never ending time

Hello everyone! Thanks for dropping by again! Just like I said, I am writing another blog post supersonically after the one from last week. Boy, am I fast. <<wink>>

Today, I would like to share with you the latest block I designed for Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks. It is called "Never Ending Time" and is published in Volume 15."

 

http://www.quiltmaker.com/100blocks.html

As you may know, I do not like to sew HST's (Half-Square-Triangles). I find it tedious to match up all those points. Instead, I have a little infatuation with Quarter-Square-Triangles (if you didn't already know). I love to sew hourglass blocks and get tickled when I match up the centers. I love how they nest together and make the easiest sharp point in the middle!

Here is a little mini tutorial of how I made this block.

Most of us have a color scheme or preference when we make/design quilts. My first choice is usually the color scheme of my website - turquoise/orange/yellow/gray. Another favorite of mine is black/gray/white and a touch of yellow. I have been stockpiling a lot of these fabrics and decided to break them out just to make this block.

After deciding on just three fabrics, I cut them out with a reference on measurements from my handy-dandy EQ7 program. Here are all of the pieces laid out for quick reference. Please refer to the magazine for exact dimensions and templates. This is my test block, and the directions in the magazine may differ.

After I sewed the two hourglass sides together in strips, I squared them up with a 90° angle. Yes, there was a little bit of waste on my original block, but the squaring was more important.

Those curves are so gentle to sew together too. Take a look at the reference picture. I don't think you even need to pin them. I did mark the center and pin though. Working on test blocks, you just want everything to fall into place.

After it was sewn together, I was quite happy with the block. As with all the blocks designed for QM, they are sent in for review. If they don't make the cut, they get returned. If they do make it, they get published in the magazine and raffled off during the blog hop when the magazine comes out. So, whenever a new magazine comes out, be sure to join in on the fun.

Quilt Designs

Here are a few quilts designed with the block. This one is a simple 2 x 2 grid of 12" blocks. I personally like how the design creates a second design when placed against another block. You could also break this block down and make a simple strip block and a half orange peel and set them on-point.

Here is a more traditional color scheme. Red, white and blue, being a little patriotic for July 4th, or just think maritime. In this design, each alternate row is rotated once 90°. I like this one very much. Once again, a second design appears. I love to rediscover shapes and movement in quilts. Do you too?

So, please grab your copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 15 to check out this cool block as well as many, many one-of-a-kind and "original quilt blocks designed by today's hottest designers."

And one more thing, because I am just totally happy that I have been published not once, twice or three times, but five times, I have a lovely little giveaway. I am giving away one copy of the the last FIVE ISSUEs of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks. This giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY TOO. My motto here is to make blogging interesting again. Please share in the comments section below, what brings you to read and comment on blogs (other than giveaways). The giveaway will be open until Friday evening German time. Void where prohibited. One entry per person.

 Thank you for stopping by and good luck!