GeoOptics Quilt Pattern

Hi everyone! Thanks for stopping by to check out the new GeoOptics quilt pattern. I am really excited about sharing this quilt with you too. It has been an idea floating around in my head since the beginning of spring this year. I wanted to create a pattern using a simple and traditional block and flip it into something different and unexpected. And if you love mini quilts, there is a mini version just for you. I hope you will enjoy the pattern.

The log cabin block is one of the oldest quilt blocks around. In fact, you might have sewn it as your first ever quilt block. It was one of the first blocks I added to my repetoire and used a quick strip piecing method. We still have that quilt in our household after nearly 20 years!

Well, there is a sister block - the quarter log cabin. She is just one-quarter of the original block. Now, you could sew log cabin blocks together and cut them through the middle twice to get four slivered log cabins, but it is simpler to just sew the block below without slicing. 

This block creates many exciting designs with simple rotations and repetition of blocks. Here are just a few common designs made with the quarter log cabin that you may already know:

 

I wanted to really maximize the interest of the quarter log cabin by spinning and rotating the blocks. I wanted more elements such as color value and color placement to really shape the design. I sat and tweeked for weeks until my idea evolved into my most favorite design - GeoOptics. See the use of darks, medium and light fabrics to ceate the design. What do you see? There is no wrong or right answer here.

In quilt design and pattern writing, it is very important that others understand what you are saying. So, this time, I wanted to get back in alignment with my own thinking and learning process. I wrote the pattern with little text, more diagrams and more tables. Hopefully you agree that this method is easier to understand especially if English is not your first language. 

I sent out the preliminary patterns to my favorite quilt testers and was amazed to see what they delivered! I am always so stunned to see what others can do with my patterns.

This gorgeous version was created by Ute, who threw in just a hint of color to make it a stunning wall/art quilt. My eye just keeps dancing and dancing around the quilt discovering the different color pops.

Sewn by Ute of Uma.Saar

What truly illuminates this design is the use of color value – light, medium and darks and their placement within the design/blocks. The slow transition in color or value allows a secondary design to emerge. Do you see it? 

But let’s kick it up a notch. What if we bring color into the design?

The original design of lights, mediums and darks is still there, but another design in rainbow transistion flows across the canvas diagonally. Isn’t it beautiful? The added use of rainbow fabrics for a pieced binding with the lightest color in the corner, frames the quilt nicely. This is another added feature to the quilt design. Of course you could just use a one color binding, but I love how the corners sparkle with the yellow color.

If you are looking for a quilting desing, you could go with really fancy custom quilting, but I think a practical allover quilt design also does the trick just as well. Here it is mocked up with an orange peel quilt motif in EQ8 - Electric Quilt Software.

If you have a large stash or want to make up a throw or queen size quilt with your favorite fat quarters, this pattern is perfect for you! Here is another one of the layouts included in the pattern. I will definitely be making this design as well! This pattern will truly become your go-to, patchwork pattern.

Just take a look at our next quilt from one of our pattern testers. I especially love the use of a dark background to bring out the colors. This beautiful quilt was made by Hanna. She chose one of the other four designs found in the pattern booklet. Just look at her sparkling color transition within her blocks!

Sewn by Hanna of hannas_liebe

There are four different size quilts each with the same adjusted block size. You can pick which quilt you prefer – mini, wall or art, throw or queens size. The skill level increases as the blocks and quilt gets smaller. The mini quilt is the hardest.

Hanna had so much fun sewing the pattern, she made the mini version as well. This is one of the other layouts listed in the pattern book. It truly is fun to spin this block around and come up with new designs!

Sewn by Hanna of hannas_liebe

I am currently finishing up the hand quilting on this beauty – the mini quilt version which finishes at 24” x 24”. I think it will make a great oversized pillow.

 

If all of these quilts are too colorful for you, take a look at Martina’s quilt, she is known for her soft use of soft and sublte shades. It is an amazing scrappy, tone-in-tone, low contrast quilt!

