Quilt Your Own Adventures

Page 11

Quilt Your Own Adventure

MODERN QUILT BLOCKS & LAYOUTS

WITH MATH TABLES

AMANDA CARYE
Introduction 1 Why Another Block Book? 4 How to Use This Book 4 Getting Into the Right Mindset 7 Getting Started 9 Determining Your Layout 11 Planning Your Fabric 13 Constructing Your Quilt Top 14 Quilt Top Layouts 17 Patches 18 Bullseye 19 Quadrants 20 Stripes 21 Log Cabin 22 Offset 23 Sampler 24 Block Index 27 Block Construction Tips: Patchwork Basics 28 Step-by-Step Cutting Diagram Key 28 Two-at-a-Time HSTs 28 Four-at-a-Time HSTs 29 Flying Geese 30 Strip Piecing 32 Chain Piecing 33 The Designs 34 The Math 65 Case Studies & Sample Patterns 131 Patches: Baby Size 133 Bullseye: Square Throw Size 137 Quadrants: Queen Size 141 Stripes: Square Throw Size 145 Log Cabin: Square Throw Size 149 Offset: Queen Size 153 Sampler: Square Throw Size 157 Quilting Resources & Further Reading 161 Appendix 163 Quilt Top Worksheets (Digital/Printable Version) 163 Block Cutouts (Digital/Printable Version) 163 Fabric Planner Worksheet 164 Yardage Planner Worksheet 165 Cutting Planner Worksheet 166 Fabric Credits 169 Acknowledgments 171 About the Author 172 Table of Contents

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned as the co-host of the Quilt Buzz podcast, it’s that there isn’t a “typical” quilting journey. There are themes and universalities and similarities, for sure, but each of us has our own stories, our own strengths, our own superpowers. We all employ our creativity with our own style and flair; sometimes it manifests through fabulous fabric choices, and other times through precision patchwork piecing, or even fearless mixing and matching of quilting styles . the list goes on.

My own quilting journey began in a way that may be familiar to many: I grew up in a family of needlewomen. My mom loves needlepoint (and was a fabulous garment sewer in her younger days), my maternal grandmother was a generalist who could fix pretty much anything that required needle and thread, and my paternal grandmother was drawn to knitting and needlepoint tapestry work. Continuing that tradition, my mom and maternal grandmother taught me how to sew from a young age. And when my aunt (also a sewist) signed my cousin up for a quilting course, it was a no-brainer for my mother to sign me up too.

I was one of those kids who was happiest making (anything) with my hands. And quilting was no exception. My first quilt was a very traditional sampler-style quilt, each block chosen to showcase a different technique. I started with an Ohio Star and picked eight other quilt blocks from a sampler quilt book.

I spent hours flipping through my sampler block book, daydreaming about which block to tackle next. There were so many different options to choose from! Did I want to work with acute triangles with the Storm at Sea? Did I want to tackle curves with a Drunkard’s Path? Did I want to try applique and make a Dresden Fan? Did I want to fussy cut when making a house block? As I stitched, I would dream of all those future quilts to make, envisioning the color schemes, the quilting, that final feeling of triumph when finishing.

Since that first quilt, I found myself coming back to quilting when I was stressed. Adjusting to my first job? Made a quilt. Applying to grad schools? Made a quilt. Grappling with an unsuccessful first company? Made more quilts. Reentering the corporate machine? Quilts again.

It was during this last career move that I really started to revisit all those classic quilt blocks and my old daydreams. This time, though, I took the next step and started to design my own quilt tops. I’m not a designer by trade, so it’s been a wild (and often circuitous) adventure teaching myself how to design quilts, as well as

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Introduction

Why Another Block Book?

Well, this isn’t really a block book.

If you’re looking for a new quilt pattern to follow along, this probably isn’t the quilt book for you. If you’re looking for a sampler-style quilt book to guide you as you tackle new techniques, this probably isn’t the quilt book for you either. If you’re looking for lessons on how to make a quilt from start to finish, this definitely isn’t the quilt book for you.

Sure, there is a suite of Sample Patterns included at the end of this book (there’s even a sampler style pattern to boot!). And, yes, the blocks included in this book will allow you time to work on techniques. And, of course, my hope is that you’ll make and finish a quilt when you pick up this book.

But, the real goal of this book is to support you as you design your own quilt top. From exercises for visualizing and experimenting with different layouts, to all the cutting instructions and fabric requirements you’ll need, I hope this book includes everything you need to turn your design into a reality.

