Block-a-Day Quilt Pattern Event

Lady of the Lake is one of those quilt blocks that's arranged as a positive and a negative. Two fabrics are all that's required, one darker than the other, and fabrics are flipped-flopped within the block. All components are half square triangles -- a large version in the center, surrounded by twenty smaller units. The pattern includes an example of a quilt made by placing the blocks on point.

Premium Star looks very similar to a few other traditional patchwork quilt blocks, including the popular Bear's Paw, which has fewer half square triangle units in each corner, and a narrower bar that separates the four corners of the block. Premium Star finishes at 15" x 15", another large block that helps you assemble a quilt top fairly quickly.

Small and miniature quilt blocks are my all-time favorites. The Little Five Patch Chain is made completely with squares and rectangles, so that means you won't fool with the stretchy bias edges found in triangles (or even deal with pressing them them in quick-pieced units). The block is beginner friendly, and can be used in lots of interesting ways. You'll find an image of the Busy-ness in Blue quilt on page 4 of the instructions. I'd be happy to publish the quilt pattern if there's enough interest (take the poll on that page to let me know).

Give this 5" x 5" Fool's Square quilt block a try the next time you need a petite scale for a baby quilt or wallhanging. Use alternate blocks between Fool's Square, or sew it in a couple of themes and then assemble side-by-side horizontal rows. The block also looks great when arranged on-point. Fool's Square is suitable for a scrap quilt.

Here's a quilt block that gives fans of Thirties reproduction fabrics a place to show them off. It's the April, 2009 Forum Block Lotto, so you can participate in the event or make blocks for yourself. Kathi, our hostess, has come up with a really nice design-scheme that will guarantee excellent scrap quilt results.

Here's another five-patch quilt block pattern, the one I originally designed to go with Wishing Ring (in different colors than the March block). The two blocks work well together, but there are lots of other ways to use either one in a quilt. Round the Corner is made mostly from strip pieced units, with quick half square triangles in its corners.

Providence looks very intricate, doesn't it? It has quite a few patches (25) but they are made up of popular units that you've had lots of practice with (or soon will, if you're a beginning quilter). I made this 5-patch quilt block a bit larger than usual (we often see 10" square versions) so that units are larger and less fussy to handle. It finishes at 12-1/2" x 12-1/2".

I like Hither and Yon, with its pinwheels in opposite corners. The units along the other diagonal add even more visual movement to the block, so there's lots of opportunity for color-play. The Hither and Yon block finishes at 12" square.

Wishing Ring has quite a few grids within its borders, but only two types of components: plain squares and half-square triangle units. It's another quilt block that's scrap friendly, so I've included instructions for strip-pieced components and one-by-one patch assembly. Be sure to look at pages 3 and 4 -- you'll find some ideas for designing a quilt with the Wishing Ring block. The block finishes at 10" square.