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}

Latest Quilt Block Patterns

Latest quilt block patterns

The past month has been a busy one for me ... and I am sure it was for you too. Now that the holidays are over, I hope to be more productive in creating new quilt block patterns for you. Within the last month I have designed four new block patterns and they are shown in the image.

• Fan Waves features half square triangles, quarter square triangles and flying geese units.


• My version of Blackford's Beauty is simplified for your ease in construction.


• Sunshine is a little more challenging, but only because it contains more pieces.


• Rainy Day was chosen just by chance. I did not even remember that I had also created Sunshine. How coincidental!

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

Hovering Hawks

The Hovering Hawks quilt block is a an excellent choice for those who are new to quilting. This four patch block is created using two different sizes of half square triangles. It looks wonderful if you choose to raid your fabric stash and use up some of your scraps, but looks equally great if you use just two different fabrics. The key is to have good contrast between the two parts of the half square triangles.

Hovering Hawks

When I created one of the sample quilt layouts, I was surprised to see that the quilt (shown on the left in the pattern) looks very much like another quilt, called Ocean Waves.( You will have to bear with me until I create that pattern so you can really compare.) You can use the blocks as individual units, or use four blocks together with rotations of the four parts, (as I did in the illustrations) to create your own personal, fabulous heirloom.

Download the free quilt block pattern.

Quotes about Birds

• "Did you ever see an unhappy horse? Did you ever see a bird that had the blues? One reason why birds and horses are not unhappy is because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses."
  ~ Dale Carnegie


• "A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song."
  ~ Chinese Proverb


• "I don't know if it's animalistic or what, but men become like peacocks with their feathers up when women are around."
  ~ Bradley Cooper

_{'Hovering Hawks' image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com
Hawki mage courtesy of Tina Phillips at FreeDigitalPhotos.net}

Happy New Year!

Homespun

First things first ... I would like to wish you all a very happy and healthy 2015. Now ... let the quilting begin!

Today's featured quilt block is called Homespun, but you may look at it twice and think it reminds you of blocks with other names. Well, you would be right.

The Homespun quilt block looks similar to both the Cups and Saucers block and the Hands of Friendship block. Close inspection will show you the slight differences. What is nice about these similar blocks, is that you can check out each of them for other ideas for quilt layouts for your future heirloom.

Now, speaking of Health and Happiness ...

• "I think it is very healthy to spend time alone. You need to know how to be alone and not be defined by another person."
  ~ Oscar Wilde


• "Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint."
  ~ Mark Twain


• "Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself."
  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson


• "If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody."
  ~ Chinese Proverb

Happy New Year, Everyone!

_{Homespun quilt block image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com
New Year image courtesy of franky242 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net}

'Tis the Season ...

Christmas Star

Big events for the holiday season are fast approaching so I thought it appropriate to post the Christmas Star quilt block. I know it is a little late for getting it all ready for this year, but nothing says you can't get a jump on next year!

Download the free quilt block pattern.

To all of my fellow quilters, whether you celebrate Christmas or another event for the season, I wish you all good tidings and wonderful things in this holiday season and for 2015.

Celebrating Christmas

• "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."
  ~ Charles Dickens


• "Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection."
  ~ Winston Churchill


• "Love the giver more than the gift."
  ~ Brigham Young


• "Don't let the past steal your present. This is the message of Christmas: We are never alone."
  ~ Taylor Caldwell


• "One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly"
  ~ Andy Rooney

_{'Christmas Star' quilt block image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com
'Christmas Star' image courtesy of Anusorn P nachol at FreeDigitalPhotos.net}
 

New Quilt Blocks in November 2014

 I hope all of you are enjoying the festive atmosphere as we all prepare for the holiday season. In the last month I have added three new quilt block patterns for you to enjoy.

New quilt block patterns

New Quilt Blocks in the past month

• A Variation on Fanny's Favorite
  - lots of pieces (but simple ones) for those wanting a bit more of a challenge
  - features squares, rectangles, half square triangles and flying geese units
  
• Star in Diamond
  - flying geese units
  - introduction to square in a square for centre patch
  - sewn as an uneven nine patch
• Autumn Leaves
  - 53 pieces in this block, but none of them difficult and well worth the effort

Quotes about Celebrating the Season

• "Celebrate what you want to see more of."
  ~ Thomas J. Peters


• "Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!"
  ~ Amanda Bradley


• "The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate."
  ~ Oprah Winfrey
  And the most important thought for the season ...
  


• "Share our similarities, celebrate our differences."
  ~ M. Scott Peck 

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

Brought to you by the letter "A"

Today's featured quilt block Arrows,

'Arrows' quilt block

surprised me when I designed a quilt using this block. On the surface, the quilt block looks quite simple (and it is) -- but to many people, that would mean 'boring'. This just shows you that you just never know when you will be surprised with the end result when you put it all together.

Download the free quilt block pattern.

Since I did not have any fabulous quotes about 'Arrows', I decided to show you quotes within topics beginning with the letter A.

• Abstinence
  "Once, during Prohibition, I was forced to live for days on nothing but food and water."
  ~ W. C. Fields


• Animals
  "Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to."
  ~ Mark Twain


• Advice
  " 'I am' is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language. Could it be that 'I do' is the longest sentence?"
  ~ George Carlin


• Accuracy
  "Even a stopped clock is right twice a day."

  

  'Arrows' quilt

  
  ~ Author Unknown

More Quote Topics Beginning With the Letter "A"

_{All images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com}

New Quilt Blocks in the Last Month

It occurred to me that I have created many, many quilt block patterns that I have yet to blog. So, I had the brilliant idea that I would post links to those patterns each month, so that you are aware of new patterns that are available.

I would like to create more and more block patterns, but I have a full-time job that seems to take up most of my time. Imagine! So, I do this as a sideline just for my own fun (and I hope, yours). My five year plan is to create patterns for 4,000 quilt blocks, so I hope you will continue on this journey with me. I do appreciate all the feedback I get from visitors and if you would like to drop me a line just visit the contact page.

Below are links to the quilt block patterns shown in the image.

New quilt blocks this past month

• Hourglass
  - good connector block
  - great choice for beginner quilters
• Card Trick
  - try out your quarter square triangles
• Garden Block
  - another basic block
• Four Corners
  - more challenging
• English Wedding Ring
  - a nice choice using a 5 grid

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