The blocks may not be as intricate as many traditional quilt blocks, but I like to think of them as elemental quilt blocks or building blocks. Whatever you want to call them, these thirty 8" blocks are meant to be played with. And in order to make that play fun and doable, I’ve provided some structure and created some starting points to help jump-start your creativity.

How to Use This Book

The short answer is: there is no wrong way, and no right way either! Whatever way sparks your creativity is the way to use this book.

When figuring out how to present this “choose your own quilty adventure” idea, I had to settle on a path (otherwise: anarchy). In my mind, I envisioned a journey through this book as the following:

1. Familiarize yourself with the thirty 8" blocks in the Block Index

2. Determine your quilt size

3. Choose a quilt top layout

4. Decide on the blocks you’ll use

5. Figure out your fabrics

6. Calculate yardage requirements

7. Draft your cutting plan

8. Dive in and sew!

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I’ll go into more detail for each step in the following pages. But if you end up doing something different, straying from the path, or deciding to explore the sample patterns at the end of the book, that works too. You do you. You can also switch up the order. Try flipping through the Quilt Top Layouts section first, then settle on a size, then find your blocks. Or find your blocks, then your layout, then figure out which size. You get the idea!

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Getting into the Right Mindset

Now, before we go any further, I think it’s worth taking the time to talk about mindset. Because, I don’t know about you, but when I’m about to start on a new project I often feel a crushing sense of pressure that “it’s time to be creative.” And, spoiler alert, creativity isn’t something that you can simply turn on. There are a number of pesky myths about creativity that drive me bananas. And the one I find most annoying of all is the idea of the “eureka moment.” Great ideas don't simply appear out of nowhere. Things take time, iteration, and experimentation. So, if you’re anything like me and feel overwhelmed at the beginning of a new project when you’re facing a blank “canvas,” here are my go-to “rules of the road.”

NOTE: Some of you might have heard me talk about these before or have run into similar ideas in your own lives and work. These are fairly standard best practices for brainstorming, and by far the most useful concepts from my past corporate life. If you need a physical reminder of these, I’ve created a printable you can access via the QR code in the Appendix for you to tape up in your workspace.

Rules of the Road

Follow the tips below for getting your mindset in the right place:

• Don't be serious: This is the time to be playful and silly (and definitely not the time to take yourself seriously). Channel your inner kid and let your imagination run rampant. Remember, nobody is going to see these but you.

• Go for quantity: The goal isn’t to get one thing right; the goal is to get a lot of ideas out of your brain.

• Hold your judgment: This is a hard one. As soon as I create or draw something, my knee-jerk reaction is to judge it as good or bad. I’m constantly working on reframing and rephrasing my reactions. So instead of saying, “I hate that!” I’ll try to look for what bugs me and say, “How fascinating is that!” instead.

• Wait to fall in love: If you fall in love with your first idea, you’ll get stuck fixating on it. Make the effort to go beyond your first instinct, as you’ll often be amazed where it’ll take you. You can always return to it and fall back in love with it later!

• Try something you (think) you hate: Try using blocks you DON’T like or a layout that you find yourself flipping past. It’s so, well, comfortable to stay playing in your comfort zone. Allow yourself to be the weirdest you can be. Because who cares?! It's worth repeating that nobody will see this but you!

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Getting Started

Maybe you woke up today wanting to make a quilt. Or maybe you simply wanted to play with patterns and shapes. Or maybe you just wanted to stretch your creative muscles with some mental exercises, going through the paces of designing your own quilt top. Whatever your end goal was when you opened this book, here’s how I’d suggest you dive in:

Step 1: Grab some sticky notes, scraps of paper, or even some fabric scraps to use as bookmarks/flags for things to revisit (or, if you like to dog-ear your book pages, who am I to judge?!). I also always like to have a pad of paper or some scrap paper handy to doodle on and make notes. If you’re the same, grab a pen and paper now too or download the digital files via the QR code in the Appendix.

Step 2: Find a comfy place to flip through the book and settle in. Maybe it’s your couch or the kitchen table or you’re on the road and in the car—it doesn’t really matter!

Step 3: Flip through all the blocks in the Block Index, one by one, and flag those that make you smile. Don’t overthink this!

Step 4: Take a break. However you refresh your mind, now’s the time to do so. When starting any creative endeavor, it’s important to remember to take breaks so you don’t burn out (and then lose interest in the project!). Sometimes this is ninety seconds to grab a cup of water, or maybe it’s a couple days (or weeks). My personal barometer to tell whether I’m ready to go back to work is whether I actually want to get back to it.

