| Quilt designs are created by combining blocks | | | | looks like a big X in your quilt simply by |
| that have different color variations. | | | | placing the colors in a particular position |
| | | | in each block. Thus, the Irish Chain, and |
| A block is the basic unit of a quilt top. | | | | variations of it. |
| Typically blocks are square. They can be | | | | |
| made any size, and frequently a quilt is made | | | | Adding a little more complexity, you can take |
| using many blocks with the same design. They | | | | some of the square patches in the blocks and |
| can be pieced together from smaller pieces | | | | divide them in half from corner to corner |
| (called patches) or could be appliqu? It is | | | | (commonly called half-square triangles in the |
| also possible that a block could be a solid | | | | quilting world), and create a star design. |
| piece of fabric. | | | | |
| | | | Using only half-square triangles and square |
| The smaller components of a block are called | | | | patches, by simply re-arranging the fabrics, |
| patches. They can be many different shapes - | | | | your checkerboard or square turns into a |
| triangles, rectangles, squares, diamonds, or | | | | basket, or leaf shape, a bow tie shape, or |
| curves - but the idea is to sew patches | | | | even a series of diamonds. |
| together so you end up with a square. | | | | |
| | | | Another type of triangle that is easy to make |
| By changing the shapes of the patches within | | | | is a quarter-square triangle. That triangle |
| a block (i.e., substituting triangles for | | | | is made by cutting a square patch into |
| squares) and/or changing the placement of the | | | | half-square triangles, and then cutting the |
| colors of the pieces (i.e., switching light | | | | half-square triangles in half once more, thus |
| fabric for dark fabric), you can create a | | | | creating four small isosceles triangles. |
| whole new quilt design while keeping | | | | |
| construction of your quilt the same. | | | | You can add complexity to your design by |
| | | | increasing the number of colors in your |
| Simple is the name of the game for many | | | | quilt, and your design changes once again. |
| quilters. Using one or two shapes for all of | | | | What once was a black and white checkerboard |
| the pieces in your quilt makes it easy to | | | | can transform into a block that looks like |
| sew; and squares and triangles offer many | | | | the letter H. |
| advantages in terms of simplicity. As a | | | | |
| beginner quilter, making the sewing simple | | | | Your block can look like it is 3-dimensional |
| gives you the opportunity to focus on | | | | by using specific colors in designated |
| learning and practicing basic quilt making | | | | places. |
| techniques that you will use as you develop | | | | |
| your craft. | | | | And all of those design changes can be |
| | | | created by using only three basic shapes - |
| Interesting variations in quilt blocks can be | | | | squares, half-square triangles and |
| achieved through placement of the fabrics in | | | | quarter-square triangles - plus a little |
| addition to how each patch is divided. | | | | imagination in the placement of your colors. |
| | | | |
| A simple nine patch quilt block can be used | | | | As you sew your blocks together, they can |
| as an example of how different a block can | | | | look completely different. For example, you |
| look just by changing the placement of colors | | | | could take blocks of two simple half-square |
| within the nine patches of one block. | | | | triangles, place them in columns, alternate |
| | | | the direction of the cut of the triangle, and |
| Using only two colors of fabric in | | | | create a quilt that looks like columns of |
| alternating squares creates a design like a | | | | zigzags. Using the same blocks, placing them |
| checkerboard. With the same nine patch of two | | | | so all of the diagonals are facing the same |
| colors of fabric, using only square patches | | | | direction, your quilt could look like an |
| in each block, you can create a pattern that | | | | old-fashioned scrap quilt. |