Love in the Mist quilt block

Continuing on the Valentine theme I started earlier this week, today's featured quilt block even has the word "Love" in the title. Love in the Mist is an easier block to make than Cupid's Arrow Point, featured previously.

Love in the Mist quilt block

Love in the Mist is a simple nine patch block featuring half square triangles and the square in a square patch -- (which is fast becoming a favourite of mine). However, don't think you are limited to using these "romantic" colours, as this star block would look fabulous in many other colour schemes.
The two sample quilts shown below use standard layouts of the blocks -- one quilt shows the blocks side by side with a centre section of blank blocks to showcase your quilting skills. The second quilt features extra colour in the blank blocks as well as sashing strips for additional effect.

Quilts designed using the LOVE IN THE MIST quilt block

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Cupid's Arrow Point quilt block

It's that time of year again when cherubs are getting ready to flex their bows. How appropriate that I have just the quilt block for you to make for this special day -- Cupid's Arrow Point.

Cupid's Arrow Point quilt block

This quilt block has something for everyone. It is a pretty block that is constructed as an uneven nine patch, for ease in sewing. And ... it is a choice to make when you are wanting to practice sewing some of the patches that you don't use for many a quilt block -- namely the square in a square as well as quarter square triangles. There are also lots of flying geese patches, but those are more commonly used.

I really like the surprises that appeared as I was designing the two sample quilts illustrated below. I am a lover of plaid and was delighted to see that these quilts looked like different arrangements of the same plaid. Can you see it too?

Quilts designed using the CUPID'S ARROW POINT quilt block

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Garden Square quilt block

The Garden Square quilt block might look familiar to you. It is similar to another block called Folded Corners, but with a simple change. Look closely and you will see the slight difference between the two blocks.


Since the name of this nine patch block brings a garden or greenery to mind -- (at least it does to me) -- one of the block samples is done in appropriate colours of a natural setting. I also chose a different colour scheme for those of you who like a more "masculine" look. In both cases, I stuck with the monochrome colours in order to continue on theme of an optical illusion that is created in the corners -- as if they are folded down -- just as in the Folded Corners quilt block.

Garden Square quilt blocks

 

Below are two of the four different sample quilts I designed using this block. You can see the other examples when you download the free quilt block pattern. I hope you truly enjoy creating your own special quilt with this quilt block.

Quilts designed using the GARDEN SQUARE quilt block

More "optical illusion" quilt blocks:
~ Folded Corners 
~ Formal Frame

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Blue Ridge Mountain Star quilt block

For those of you who like to make larger quilt blocks, (in this case a 16" block) -- then, this might be one for you. (Larger blocks = fewer blocks to make).

Blue Ridge Mountain Star quilt block

The Blue Ridge Mountain Star is also a fine choice to practice up on your skills in making certain common quilt patches, namely:
~ half square triangles
~ square in a square
~ quarter square triangles (just a few)

The two sample quilts illustrated below are perfect examples of how the design of your quilt can differ a great deal from a quilt made my your friend -- both of you using the same blocks. The setting of the blocks is what can make a world of difference.

Quilts designed using the BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN STAR quilt block

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Entwined Star quilt block

The Entwined Star quilt block is a simple nine patch block. Now having said that, it also introduces you to a method that quilters refer to as "sew and flip". In a nutshell, for some of the patches, you sew a square to another fabric and the end result is a triangle in the corner! Sounds complicated, but this is really easy and an alternative method for quilters who like to avoid triangles if at all possible.

Entwined Star quilt block

Now, not all of the visible triangles in this block are constructed in this manner -- and that gives you more exposure to working with quarter square triangles and half square triangles to produce a patch (underused, in my opinion), which is often referred to as the three quarter square triangle.


The two sample quilts illustrated use standard layouts for the blocks. So depending on whether you like to do lots of patchwork or you like to show off your quilting skills, you might lean towards one of these options -- or be creative and design a setting of your own.

Quilts designed using the ENTWINED STAR quilt block

As a side note ~ This block looked familiar to me and I realized that not only had I already created the pattern for a similar block -- but -- that other block uses similar fabrics! So perhaps you might take a look at this block, which uses only squares and half square triangles.

• FROLIC quilt block pattern

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King's Crown quilt block

The King's Crown quilt block is technically a six patch (as it is designed using a 6 x 6 grid), but it is constructed as an uneven nine patch due to the large centre patch that takes up a great deal of the design.

King's Crown quilt block

The centre unit is known as a square in a square patch. With the centre section being so large, this is the perfect spot to place a motif that has been "fussy cut" from a large fabric. It would also be a wonderful spot to place a photograph that has been transferred to fabric.


To finish off the patches to create, you will make a number of half square triangles as well as a few flying geese units. All in all, this block is a great learning experience, if you are new to quiltmaking.

