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.