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!

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!