Circle Work

Playing with open circles …. I had far too many and had to delete half the borders, and turn a couple into plain, then abandoned the project with just one quilt saved.  

Ah, that feels better, don’t feel near as whoozy now I have shared this, and I might be able to walk in a straight line again!

I just might still need a strong coffee tthough.

EQ Dozen +5

Ooo, la, la!

Love the lines made by the sashing, though I’m not too sure that I would use the wreath blocks if I was going to turn this from virtual to reality.

EQ 9×9s 25

Another one I like!

Simple to piece, simple colours, very stylish result.

Irish 9P 16

Interesting, and just might work as a real quilt. Nine inch blocks would make this a lap quilt, twelve inch blocks would make a double bed topper.

If you are interested in seeing more of this series they are now have their own album page, and it is right up to date, and includes the basic blocks that I have used in all the quilt layouts in the series.

I will happily give permission for you to use these designs, but you will owe me a photo. Thank you!

Log Jam 7

Log cabin blocks can be a busy mess in more complex designs like this, but the four all light blocks give a little  spot for the eyes to rest. I would probably use four all dark blocks in the corners too. Other than that, make sure there is a good contrast between light and dark. Put the mediums aside for another project.

Recently, on a Sunday afternoon, there was golf on TV, so Butch was watching closely and I was doing my best to ignore it. The computer is in the same room, so I played with logs in Electric Quilt.

I redrafted a few blocks, saved a collection of blocks in the Block Library and added a new project file for the ‘curved’ Cabin blocks, then another which could be called ‘The Cabin With Everything’ in real estate language. And found another project file I had forgotten about. When I get these project files sorted out a bit I will start posting them ……. I cannot think of what else to do with hundreds of Log Cabin variations. I do know I will cry if I see the same few variations repeated over and over again in quilt magazines!

Log Cabin 12 and Log Cabin Collection

I have put together a

virtual collection

of some traditional favourite Log Cabin settings

along with eleven of my virtual settings.

These settings are all made with 64 traditional Log Cabin blocks.

If you are looking for something a bit different to use a stack of blocks have a browse.

Or have a browse and be motivated to make 64 Log Cabin blocks!

As a bonus, here is another virtual setting to add to the collection.

Gran’s Fan 14

Don’t think I like this one, but have to admit that it is interesting layout for Grandmother’s Fan blocks.

When I started this blog I had no intention of using the traditional favourite quilt designs, but the more I play with the designs the more I wonder why more people haven’t played with simple changes to the layouts. Most contempory variations involve reinventing the block, but then using a fairly traditional setting. In contrast, the designs I am showing here use the blocks pretty much as they have been made forever.

It also makes me wonder why so many people tell me there are no new designs. There are heaps, it’s just that we haven’t made them yet!

If you chose to use one of the designs I have shown for Grandmother’s Fan, go ahead, but please send me a photo.

My 8 Blocks 25

Interesting ………. like the frame around the bow blocks.

This is the twenty fifth design in this series, and quilt number four hundred and seventy I have added to the blog. Wonder how long it would take to make them all into real quilts?

Irish Chain 18

I think I should have made the border darker, but what an intersting variation this one is!

EQ Dozen 38

This combination of blocks looks rather dainty, almost lacy, compared to many of the EQ Dozen designs. The little diagonal squares tie this lot of blocks together.

I am loving the designs I have shown (and lots you haven’t seen yet) where I have left blank spaces, and played with the sashing, but there is still room to like this one.

Flo’s Patch 3

Pretty!

A quilt like this would look great on a bed, and some of Aunty Flo’s tatting would look great on the bedside table.

This series of designs bears a family name, and to make it a family affair all the blocks are my original designs.

I have tried to emulate Aunty Flo and become a tatter, but the tatting shuttle feels like a foreign body in my hand, while a needle feels just right. A needle is an extension of my fingers.

I have a major project which will get under way soon, probably next year now, but I think I need to start looking for a large piece of cream fabric for the background for something like this. Love the effect of the cream on cream!

Sounds like a plan!

Of course, there are a couple of other collections of fabric waiting for attention too, and a few UFOs. (I define a few as any number which only has two digits!)

EQ Album 19

If I was to choose blocks or this series again I would not choose the one I have used directly above, below and each side of the centre. I still like the block, just not the way it works with the other blocks in this series.

On the other hand, I love the way the blue cross works every time it appears!

Log Cabin Plus 1

What happens when I think too much about a design series? I start playing with the series, re colour the blocks, and start playing, just to see what happens.

This time it is just about everyones favourite, Log Cabin. Here are the blocks ……………

……………. and the ones on the right could almost have happened by mistake if I was making the blocks in real life!

In the series about to start I will use a mixed assortment of the six blocks above, and the results of the first attempt look something like this …………

Adds a new twist to a variation of Barn Raising. You need 28 all dark, 4 all light, 32 half dark with the two dark strips in the ‘wrong’ place.

Long live Log Cabins!

Ann’s Album

Rather nice allover design with that centre block just about saving it from being boring. Got to admit, I think it would be boring to make all those blocks, even if the quilt would be lovely in a romantic setting.

Border Beauties 2

That border looks 3D, a happy accident of playing with colour/fabric combinations in Electric Quilt!

 

This is the first time for quite a while that I haven’t scheduled a blog post at least 2 or 3 days in advance, sometimes up to a month in advance if I am going to be away!

It took three attempts to get this picture loaded because I live in a country area, and even though we have broadband, it is not as reliable as it should be. Very frustrating because sometimes it works like a dream, so we know what we are missing when it doesn’t work like that dream!

I think I will turn the air conditioner on and hibernate in front of the computer later and schedule a whole heap of posts so I don’t get a little frustrated and have a one sided screaming match each morning to get a post ready to hit the publish button at 00.01am Greenwich mean time. (Not even a second coffee helped!)

I am not good with routines and schedules, so anything I can pre-prepare is good. I usually do a final edit, add a bit or something when I am home, but will try to keep ahead with adding the pictures!

Back to the design of the day, I don’t think the centre block is quite right, but rather like the big sashing. There are more to come, of course, and I can keep playing to make improvements for future posts.

PS

I was ready to publish a few minutes early, so scheduled this post anyway!