NOTE: If you’re in a creative slump, diving in might feel like a chore, so if I’m in a rut, I do the exact opposite of waiting till I’m recharged and force myself to work for short chunks of time. I’ll set a timer for fifteen minutes and force myself to sit down and keep chipping away at it for those fifteen minutes. Even if I have nothing to show for it, the act of sitting down and not giving myself the wiggle room to wiggle out of doing it helps move things along and get me out of that slump!

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Step 5: Once you’re refreshed, it’s time to settle on what quilt size you want to make. If you have a quilt size already in mind that’s great. If you don’t, it’s time to give it a think. My default is always “throw size,” but maybe you have a specific project or person in mind! If you’re struggling to decide what size quilt you want, jump ahead to Step 6. Seeing the different quilt top layout ideas first might help.

Step 6: Turn to the Quilt Top Layout section (page 17) and look at all the different quilt top layouts. Pick a layout and size, then bookmark the page. Make a mental note (or one in your phone or on your paper pad) about how many different block designs the size and layout call require.

Step 7: Head back to the Block Index (page 27) and, starting with the ones you already flagged, whittle down to your final list of blocks. (This will be no more than seven total, though some of the smaller quilt sizes don’t need all seven. To know what you need, simply refer back to your note from Step 6.) If you’re having a hard time whittling down the options, listen to your quilty gut: which ones make you want to reach for your fabric and start sewing?

NOTE: If you’re feeling overwhelmed by choosing your blocks or agonizing over, “what if it doesn’t work,” or, “what if this block would be better,” take a moment. Take a deep breath. Then turn the page to try my favorite design exercise! Whenever I don't know where to begin, I always turn to this brainstorming tool. It provides a framework for experimenting and playing with different ideas while also adding some parameters to help reduce any stress from feeling like there are too many options to choose from. So go ahead, give it a try!

Step 8: Time for another break to let your brain relax after making all those decisions.

Step 9: Take a deep breath, because next you’re going to do some visualization exercises!

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Determining Your Layout

For me, figuring out the final layout of the blocks takes the most time, focus, and energy. I’ve been known to agonize over placement for ages and then decide at the end to just listen to my heart and do whatever feels right.

Step 1: Remind yourself what your final quilt size, quilt top layout, and blocks are.

Step 2: Decide which block will be Block A, B, C, D, E, F, and G within the layout. If you want to visualize and play with your layout and don’t want to draw everything out by hand, head to the Appendix to find a QR code to download and print the Quilt Top Layouts and Block Cutouts so you can cut out and arrange and rearrange to your heart’s content, or download the soft-copies of the files and use your computer design program of choice to finalize your layout.

Step 3: Once you’ve settled on your block order, head to your Quilt Top Layout (page 17) to figure out how many of each block you’ll need and make a note of this in your Fabric Planner Worksheet (page 166).

Looking to take your quilt top to the next level? Here are three ways to play with the layout of your blocks:

1. Add in corner blocks: Instead of simply rotating your blocks to “turn” corners, try using a different block to create a corner that looks like the blocks intersect (check out the corners in my Log Cabin and Stripes case studies).

2. Inverse blocks: Play with inverting the colors every other block. I’ve included “inverted” cutouts for each block so you can easily play with how this changes the design.

3. Alternate rotation: Try flipping every other block or a block here and there to see what cool patterns emerge (check out my Bullseye and Offset case studies to see this in action).

To help jump-start your creativity, you can see examples of inverting and rotating your blocks, as well as how the corners will look without using a different corner block on the individual block pages, in the Block Index. And if you're not sure where to start, don't forget to turn the page and try my favorite go-to design brainstorming exercise!

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My Go-To Design Exercise

When I don't have a clear idea of where I want to start or when I'm just looking to stretch my creative muscles, I immediately turn to this design brainstorming exercise. To dive in, you're going to want to grab a timer and have some of the blocks handy, whether you print and cut them out or open the digital versions in your program of choice (check out the Appendix for a QR code to all the printable hard copies and downloadable soft copies of the blocks and quilt top layouts).

1. If you’re working analog, make sure you have enough blocks to play with—I’d suggest twenty-eight of each to start (we’ll focus on playing with a square throw-size quilt). Don’t want to cut all the blocks out? Start by cutting out enough for seven of your favorite block designs to begin.

2. Pick your favorite Quilt Top Layout and download its respective Quilt Top Layout Chart using the QR code in the Appendix.

