Quilting

Linked Stars is an easy quilt pattern that finishes at about 65" x 85" if assembled as shown. Customize its size as needed by adding or subtracting quilt blocks, or by altering or eliminating the quilt's borders. Two patchwork quilt blocks were used to design the quilt, Fool's Square and Puss in the Corner.

The design suits any theme and any fabrics, from retro prints to batiks to florals. It's easy to create your own unique quilt by choosing a totally different set of colors and fabric styles.

Linked Stars Quilt Pattern

Clustered Stars is a quilt block that's assembled by sewing contrasting star blocks into groups of four. My fabrics are quite orderly, but the design is effective as a scrap quilt, too, when you select a group of fabrics that contrast with each other.

You'll find two block sizes in the pattern. The 6-inch version is the last small quilt block for the Backwards Medallion Sampler quilt, but don't hesitate to use it for any other quilting project -- the block's small scale (each star finishes at 3" square) would be perfect for baby quilts. Ditto for the 12-inch block -- incorporate it into a quilt of your own design.

Clustered Stars Quilt Block Pattern

If Lady in Red looks familiar, you probably recognize the underlying design. I took some liberties with the traditional Lady of the Lake quilt block pattern, replacing two of the block's half-square triangles with squares and using three colors instead of the normal two. This variation probably has a name -- there's nothing truly new under the sun, but Lady in Red works just fine. The block finishes at 9" square and the instructions are for sixteen blocks. I've included an example of one layout, but flip the blocks around and you'll find lots of other possibilities.

Lady in Red Quilt Block Pattern

More Variations of the Design
12" Lady of the Lake Quilt Blocks
10" Lady of the Lake Quilt Blocks

_{© Janet Wickell}

The Twinkling Star quilt block finishes at 12-inches square. There are lots and lots of little half square triangle units in the design -- just take it slowly and follow my advice on assembling them oversize and then cutting back to the exact dimensions. The little units provide the perfect opportunity to use your smaller leftover pieces of fabric (and for going super scrappy with this quilt block). The block was one of twelve used in the Scrap Happy Sampler quilt.

Make the Twinkling Star Quilt Block

Happy Mother's Day to all of the quilting moms out there! Have a wonderful day.

Learn How To Applique

PDF File of Applique Block
Enlarge or Reduce as Desired

This little baby quilt finishes at about 34-1/2" x 43-1/4". It's made with 18 traditional Propeller quilt blocks. All of the blocks contain the same components, but in six of them a strip pieced unit is flipped around so that like-units don't meet when the quilt is assembled.

Try This Baby Quilt Pattern

_{Janet Wickell}

The Berry Basket quilt block is a perfect design for spring. Fill it with berries if you like, or choose a floral print that suits your basket fabrics. The block finishes at 12" square, and I've included a couple of different construction methods. The first walks you through a patch-by-patch assembly (other than quick pieced half square triangle units) and the second helps you strip piece twelve basket blocks.

These scrappy basket quilt blocks are filled with brightly colored flowers that are created with half square triangle units. Choose brown for your basket bases and cream or tan for the background, just to keep those elements a bit neutral, and then use colorful bits of fabric to create the flowers.

Scrap Basket Quilt Block Pattern

_{Basket block made by Terri55}

Tapestry Basket is a quilt block that finishes at 15-inches square, a nice size for wallhangings and bed quilts -- and even matching throw pillows if you'd like to coordinate pieces for a room's decor. My example uses just three fabrics, but it's another design that makes a wonderful scrap quilt, and since most pieces are small, you can raid your stash and retrieve those bits of fabric that are just hanging around, waiting to be sewn.

Sew Tapestry Basket Quilt Blocks

Greek Cross quilt blocks are all about color value, and you can dramatically alter their appearance by shifting value positions within the block. I've included a quilt layout suggestion with this block pattern (along with yardages and extra instructions, of course) and drawings that illustrate color value variations. Greek Cross is a simple block, and it can be either traditional or contemporary, depending on your fabric choices.

_{Janet Wickell}