Quilt Qua
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How Can I Make a Quilt Using Different Sized Blocks
By: Penny Halgren
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Quilters are frequently in search of new and interesting ways of combining blocks into a quilt. Often the blocks are different sizes, and so the question is asked: "How Can I Combine Different Sized Blocks in my Quilt?" Following is just one real-life example of how I combined sever different sized blocks and patches to make an interesting fishbowl quilt for my son - when he was 6. My son combined his love of fish and my love of quilting when he found this quilt pattern in a magazine. When I first looked at the picture of the quilt, I was amazed and puzzled about how it was put together.
After I broke it down into its smaller units, it became obvious how easy it was to make. The fabrics were picked by my son when he was 5, and reflect his taste at the time - including the Care Bear, Strawberry Shortcake, and Popple patches and Mickey Mouse quilted fabric binding! The overall size of the quilt is 43" wide by 47" high. Each of the 4 blocks (surrounded by fuchsia sashing) measures 17" high by 19" wide. The first step was to divide each of the four corner units into smaller parts.
Without describing how to make the individual units, you can see that there are several different sizes and shapes in each quilt block. There are 4 main units in the center. Each of the fish blocks is a aquare measuring 7 1/2." A piece of fabric measuring 5 1/2" by 7 1/2" was sewn onto opposite sides of the fish patches. This changed the square fish patches into rectangles.
The center unit (including the two fish blocks and two rectangle pieces) measures 13 1/4" wide by 15 1/2" high. The three patch sides were then added, further elongating the rectangle, and forming the sides of the fishbowl. At this point, the block measured 19" wide by 15 1/2" high. The lip on top of the fishbowl was added. This strip is 1 3/4" high and 19" wide. This is just a small example of how you can take different shaped patches and combine them to make a quilt that looks like it was put together as blocks. The key to making any quilt is to break it down into smaller, sewable parts. And even this quilt was broken down into several even smaller pieces - most notably half-square triangles. And even some half-square triangles with an extra strip to add some interest. Sometime you may want to make a quilt using squares and rectangles in unusual combinations to create a unique look. With some planning and paying attention to how each block is made, you will be able to accomplish some amazing things. Happy Quilting!
Inspiration and Education for Beginning Quilters
www.Rag-Quilt-Instructions.com www.Fabric-Postcards.com
This article courtesy of http://www.How-to-Quilt.com. ©2006, Penny Halgren |
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