Star or Pinwheel?

Quote for Today

"For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream."
~ Vincent van Gogh

Turning Stars quilt block

Turning Stars Quilt Block

Given the colours I chose for this quilt block, I should have featured it at Easter time. But, here it is now, just in time for some lovely spring weather. (Easter and springtime go together, right?)

The Turning Stars quilt block is an easy block to construct as it is a four patch, which often means less seams to sew. It can also be a learning experience for new quilters, because  it uses several quarter square triangles in each of the four quadrants.

Now, who is with me on this ... shouldn't this quilt block name have the word pinwheel in it rather than stars? Just sayin'.


_{'Turning Stars' quilt block image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com}

A Different Approach ...

Today, I made a decision to change up how I write this blog. I create many more quilt block patterns than I have featured on this blog, but it gets to be such a time-consuming activity to find quotes that sort of go with the "theme" of the featured block, that I have been lax in doing so.

So, I have decided that I will post new quilt block patterns as I create them, (or that I have not featured thus far), along with a sort of "Quote of the Day" that I find inspirational, funny, insightful or whatever/however the mood strikes me that day. This way, I believe my blog posts will become more frequent and you will become aware of new free quilt block patterns on the Patchwork Square website.

So, without further ado ... (I have always wanted to say that) ...

Today's Inspirational Quote of the Day

• "The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be."
  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Featured Free Quilt Block Pattern

Rolling Pin quilt block

The Rolling Pin quilt block can be a good choice for teachers to expand on how to use half square triangles in a patch differently than making a single square using the two triangles, as is the most common practice.

The half square triangles are featured in the flying geese units and the square-in-the-square units.


_{'Rolling Pin' quilt block image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com}

March came in like a lion ...

I'm a little behind in my upkeep of this blog, but I have a good reason. Since March came along and was/is so blustery and cold where I live, I decided to take off for warmer climates for a brief respite. Now, I am back and hoping that March leaves like a lamb, (or so the saying goes).

This past month I have created 5 more new quilt block patterns for you to download.These quilt blocks range from easy to more challenging, and feature half square triangles, rectangles and one of my favourite patches ... the flying geese units.

Images © W. Russell

• Sparkle Star is for those quilters who are comfortable with their piecing skills, as it is a little more challenging than many blocks


• Arkansas Traveller is an easy block and a good choice for beginners


• Starlight Geese features the flying geese units


• Log Cabin is probably one of the most well known quilt blocks and was very popular around the time of the Civil War in the United States


• Road to California was fun to play around with as an exercise in colour (for me)

And speaking of lions ...
"After 'The Wizard Of Oz' I was typecast as a lion, and there aren't all that many parts for lions."
~ Bert Lahr

Almost time for the "wearing of the green"

With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, I thought it would be appropriate to feature the Irish Puzzle quilt block. Naturally, I have designed the block using green -- and an assortment of greens at that. However, by no means should you limit yourself to using only green for this block.

This quilt block is a four patch, repeating the same unit in all four quadrants of the block. I have deemed it as an intermediate level of difficulty, simply because you need to be precise in your piecing due to the number of pieces in the block.

Download the Irish Puzzle free quilt block pattern

More Irish Fun - Lucky Clover free quilt block pattern

Irish Puzzle

Irish Quotes

• "Beautiful young people are acts of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art."
  ~ Author Unknown


• "A dog owns nothing, yet is seldom dissatisfied."
  ~ Irish Proverb


• "A kind word never broke anyone's mouth."
  ~ Irish Proverb


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

P.S. to my Irish Dad:
I hope you will be on the heavenly greens next Tuesday, playing a round of golf, and smiling down at us as we toast you on St. Patrick's day. You are missed.

_{'Irish Puzzle' image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com
'Shamrock" image courtesy of debspoons at FreeDigitalPhotos.net}

Three more new quilt blocks in February

By this time you will be noting that half square triangles are a very common component in many quilt blocks. Here is more evidence.

• My Fancy - My version uses some flying geese patches to replace a few of the half square triangles so there are less seams and therefore less bulk in the block.


• Birds in the Air could be considered a study in the use of half square triangles, since that is the only type of patch used in the block.


• Lady of the Lake is a great example of the use of colour value, as there are definite dark and light components to the block.

_{Quilt block images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com}

New Quilt Blocks in February

images © W. Russell

I have been a little more diligent in creating new quilt block patterns this past month and am listing six of them today. I will update with more new blocks, hopefully tomorrow.

Judging by the images shown, I seem to be going through a "green and blue" phase, as you can see for yourself. But, since blue is the most common favourite colour for quilters, I guess this might be a good thing.

• Prickly Pear has only squares and half square triangles, but is considered at the Intermediate level of difficulty due to the number of pieces in the block


• Opposites Attract can be as interesting (colour-wise) as you choose or simply a study in dark and light. The pattern illustrates both options.


• Proof Positive introduces you to the three quarter square triangle.


• Indiana Star is a nine patch featuring half square triangles.


• Ts in a Ring might be considered as an Intermediate level block, but only due to the number of pieces.


• Dancing Bear features half square and quarter square triangles.

_{Images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com}
 

Four Corners

Four Corners

The Four Corners quilt block resembles the Ohio Star, but has additional interest in both the centre of the block and the four corners -- hence the name. This is a good choice for teachers to use when introducing the quarter square triangle patch to new quilters.

Download the free quilt block pattern.

Another common phrase that comes to mind when someone says four corners is the "Four Corners of the World". So with that in mind I thought it would be appropriate to give you some quotes about our world.

World Quotes

• "The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
  ~ Albert Einstein








• "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page."
  ~ St. Augustine


• "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
  ~ Mahatma Gandhi


• "It's amazing that the amount of news that happens in the world every day always just exactly fits the newspaper."
  ~ Jerry Seinfeld

_{'Four Corners' quilt block image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com
'Four Corners of the World' image courtesy of nuttakit at FreeDigitalPhotos.net}

It's winter, but I still like autumn the best

The Autumn Leaves quilt block is a little more challenging than some I have introduced you to in the last while. However, it is only challenging due to the number of pieces in each block -- 53 to be exact. The block is a seven patch, meaning simply that it is created on a 7 grid square.

Autumn Leaves

The block is comprised of squares, rectangles and half square triangles, all the most basic of quilt patches. The only difficulty you may face is in sewing an accurate quarter inch seam allowance so that all parts will fit together precisely to create this block.

I chose to make this quilt block with a dark background fabric for a change, but you may prefer to use a light fabric instead. As in everything with regard to quilt making, the only real "rule" (aside from accurate sewing) is to have contrast in your fabric choices -- preferably including a light, medium and a dark fabric -- so that all the shapes are apparent. This will be what sets your block off rather than having all the fabrics blend together -- although, at times, that may be the desired effect. So, all in all, you get to choose all the "players" in the fabric game and that is what makes quiltmaking so interesting. No two people will make the same choices.

Download this free quilt block pattern.

Quotes about Seasons

• "The coming and going of the seasons give us more than the springtimes, summers, autumns, and winters of our lives. It reflects the coming and going of the circumstances of our lives like the glassy surface of a pond that shows our faces radiant with joy or contorted with pain."
  ~ Gary Zukav


• "And you would accept the seasons of your heart just as you have always accepted that seasons pass over your fields and you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief."
  ~ Kahlil Gibran


• "In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy."
  ~ William Blake


• "Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"
  ~ Robin Williams

_{'Autumn Leaves' image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com}