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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Quilt Blocks for the Irish in you

St. Patrick's Day is fast approaching and perhaps you want to start a quilt for the occasion. (Okay, it won't be ready until next year if you start now -- but there is no better time than the present.)

These four quilt blocks will give you lots of ideas for that quilt. Use one or all of them. That is the beauty of quilting -- you decide how it all goes together.


First up is Danny Boy -- a beautiful Irish ballad. Some believe the song was meant as a father's message to a son going off to war. It was first recorded in 1915. Perhaps this quilt block might be fitting for a veteran in your life.

Danny Boy quilt block

Irish Puzzle is a four patch quilt block that will give you lots of practice making half square triangles -- in two different sizes.

Irish Puzzle quilt block

We have all heard of the "luck of the Irish" so, what better block to choose than Lucky Clover? This simple quilt block is comprised of only squares, rectangles and flying geese patches. Of course, once again I went with the obvious green for most of the fabric choices.

Lucky Clover quilt block

Lastly, the Connemara quilt block requires a little more work in that it uses more patches in the block. However, none of those patches are difficult so the block is well worth the effort to make.

 
A side note - Connemara is a region in Galway, Ireland and is known since ancient times for its green marble (one slab can contain over forty shades of green). This marble is used for a multitude of things from countertops to jewelry.

Connemara quilt block

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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

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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

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Toad in the Puddle quilt block

You just have to wonder who comes up with these names for quilt blocks. This is a perfect example. But, who am I to quibble?

I like this four patch quilt block because it offers up the perfect choice for using your scraps, as I did in this sample block. I chose a light coloured background fabric, but this would be striking in a dark fabric too -- as long as there is lots of contrast between that dark background and the remaining scrappy fabrics.

Toad in the Puddle quilt block

Flying geese patches and half square triangles are the only units in this simple quilt block. By breaking the block into quadrants and then sewing many different groupings, you can then arrange and rearrange the sections to make a variety of interesting blocks.


The two sample quilts illustrated are both created using standard quilt block settings -- side by side blocks or blocks set on point with additional setting triangles.

Quilts designed using the TOAD IN THE PUDDLE quilt block

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Old Fan quilt block

The Old Fan quilt block is an easy one to construct -- a perfect choice for beginner quilters.

Old Fan quilt block

This four patch block uses flying geese patches in each of the four quadrants to form a pinwheel and a few squares are thrown in to add some extra colour.
The sample quilts shown below use standard settings of the blocks. A side by side block layout utilizes sashing strips for extra colour and the on point block setting allows for extra blank squares to show off some fancy quilting.

Sample quilts designed using the OLD FAN 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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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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Oklahoma Twister quilt block

It's the time of year when Mother Nature shows who is boss and so I thought I would feature this Oklahoma Twister quilt block. This block could be considered as a study in half square triangles. This is the perfect block to choose if you want to practice up on that most commonly used patch in quiltmaking (other than the square), as there are lots of them in this block. It is these half square triangles that give the impression of the "twister" spinning -- at least that is how I see it.

Oklahoma Twister quilt block

The trick to the making of this block is the careful placement of the "values" of the fabrics -- meaning whether the fabrics are a dark, medium or light choice. I chose to use a single fabric for the background (the light), while using a variety of mediums and darks -- all in blue -- to make a scrappy version, but still have it "read" as a blue block.

The two sample quilts illustrated are both designed using a side by side setting of the blocks. But, I could not resist adding the extra blank blocks in a variety of blue fabrics, to continue the "scrappy" look in the quilt on the right.

Quilts designed using the OKLAHOMA TWISTER quilt block

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Disappearing Nine Patch quilt block

The Disappearing Nine Patch quilt block is one that is designed for machine piecers -- not the hand piecers in the quiltmaking world. However, for those quilters (like me) who enjoy sewing your quilt blocks by hand, I have also made that pattern for you as well. (More on that later in this post.)

Disappearing Nine Patch quilt block

This is a quick and easy quilt block to sew by machine. It is constructed as a simple nine patch of nine equal sized squares. After pressing, the block is then sliced and sections are rotated to create the new block -- (hence the "disappearing" part of the name of the quilt block.)


The two sample quilts illustrated use common layouts of the blocks -- an on point version and side by side version. And as you can see I have chosen to make these quilts as totally scrappy versions, but you may choose to use a controlled set of colour options. (That's what makes quiltmaking so amazing -- every quilt is an original work of art!)

Quilts designed using the DISAPPEARING NINE PATCH quilt block

Now back to the pattern designed for quilters who like to piece their blocks by hand. I had made this pattern a few years ago when I was unsure of the name of the block -- and, since it is constructed in a totally different manner, I made up my own name for that version of the block. Here is my version of the MOSAIC quilt block. You will also notice that I have reversed the placement of the dark and light colours in the Mosaic block/quilts to give you a totally different look.

<sub>* Thanks to Alyssa C. for the heads up about the real name of the Mosaic quilt block

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My Fancy quilt block

I don't know why quilt blocks get their specific names, but the My Fancy block does not strike me as particularly "fancy". So, I chose to make it monochromatic and that is my contribution to being fancy.

My Fancy quilt block

The block falls into two different categories -- a four patch (the centre section) and then the complete block is constructed as an uneven nine patch. With half square triangles and flying geese units making up the block, this is a complete learning experience for a new quiltmaker.


The two sample quilts illustrated look like they were done with totally different blocks -- simply because of how the blocks were set into the quilt. So, now it is over to you to create a stunning heirloom.

Sample quilts designed using the My Fancy 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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It's All About the Green Today

I'm a little late in getting started on this blog post today, because I was already out and about today joining in the festivities of celebrating St. Patrick's Day. Judging by this picture, all ages enjoy a good time.

Well what could be more Irish (in terms of quilting) than blocks called Irish Puzzle and Danny Boy? So, I thought I would present you with both, and of course, I went with making them in the obvious varieties of green.

Danny Boy is a simple nine patch block using mostly half square triangles, but the centre patch is the square in a square -- adding to the interest.

Irish Puzzle is a four patch block that is more of an intermediate level, due only to the number of pieces in the quilt block.

Time now to get out your green and start searching for some gold (at the end of that rainbow) and celebrate your own version of these blocks.

A salute to St. Paddy's Day

Irish Sayings

( ... how interesting that all of the authors are unknown)

• "It's no use carrying an umbrella if your shoes are leaking."
  ~ Author Unknown


• "There are only two kinds of people in the world. The Irish and those who wish they were."
  ~ Author Unknown


• "Irish diplomacy is the ability to tell a man to go to hell so that he looks forward to making the trip."
  ~ Author Unknown


• "May those who love us, love us; and those who don't love us, may God turn their hearts; and if He doesn't turn their hearts, may He turn their ankles so we'll know them by their limping."
  ~ Author Unknown


• "If you're lucky enough to be Irish, you're lucky enough!"
  ~ Author Unknown

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