Sewn by Martina  of malu_27117

Are you just not into square quilts? Well, Ulrike had a very interested recipient who was eying her design in process, but wanted a true rectangular bed quilt. No problem – Ulrike and I talked about how she could stay true to the design. She added another row to the top and bottom with a continuation of the design. She also adjusted the borders to make them slightly thinner. The pattern is easily adjustable to whatever suits your needs and preferences.

Sewn by Ulrike of Ulrike_Brauns

May, another of our incredible pattern testers, decided to use the three-fabric design to create this lovely throw sized quilt. It is so stunning with a slight Christmasy touch, don't you think? She quilted it on her  home sewing machine with some awesome matchstick quilting. Check out a glimpse of the super cool striped binding!

Sewn by May of fabraholicquilts

I would like to thank our pattern testers for their awesome work! They all used their own fabric stashes, creativity and know-how to produce their very own one-of-a-kind quilts. Photos courtesy of the creators! They totally hit their designs out of the ballpark! Each one is so lovingly made with an eye to detail. We are so fortunate to have such a great crew!

I had so much fun making samples and testing the pattern myself, I just couldn’t stop. I first made the mini, the the wall, then a super fun scrappy, stash buster accented with Figo - Earth in black.

I had a lot of fun picking out the rainbow gradient fabrics from my stash. I have a lot of fat quarters but most of them are slightly cut into. When choosing shades and gradients, I tried to always have a very luminant color as the middle value and worked lighter and darker from there. It was a fun way to play around with some of the lighter, neglected fabrics in my stash.

During the cutting phase, I realized sometimes, there wasn't enough fabric, so I just picked out something else and rolled with it. It really was so much fun.

 

I asked the very talented quilter, teacher and shop owner, Sabine Feldmann of Quilt Oase to make a simple allover design, because this will be our new sofa quilt. My husband has already adopted it as his own. It finished at 70” x 70” and is wonderful for snuggling in the autumn months. I just love this allover design!

One day I was thinking about where or how to finish with a photoshooting of the Rainbow (Scrappy) Gradient quilt and wanted to incoroporate my home. I live along the Danube River in Germany, not more than one mile away. In the autumn months, it gets incredibly foggy but oh so much fun to go walking along the river. It's been really foggy around here, so I convinced my husband to go with me on Sunday mornging before our famous Sunday breakfast for a quick photoshoot. Let's give him two thumbs up for a great job!

You might have noticed that the quilt design is upside down. I rather like it that way with this backdrop and the seasonal mood to it. The blues represent the sky, the green the trees and the yellows and reds the fall leaves.

If you like what you see, you can purchase the printed ordigital pattern in my Etsy shop. Starting today and running through Sunday, enjoy 20% off all patterns! 

Would you like to support your local quilt shop? You can also purchase at these stores in Germany:

• Quilt ét Textilkunst - Munich, Germany
  
• Quilt-Oase - Nersingen, Germany
  

If your shop doesn't carry easypatchwork patterns, ask them too!

The pattern also shows a quilt on the back cover made only with Kona solids. I am finishing up the binding on it this weekend and can't wait to show you more. This quilt will be kitted and available at Quilt ét Textilkunst. Kits will be available soon. Please ask at your local shop for more information.

Thank you for supporting my quilt pattern and training business. I would like to extent my appreciation with a GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment below stating your favorite color combination or version of the new GeoOptics quilt pattern. One entry per person please.

One lucky person will receive 27 – 5” x 10” cuts of all of the fabrics used in the pattern book to create your very own GeoOptics - Rainbow Gradient Mini. You will also receive two printed copies of the pattern and one Creative Grids 3 ½” x 3 ½” ruler. All products and supplies courtesy of easypatchwork. 

Drawing will be held on Thanksgiving, November 26, 2020. Not associated with anyone other than easypatchwork. Not valid where prohibited. You must be 18 and older participate. Good luck to everyone.

- - - - - - - - -

All photographs were kindly used with permission by the original owner - the one who sewed the quilt. All rights reserved to the originator. 

