Common Blocks - for Project QUILTING 16.3
Project QUILTING 16.3 - COMMON BLOCKS challenge tests my creative juices a bit as I’m not a traditional quilter. My mind thinks in art quilt designs rather than common blocks. This project uses common, traditional blocks which are the legacy we’ve inherited from quilters through the ages. This challenge requires the entry to include at least three common blocks. The line of art quilt patterns I’ve designed include the traditional Dresden Block in a non traditional way. I will address this weeks challenge along those same lines.
These are some of the art quilt patterns I have designed featuring a common block, Dredesn Plate. Patterns available in my Esty Shop.
THE MATERIALS
The planets aligned this week! All the materials I needed to get started on this project were already front and center in my studio.
• I had just returned from leading workshops and lecturing at the Indiana State Quilt Guild’s retreat. They had gifted me a swag bag including preprinted common blocks fabric.
• Yoder’s Department Store in Shipshewanna, IN had donated their signature fabric to the guild for the swag bags.
• My Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabrics were still out from Project Quilting 16.2 Ombre project.
THE Pattern Design
These preprinted common blocks offered a rich contrast of colors, shapes and designs. It would make a lovely neighborhool of diverse houses.
• I auditioned a variety of roof top sizes and angles selecting the larger roof top shown on the rail fence block above. The roof would create a seventh common block, Flying Geese, for this work.
• It was necessary to do a bit of math to determine the triangle sizes needed to create the roof tops and backgound pieces. More math found the size the background for the sides of the house.
• A sample block made with scrap fabrics verified the math was correct before cutting into the fabric for the project.
A cordinating Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabrics was selected as the roof top for each house (block). Kona solid black will be used fo the background.
THE Construction
Six of the smaller common blocks are cut from the panel. The Common Block designs included Storm at Sea, Rail Fence, Spool, Friendship Star, Four Patch, Irish Chain and Eight Pointed Star. A seam allowance of 1/4 inch was included making the unfinished blocks 4-1/4 inches square.
Using a 1/4 inch seam on my BERNINA B790 Plus, Flying Geese blocks are created for the roof tops and background sky. These seams were pressed open to help eliminate bulk.
Sashes, corner blocks and borders were added to create this neighborhood of unique homes.
Straight line horizontal quilting with Bottomline Dark Gray Thread from Superior Threads and a single fold Kona black binding finished the quilt.
THE FINISHED PROJECT
Eclectic Neighborhood Art Quilt finished at 17-1/2 by 23 inches. It can be used as a table mat or wall hanging. It is ready to hang with corner pockets to insert a dowel or small rod. They lay flat for use as a table topper. Find it in my Etsy Shop.
Additional views of the completed project. I’m linked up to the challenge here.
Published by Sally Manke, Fiber Artist
Sally Manke's mission is to delight others with textile art that exemplifies her passion for joyful, creative expression through color and texture. She is a speaker, teacher, pattern designer, and fiber artist. Contact her to book a workshop or trunk show at this link. Visit her Etsy Shop at www.sallymanke.etsy
Sally is a brand Ambassador for BERNINA USA. All stitching on this project was completed on a BERNINA 790 PLUS.
A huge thank you to Kim Lapacek of Persimon Dreams and Trisha Frankland of Quilt Chicken for sponsoring Project QUILTING each season.