| Quilts and quilt designs are created when the quilt | | | | patches in each block, you can create a pattern that |
| maker combines blocks. | | | | looks like a big X in your quilt simply by placing the |
| A block is the basic unit of a quilt top. Typically blocks | | | | colors in a particular position in each block. Thus, the |
| are square. They can be made any size, and | | | | Irish Chain, and variations of it. |
| frequently a quilt is made using many blocks with the | | | | Getting a little more complex, you can take some of |
| same design. They can be pieced together from | | | | the square patches in the blocks and divide them in |
| smaller pieces (called patches) or could be | | | | half from corner to corner (commonly called |
| appliqué. It is also possible that a block could be a | | | | half-square triangles in the quilting world), and create a |
| solid piece of fabric. | | | | star design. |
| The smaller components of a block are called patches. | | | | Using only half-square triangles and square patches, by |
| They can be many different shapes - triangles, | | | | simply re-arranging the fabrics, your checkerboard or |
| rectangles, squares, diamonds, or curves - but the idea | | | | square turns into a basket, or leaf shape, a bow tie |
| is to sew patches together so you end up with a | | | | shape, or even a series of diamonds. |
| square. | | | | Another type of triangle that is easy to make is a |
| By changing the shapes of the patches within a block | | | | quarter-square triangle. That triangle is made by cutting |
| (i.e., substituting triangles for squares) and/or changing | | | | a square patch into half-square triangles, and then |
| the placement of the colors of the pieces (i.e., you can | | | | cutting the half-square triangles in half once more, thus |
| create a new design for your quilt, yet the sewing | | | | creating four small isosceles triangles. |
| won't change. | | | | You can add complexity to your design by increasing |
| Simple is the name of the game for many quilters. | | | | the number of colors in your quilt, and your design |
| Using one or two shapes for all of the pieces in your | | | | changes once again. What once was a black and |
| quilt makes it easy to sew; and easy-to-sew squares | | | | white checkerboard can transform into a block that |
| and triangles offer many advantages in terms of | | | | looks like the letter H. |
| simplicity. As a beginner quilter, making the sewing | | | | Your block can look like it is 3-dimensional by using |
| simple gives you the opportunity to focus on learning | | | | specific colors in designated places. |
| and practicing basic quilt making techniques that you | | | | And all of those design changes can be created by |
| will use as you develop your craft. | | | | using only three basic shapes - squares, half-square |
| Interesting variations in quilt blocks can be achieved | | | | triangles and quarter-square triangles - plus a little |
| through placement of the fabrics in addition to how | | | | imagination in the placement of your colors. |
| each patch is divided. | | | | As you sew your blocks together, they can look |
| A simple nine patch quilt block can be used as an | | | | completely different. For example, you could take |
| example of how different a block can look just by | | | | blocks of two simple half-square triangles, place them |
| changing the placement of colors within the nine | | | | in columns, alternate the direction of the cut of the |
| patches of one block. | | | | triangle, and create a quilt that looks like columns of |
| Using only two colors of fabric in alternating squares | | | | zigzags. Using the same blocks, placing them so all of |
| creates a design like a checkerboard. With the same | | | | the diagonals are facing the same direction, your quilt |
| nine patch of two colors of fabric, using only square | | | | could look like an old-fashioned scrap quilt. |