* * * * * * GIVEAWAY CLOSED * * * * *

record blocks for the mosaic jig qal

Thanks for joining us for another edition of our quilt along. I have enjoyed seeing all of your beautiful mosaic jig quilts on Instagram. You all have picked out some really gorgeous fabric combos to make this design shine.

I truly hope no one was discouraged with the last assignment? It wasn't that hard was it? Well, this (2) week will be slightly easier than the last one. Now, it is all about sewing curves.

Once again, I would like to thank each and everyone of you for reading my blog posts and participating in the quilt along. I am very honored! Thank you!

Here is a reminder of previous posts if you missed one.

Intro
Material and Fabric Requirements (March 1)
Preparation and Cutting Instructions (March 15)
Center Mosaic Medallion (March 29)
Border One (April 12)
Mosaic Blocks (April 26)
Record Blocks (May 10)
Finishing (May 26)

Preparation & Reminders

Please read through the instructions before you begin. You should have knowledge of sewing as well as how to use templates to complete this quilt.

• Use high quality patchwork/quilting fabrics and thread for longer endurance.
• All dimensions are given in inches.
• Use a scant 1/4" seam allowance for all seams unless otherwise given.
• Finger press as you go. Press with a warm iron to set your seams. Do not use steam to set seams.
• Use a 2.0 stitch length for smaller blocks. Use a 2.0 - 2.5 stitch length for larger blocks.
• Clip off dog ears as you sew. 
• Backstitch at the starting and stopping points when sewing curves.

Additionally, if you are using a translator to translate this information, the fractions will probably be lost in the translation. Please print out the original dimensions.

Copyright

All designs and templates are protected under copyright laws and may not be photocopied, duplicated or reproduced in any form other than the original purchaser for personal, private use. No commercial use of any kind is granted without the written consent from Karen Ackva or easypatchwork. May not be used as teaching material nor used in sellable items. All designs © Karen Ackva - easypatchwork.

Record Blocks

This next assignment is intermediate. Sewing curves isn't every one's favorite thing to sew, but they are easier than you might think it is. Here, it is very important that you sew curves with a smaller stitch than normal - about 2.0 on your machine. Please also sew with your needle position in the down position so you can maintain a consistent flow when rotating your fabric when sewing the curves. Rotate the fabric patches with your left hand slowly while using your right hand to match up raw edges. By the way, you can download the PDF for this week's assignment here.

I personally like to sew the concave to the convex part of the circle together or the outer curve to the inner curve. To do this, you will need to find the middle of the curves by creasing both patches through the middle. Line up the creases, pin in the middle, then pin at the start and ending points. Fill with as many pins as you need to keep the patches in place. I use thin glass head pins and sew slowly directly over the needles. Yes, one or two may get broken or bent in the process. That's okay.

You can also sew the convex part of the curve to the concave. This method is from Ines at  Nähzimmerplauderein. She is a master at this technique! This never seems to work for me, but it does work. Just try it out. In this case, you would not pin the two patches together. You just hold each patch in a different hand. Pull your hands together when sewing, matching up the raw edges. Try out both methods and see which works best for you.

Cutting Instructions in Text Format

Cut the larger pieces first followed by the smaller pieces. Use a sharp rotary cutter and layer fabric. Trace templates onto the wrong side of your fabric and cut out with fabric scissors or use a circle cutting tool. Label all patch groups with letter indicated.

• Accent Fabric: (2) Strips - 2" x WOF. Cut (40) Template A's.
• Main: (2) Strips - 5" x WOF. Subcut (8) 5" x 5" squares. Cut (8) Template B's.
• Medium 1: (2) Strips 5" x WOF. Subcut (16) 5" x 5" squares. Cut (16) Template B's.
• Medium 2: (2) Strips 5" x WOF. Subcut (16) 5" x 5" squares. Cut (16) Template B's.
• Background: (4) Strips - 9 1/2" x WOF. Subcut (20) rectangles 6 1/2" x 9 1/2". Cut (2) C's from each rectangle for a total of (40) Template C's. See figure below.