3. Line up your cut-out blocks.

4. Set your timer for fifteen minutes.

5. Hit start!

6. Grab the leftmost block and call it “A,” the next “B,” etc. Fill in the Quilt Top Layout design with this order.

7. Take a picture of the layout on your phone.

8. Swap the blocks so what was once A is now the G block (and vice versa).

9. Take a picture of the new layout on your phone.

10. Keep swapping blocks, taking pictures of each new layout until the timer rings.

11. Take a break.

Once the timer-induced adrenaline wears off, take a look at the different snapshots. What do you love? What do you notice about them? Do some blocks play particularly well together? Are there secondary patterns emerging?

Give it a couple days. Revisit your snapshots. If none are making you smile, try the exercise again. Maybe try a different layout or challenge yourself to use blocks you aren’t immediately drawn to.

Sometimes it takes a couple iterations of this exercise to find an idea that makes your heart sing. But I promise you, you’ll know it when you feel yourself grinning (physically and/or internally) to yourself.

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Planning Your Fabric

You’ve picked your blocks, you’ve picked your quilt layout, you know the quilt size you want to make. Now you need to figure out how much fabric you’ll need. But first you need to decide how many fabrics you’ll be playing with!

There are so many different ways and infinite possibilities for choosing fabrics for your quilt. Now, this book doesn’t have the bandwidth to tackle color theory. But for those of you who would like to learn more, I’ve included a couple of my favorite color theory books in Quilting Resources & Further Reading (page 161).

If you’d like to focus on the pattern play of the patchwork, I suggest setting finessing your color palette aside for the time being. In order to do so, here are two of my favorite ways to make choosing my color palette easier:

1. Background Anchor: Pick a fabric to act as a “background fabric” and use it as Fabric 1 across all blocks, and then use a mix of different fabrics for Fabric 2.

2. Two-Tone: Pare things down and use just two colors! Blue-and-white quilts are one of my favorite Pinterest rabbit holes to go down; this approach is a great way to really highlight the shapes and patterns of the blocks.

Still feeling overwhelmed or unsure? Try creating your own coloring sheet to see how it’ll look to help calm any lingering doubts. Graph paper and colored pencils are a great way to tackle this, or try downloading the digital files via the QR code in the Appendix to play with on your computer.

Once you’ve settled on your number of fabrics, it’s just a hop, skip, and a jump through the individual block Fabric Requirements and Cutting Instructions in the Block Index’s Math section to determine how much of each fabric you’ll need. Each block is designed with a two-fabric color scheme. Once you know how many blocks you need to make for the Quilt Top Layout you’re working with, you can find the yardage and cutting instructions for all the possible number of blocks needed on page 27.

To keep everything organized, you can find all the worksheets referenced in the following steps in the Appendix (page 165) to fill in and calculate your fabric yardage requirements (printable versions are also available via the QR code in the Appendix).

Step 1: Fill in the Fabric Planner Worksheet with how many of each block you’ll be making.

Gett I n G Started 13

Step 2: For each block, note which fabric you’ll be using for Fabric 1 and Fabric 2 in the Fabric Planner Worksheet and fill in the inches required (you can find each block’s requirements in the Block Index Math section on page 27).

Step 3: Using the Yardage Planner Worksheet, calculate how much of each fabric you’ll need from the Fabric Planner Worksheet

Step 4: In the Yardage Planner Worksheet, add up the number of inches you’ll need of each fabric and divide by 36 to get the yardage needed. If you want a little extra, add an additional 4–10 inches before you divide by 36.

Step 5: Don’t forget to include your backing and binding yardage as needed (you can find the Backing & Binding Requirements on page 169 in the Appendix)!

NOTE: If you are unsure of, or feeling overwhelmed by, how to figure out how much fabric you’ll need or would like another example, head to the Case Studies section (page 131), where I’ve included my math for the different samples you see photographed in this book. And, of course, feel free to treat them like you would a typical quilt pattern with fabric requirements, cutting instructions (found in the Block Index Math section), and piecing instructions (found in The Designs section).

Constructing Your Quilt Top

You’ve got your fabrics. Maybe (like me) you’ve pre-washed and ironed them. Regardless, you’re ready and raring to go! Here are some things to keep in mind as you start making your quilt blocks.

Cutting Instructions

Keep in mind that for each block, you can find width of fabric (WOF)–optimized cutting instructions within the Block Index’s Math section. So make sure to refer back to those pages before you start to cut into your fabric!

Construction Order

There is no prescribed order of how to make your blocks. Depending on my mood, maybe I feel like making flying geese first. Or maybe I want to tackle some HSTs and all the necessary trimming. Or maybe I want to put the [foot] pedal to the metal and start strip piecing stripes!

The bottom line: make your blocks in whatever order makes you happy and keeps you making.