The two sample quilts illustrated are both designed using on point settings. This just gives you ideas of how very different two quilts can be when using identical blocks.

Quilts designed using the KING'S CROWN 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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Peony and Forget Me Not quilt block

This is not a common quilt block -- at least I have not seen it before, but I saw that it made a pretty block and so decided I should share it.

Peony and Forget Me Not quilt block

Most people would be familiar with the Forget Me Not flower with petals in a variety of blue colours, but there are some around in a pink-burgundy colour too -- and so that is what I went for here. Peonies come in all sorts of lovely colours. Check out this Peony Nine Patch quilt block.

A little trivia:  Forget Me Not flowers are often given and planted as a remembrance of one dear to the heart and you can read more about this beautiful flower at Flowerinfo.org. Be sure to check out the other colour variations shown in the images on that website.



This eight patch block is constructed as an uneven nine patch, mainly due to the specific patches used in the block. You will find half square triangles, quarter square triangles as well as a patch using both of these cut pieces to form what is known as a three quarter square triangle patch. The centre of the block is comprised of the square in a square patch. So all in all, this is a choice you might use to practice your sewing skills in your quiltmaking journey.

The sample quilts illustrated are quite different even though both quilts use on point block settings.

Quilts designed using the Peony and Forget Me Not quilt block

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Fireworks to celebrate the 4th of July

One of the biggest days in the United States is the 4^th of July. Celebrations are everywhere -- not to mention the mouth-watering scent of meat sizzling on the barbeques.

One thing for sure is that there will be fireworks once darkness sets in -- and so, here is a quilt block worthy of that event!

Starglow quilt block

This Starglow quilt block is not for the beginner quilter -- unless you are confident in the sewing of an accurate quarter inch allowance. That is the only difficulty due to the number of seams in the block. Other than that, none of the individual patches are difficult -- there are just lots of them.


I changed it up a little in this version of a sample quilt -- by simply swapping the placement of some of the fabrics -- to make a sort of reverse image of the block. By alternating these blocks with the original block, you can achieve all sorts of interesting variations when you design your own quilt. Have fun!

Quilt designed using variations of the STARGLOW quilt block

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It's Canada Day!!

Today is Canada Day and not just any Canada Day! It's the 150^th anniversary of Confederation of this great country and there are lots of celebrations planned all across the land.

The title of today's quilt block -- Love in the Mist -- doesn't bring Canada to mind, but the reds and white just screamed to me that I had to post it today.

Love in the Mist quilt block

This quilt block uses simple shapes and patches -- squares and half square triangles and also features one of my favourite patches -- the square in a square.



Whether the star in the centre is what grabs your attention or maybe (like me), red is your favourite colour -- this easy nine patch block is a fun one to make.

The two sample quilts illustrated feature blocks set side by side or on point. Both quilts give you ample opportunities to showcase your quilting designs.

More Canadiana quilt blocks:
~ Maple Leaf
~ Simple Maple Leaf

Sample quilts using the Love in the Mist quilt block

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Joseph's Coat quilt block

This block is for me! I say that because I just love colour -- and the story tells that Joseph had this amazing coat of many colours. So, naturally I had to design the Joseph's Coat quilt block as a scrappy version with lots and lots of colour. This is a perfect choice to use up all of those scraps in your fabric stash.

Joseph's Coat quilt block

It's important that you have a definite light and dark fabric to give the eye a rest after gazing at all of those colours. (You might even reverse the placement of the light and dark just for a different look.)


This quilt block gives you lots of practice in sewing three different patches -- half square triangles, quarter square triangles and the square in a square patch, but the easy part is in constructing it all as an uneven nine patch block.

I had so much fun playing around with this block that I designed four different sample quilts. Here are two of them below, but you will need to check out the pattern to see the other two ideas.

Sample quilts using the Joseph's Coat quilt block

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Delectable Mountains Variation quilt block

Delectable Mountains is a well known quilt block and this is a variation on that block. There are several more patches in this variation to add extra interest.

(*Note to self - prepare a pattern for the Delectable Mountains block too.)

Delectable Mountains - Variation quilt block

This quilt block is technically an eight patch (because it is designed on an 8 x 8 grid), but I have created the pattern to be sewn as an uneven nine patch as I feel it is a simpler way to construct it. (I would much rather work with smaller groupings than a row by row method.)

This block is a choice for those quilters who would like more of a challenge. There are no difficult patches to make to create the block -- but there are lots of pieces, and therefore lots of seams. Accuracy in sewing a quarter inch seam allowance is crucial to a successful construction of this block.


I took quite a while designing the sample quilt layouts as I wanted this block to create a stunning quilt. I like the outcome of my endeavours. They both look very different and you have to search very carefully to see that both quilts are made using only the one block in their design.

Sample quilts designed using the Delectable Mountains Variation quilt block

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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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