Cutting Instructions in a Table Format

				Total Number of Patches
Shape	Patch	Dimension in Inches	Subcut	Accent	Main	Med 1	Med 2	BG
Templates	A	2 x 2	A	40
	B	5 x 5	B		8	16	16
	C*	6 ½ x 6 ½	C					40

*Use this chart if you prefer to make a scrappy version. Cut squares, then cut patches with templates. Two Patch C’s can also be cut from one 6 ½” x 9 ½” rectangle. See figure directly above on how to cut.

If you have a curved cutting ruler, first verify the correct slot for cutting. Line up the seam allowance line of the template with the seam allowance line on the cutting ruler. Then find the slot you should use for cutting. Mark with a piece of tape or an erasable marker.

To cut the patch, place the fabric square on the seam allowance line of the ruler. Next, find the right slot and cut on the outer edge of the slot with a 28mm rotary cutter in a perpendicular motion. On the smallest curve, the rotary cutter may get snagged by the acrylic ruler a bit. On the larger curves this does not happen.

Please verify the correct slot before cutting. On the Circle Savvy Ruler from Creative Grids, these are the lines you will be using:

Patch	Dimensions	Inner Curve	Outer Curve
A	2 x 2		3 ½” Slot
B	5 x 5	Use template to cut or draw line onto fabric and cut with scissors. (There is not a slot on this ruler small enough for this curve.)	9 ½” Slot
C	6 ½ x 9 ½	8 ½” Slot

When cutting Patch C, stack three to four rectangles of fabric. Transfer the straight edge of the template (or 6 1/2" edge) onto the fabric.

Cut each straight edge with a rotary cutter (here in red).

Then finish the cut with the curved ruler matching up the cut edge of the patch with the seam allowance line of the ruler.

 Rotate your cutting mat 180° and repeat for the other side (patch).

After you have all of your pieces cut, lay them out and sew B & C together. On this block, you have 40 A's in the accent fabric and 40 C's in the background fabric, so just sew them together without thinking. You will have the right amount of blocks in the correct fabric color combo in the end.

When sewing A to the B/C segment, you can either sew in the convex to concave method above or use reverse applique. This is a hybrid method of starch applique.

Step by Step - Reverse Applique

First, make a cardboard template of B if you haven't already. Trim the inner curve back to the yellow line on the template. Please note: the yellow line was added to the template after this photo was taken for better clarification.

At the ironing board, spray your B patches with starch. Press with a warm iron. Lay the template over the sewn B/C segment on the back. Cut a couple of slits into Patch B on the curved edge, BUT do not extend past the inner curve of the template. Press the cut fabric back on to the cardboard template with your fingertips.

Then take a warm iron (without steam) and set the fabric a second time.

Now take some glue (either washable stick or liquid) and put a couple of dabs on top of the pressed seam.

Place Patch A directly over the pressed seam lining up the two straight edges of Patch B with Patch A. We do this just to keep the patches in place until we can sew them. Do this with multiple patches and let them dry before you sew.

Flip everything over and top stitch with matching color thread and with a 3.0 stitch length.

And there you go! Your block should now measure 6 1/2" x 6 1/2". Take a quilt ruler and mark lines at 1 3/4" and 4 3/4" on each adjacent side of your ruler as squaring reference points. Your curves should hit those points on the ruler. If they don't meet, you may have to go back and tighten a sewn curve or loosen one. Square up on the outer edges if needed.

Okay, now I bet you are wondering how it all fits together, right? Well there is just one more block to sew. If you know how it goes together, then please finish it up. If not, stick around for the next and last assignment where will be putting it all together. Until then, you can puzzle your blocks with a possible layout. Looking forward to seeing yours! Until then, here's the last sneak peek.

Please join us on May 26, 2019, so we can put it all together. Thanks for dropping by. We look forward to seeing your progress. Please post using the hashtag: #mosaicjigqal.