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Staying Organized

I love to use my design wall to see the patterns emerge (and to act as a visible reminder of what I’m working on). If you don’t have a design wall, you can use a little painter’s tape to tape up your blocks, or tape a spare piece of batting to the wall as a makeshift design wall. At this stage, none of this is necessary: stacks of finished blocks work well too!

Quilt Top Layout

Once you’ve got all your blocks made, now comes the time for a little organization. Using your design wall, or any available flat surface (e.g., a dining table or the floor), lay out your blocks in their final arrangement. If you’re thinking about playing with the rotation of some blocks or adding/trying some different corner units, now is the time to put those plans into action!

Quilt Top Assembly

Once you’ve settled on your final layout, the assembly is a breeze. Each quilt top layout is built on a straightforward 8" grid, so when it comes time to assemble your quilt top you can sew all the rows first and then sew them all together, or assemble your columns first and then sew them all together: whatever works best for you!

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Quilt Top Layouts

On the following pages are the six quilt top layouts as well as instructions for making a sampler-style quilt. Each layout provides a unique arrangement of seven 8" blocks and includes a table that provides the information of how many of each block you’ll need to make for each size. Think of it like a painting by numbers exercise (or a cross-stitch chart) where the “paint color” is a block and the “numbers” are the letters!

Once you’ve decided on a size and layout, use the Fabric Planner Worksheet to fill in the details before moving on to the next step of looking up yardage requirements (Yardage Planner Worksheet) and cutting instructions (Cutting Planner Worksheet).

Don't forget that these quantities might change if you decide to shake things up and customize your corners (or center or anywhere else).

NOTE: Don't forget to check out the Appendix for a QR code to all the printable hard copies and downloadable soft copies of the blocks and quilt top layout charts!

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Quadrants Patches Bullseye
Stripes Log Cabin Offset

Patches

The Patches layout provides multiple small canvases to explore how the blocks look with simple repetition to see how quickly they transform into something new! I especially enjoy seeing how many different star-like blocks I can create from these blocks. Don’t feel obligated to have all the blocks point toward the center of each four-patch: with a simple rotation of one or two blocks, you can transform the four-patch into something totally new and different.

BLOCK REQUIREMENTS

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Baby Square Crib Throw Square Throw Twin Full/Queen
(W) (H) A B C D E F G BABY 32" 48" 4 4 4 4 4 4SQ. CRIB 48" 48" 4 4 8 4 8 4 4 THROW 48" 64" 4 4 8 8 8 8 8 SQ. THROW 64" 64" 8 8 8 8 8 12 12 TWIN 80" 96" 16 16 20 16 16 16 20 FULL/QUEEN 96" 112" 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 KING 112" 112" 28 28 28 28 28 28 28
King size quilt shown in this example

Bullseye

The Bullseye layout is like a starburst and I love watching it grow as I add each new ring layer. This layout plays particularly well with the blocks that aren’t symmetrical as they naturally point outward (or inward, depending on how you rotate them). While I love using only two colors to really showcase the patchwork patterns, this would be a very cool quilt to create in an ombre color palette, starting with the darks in the center, with the blocks getting lighter as they get toward the edges, or vice versa.

Qu I lt t op l ayout S 19
(W) (H) A B C D E F G BABY 32" 48" - - - - 8 12 4 CRIB 40" 48" - - - - 18 10 2 THROW 48" 64" - - - 12 20 12 4 SQ. THROW 64" 64" - - - 28 20 12 4 TWIN 80" 96" - 20 36 28 20 12 4 FULL/QUEEN 96" 112" 24 44 36 28 20 12 4 KING 112" 112" 52 44 36 28 20 12 4
BLOCK REQUIREMENTS
Baby Crib Throw Square Throw Twin Full/Queen King size quilt shown in this example

Learn how to design your own quilt patterns without any of the hassle— the math is already done for you!

In this choose-your-own-style quilt book, the quilter is in the driver’s seat. Unlike a traditional book of quilt patterns, this book does not prescribe a design. Instead, Quilt Your Own Adventure gives you a range of block and layout options that all work together so that you can pick and choose and create your own one-of-a-kind design.

THIS BOOK INCLUDES:

30 quilt block designs

7 quilt top layout formulas

7 patterns to inspire your own design

Easy-to-follow diagrams and instructions

All the math & worksheets you need to get started

Whether you’re a beginner quilter or an experienced maker looking for a fun, new challenge, Quilt Your Own Adventure will give you the confidence to create beautiful, modern quilts that are uniquely your own. Jump-start your quilting creativity and discover your design voice using the inspiring information and advice in this book.

968756 781950 9
9781950968756 52195
USD / $29.95 CAD
ISBN
$21.95
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