

The Arrows quilt block might look a little boring at first glance, but colour choices make this a block that is striking -- and simple patches make it an interesting choice for a beginner quilter.

ARROWS quilt block

This four patch quilt block features only squares and half square triangle patches. These simple patches make the construction of this block an easy task and speeds up the making of a stunning quilt.

The sample quilt shown below on the left illustrates that by 90 degrees rotations of the blocks in groups four blocks, you will start to see a secondary pattern emerge due to the directional nature of the block. The use of sashing strips to separate those blocks adds another element of interest to the quilt.

The sample quilt shown on the right introduces additional blank blocks and setting triangles in varying colours to add an extra pop of colour to the quilt.

Quilts designed using the ARROWS quilt block

<sub>All images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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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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Four Crowns quilt block

At first glance, you might not like this quilt block called Four Crowns, as it has a "directional" nature to it. Some might think that that will limit your options in the resultant quilt. I say that it is quite the contrary. Directional quilt blocks open up all sorts of interesting design possibilities.

Four Crowns quilt block

This Four Crowns quilt block is a four patch and is constructed entirely of half square triangles, in two different sizes. This is the perfect block to use to practice up on the most commonly used quilt patch.

The two sample quilts shown below give you ideas of how the directional aspect of this quilt block can work to create a wide variety of different quilt layouts. I would be interested in seeing some that you can design as well.

Quilts designed using the FOUR CROWNS quilt block

<sub>All images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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