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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Cut Glass Dish quilt block

Cut Glass Dish is a quilt block that lends itself perfectly to creating designs for your quilt by rotating the blocks by 90 degree increments to create secondary patterns.

Cut Glass Dish quilt block

This nine patch block is an easy one to construct as it contains only squares and the first patch you will learn as a new quiltmaker -- the half square triangle.
The two sample quilts shown below -- as mentioned above -- illustrate how you can make some really stunning geometric quilts just by rotating some of the blocks.

Quilts designed using the CUT GLASS DISH 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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Remember to Remember

Once the pumpkins have had their day, it is time to focus on the poppy. The poppy has long been a symbol worn in November, so that we remember to remember. The official date is November 11^th.

POPPY quilt block

I saw a picture a while back of a quilt with similar pieced blocks, so I created this Poppy quilt block pattern for those (like me) who are not keen on using appliqué as a preferred method. (A side note -- I am in awe of those who love appliqué and produce such beautiful quilts, but being a "math nerd", I prefer the geometric, pieced blocks.)
The quilt block can be made without the green fabrics but, as you can see in the two sample quilts illustrated, simple rotations of the block can produce additional “borders” for the poppy and add a different look to your quilt.

Quilts designed using the POPPY quilt block

Remember to Remember

• "The living owe it to those who no longer can speak, to tell their story for them."
  ~ Czeslaw Milosz - from "The Issa Valley"

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Bright Morning Star quilt block

The Bright Morning Star quilt block is an easy one to construct as it contains only simple patches -- squares, rectangles and flying geese units. However, placement of colour and values is what makes the block interesting -- and by extension -- a striking quilt.

Bright Morning Star quilt block

If you are new to quiltmaking, this is the choice for you -- you learn how to make one of the most commonly used patches (and my favourite) -- the flying geese unit. Then you construct the quilt block in the most favoured layout -- as a nine patch.
The two sample quilts illustrated show that you can make a stunning quilt with simple blocks. Colour placement is the key. Now the question is -- should you use sashing strips or not? :-)

~ More Biblical Quilt Blocks for your collection

Quilts designed using the BRIGHT MORNING STAR quilt block

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All Hallows quilt block

A quilt block that is perfect for Halloween. The All Hallows block features lots of half square triangles and flying geese patches.

All Hallows quilt block

This nine patch block and it is a perfect choice for new quilters to move on and really practice up that quarter inch seam allowance. Not only are there lots of patches, but fabric/colour placement is key to make this block really stand out. And who doesn't love a pinwheel? (Okay, maybe that is just the kid in me speaking!) :-)


The two sample quilts illustrated below continue on with a mostly dark background, just for the effect of a Halloween night. What was interesting to me was that, depending on your chosen layout of the blocks, a secondary pattern can emerge. I'd be interested in seeing what you can come up with.

Quilts designed using the ALL HALLOWS quilt block

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Twilight Star quilt block

The Twilight Star quilt block is designed using another quilt block as its starting point. This is a common occurrence in quiltmaking. One block looks interesting -- and then -- with a couple of quick change-ups -- you have a brand new block.

Twilight Star quilt block

Now, I cannot take the credit for the origin of this nine patch block -- I just admire it and like that it can add to my collection of Star quilt blocks. The Twilight Star block stems from a frequently used favourite among quilters, (especially in a teaching situation) -- called Ohio Star.

The Twilight Star is comprised of frequently used patches -- the half square triangle and the quarter square triangle. All in all, it is a fun project.

The two sample quilts illustrated both use on point settings of the blocks. However, with simple changes made to the fabrics used for the setting triangles and extra blank blocks, you get two very different quilts.

Quilts designed using the TWILIGHT STAR 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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