Block-a-Day Quilt Pattern Event - March 2009

Picnic Time is based on a traditional quilt block that's very pretty, but has lots of set-in seams that make it more suitable for hand piecing than for assembly with rotary cutting techniques. I divided a couple of the original block's patchwork areas to make this new version a cinch to sew. The block finishes at 14" x 14".

This basket block finishes at 16" square -- another large quilt block that can be used in a variety of ways. Try it as a medallion quilt center, as a throw pillow cover, or use it to make a bed quilt.

Album quilt blocks (sometimes called Friendship blocks) have traditionally been used for group quilts, and are designed with a strip where each quiltmaker can insert her or his signature, like the center bar in this Album Churn Dash. You can make the block as an album or simply use the center strip to add color and contrast to your quilt. The quilt block finishes at 6" square.

There are several variations of The Broken Branch quilt block, all with different names. The differences are mostly found in the number and sizes of half square triangle units that appear along edges of the block. I like this version best, because the smaller scale of those triangle units gives the block a delicate appearance. The Broken Branch finishes at 15" square.

King's Crown is one of the names tagged to this traditional quilt block. And like it's varied names, the block can be constructed in a couple of different ways. I've included quick-piecing cutting instructions for two methods. The King's Crown block finishes at 12" square.

This variation of the Flying Geese quilt block, with a center strip of geese bordered on each side by strips, can be assembled with quick-piecing techniques or by downloading my PDF file and foundation piecing it. The Geese quilt block finishes at 6-1/2" x 6-1/2".