Quiltmaker 100 Blocks Volume 9 Blog Tour

Thank you for visiting Quilt Moments’  blog.  I am so excited to be included once again in the fabulous Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks magazine and join in the fun blog tour with my fellow block designers.  Volume 9 hits newsstands May 6th.  Today I’ll share some ideas on how to use my block and give you a chance to win several goodies.   Keep reading to the end to see what you could win!

 

My block, Pinwheel Polka #866, is shown on page 58 of the magazine.  I love using large print fabrics in my quilts and often put what I call “4-patch kaleidoscopes” in my block centers which are made from sets of four identical squares.  For this block, instead of using squares, I used four matching rectangles and made stitch n’ flip corner with black squares to create the pinwheel effect.

I made the block using  the large black and white floral from the Nouveau Rouge collection designed by Alice Kennedy for Timeless Treasures shown below.  Would you like a chance to own some of this fabric?  Keep reading…..

Here is an image of what a twin size quilt looks like using 12 blocks set on point with an easy alternate block and 5″ wide border of the feature floral print.

The large print shown on the border is what is used for all the 4-patch block centers.
I have many patterns and a book featuring this easy technique which you can see on my website, but
here are the construction highlights:
1) Cut or rip a piece of large print fabric containing at least 4 fabric repeats lengthwise down the middle and save one of these pieces for the wide borders
2) Cut out and layer four identical pieces of the fabric following the design repeat and pin around the perimeter with flathead pins carefully capturing the same motif through all fabric layers
3) Rotary cut strip sets 3-1/2” wide and then sub-cut them into 3-1/2” x 6-1/2″ rectangle sets. (Usually square sets, here rectangle sets)
4) Take a rectangle set, and rotate the four identical rectangles to create a 4-patch rectangle kaleidoscope. With the rectangles, you have two  different rotation options so you can choose your favorite look!

One of my favorite Quilt Moments patterns that uses both 4-patch rectangles and 4-patch squares is Tilt-A-Whirl (QM103).  In this pattern I use smaller blocks finishing 8″.  Here is a version using the black and white butterfly print shown below.

 

I never get bored trying out different fabrics with the easy 4-patch kaleidoscope technique since it always yields fun surprises.  Who would have imagined that using this simple butterfly print with 4″ butterflies could create such cool effects in the blocks?

 

Have fun choosing a large print to make your own block.  Florals work great, but you can also use novelty prints and kids’ prints.  My examples today feature black & white fabrics, but of course you can choose from a whole rainbow of colors!  Adding easy “4-patch kaleidoscopes” to the center of blocks is a fun way to spice up your blocks so give it a try!

I love sharing my quilts during trunk show talks and teaching classes at quilt shops and quilt guilds, so I was thrilled when Sandy Fogarty of Quilters Quarters in North Carolina invited me to teach on a quilting cruise next year!

I’m excited to share the news that I’ll be the featured teacher on Quilters Quarters Quilting Cruise  on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Sea’s Caribbean cruise February 22 – March 1, 2015.  I’ll be teaching classes showing my kaleidoscope techniques during the days at sea and enjoying the many cruise activities and adventures at the ports of call.  Please come join us on this great adventure!  We all experienced a very LONG winter, especially here in Minnesota, so wouldn’t you love to make plans for a warm trip next winter?!  You can find all the information and reserve a spot here.

Now for the goodies.  Leave a comment on this post by midnight Sunday, May 4th, for a chance to win a copy of the new Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks Volume 9 magazine, or a 3 yard cut of the beautiful Nouveau Rouge floral print featured in my block.

For a second chance to win, please “like” Quilt Moments on our new Facebook page and leave another comment letting us know you liked us:)

Then remember to visit Quiltmaker and all the other blogs for more entertainment and chances to win prizes.

Enjoy all your quilt moments!

Marilyn