Making a Sampler Quilt-Part 3

My first two posts concerning using your Nancy Cabot blocks in a sampler quilt focused on using traditional quilt layouts. Today, I am going to give you some more unusual ideas.

A more recent method of setting your quilt blocks is the tilted block. Here is one example of this idea-

And another example using a different background fabric around each block-

There are a couple of ways to make a block like this. There is a tutorial on the Why Not Sew? blog entitled Topsy Turvy Sashing that gives a similar look(shown below). Just insert your Nancy Cabot blocks where she has plain blocks with sashing. You could also use her idea and add a straight sashing around your Nancy Cabot blocks before adding the "topsy turvey" sashing.

Fons and Porter have a video that uses a different method to get this tilted look. You can watch it here. One advantage of using this type of layout for your sampler quilt is that the blocks get bigger so you don't need as many blocks!

I made a quilt with tilted blocks several years ago. I wish I had a picture now!  Anyway, I started by framing my blocks with a wide border like is shown in the Fons and Porter video but instead of making a template I just used a square ruler and started by cutting two sides of one corner and then squared up the block. I can't find a tutorial or video of my method for making a tilted block so maybe I should make one. My method is much less work in my opinion!

Have you ever thought of using a block layout as a quilt layout? That is just what I did for this next example. I used the design of the Flying Squares quilt block and used it as the design for my quilt. This size is more suitable for a wall hanging or table runner if using your 6" Nancy Cabot blocks because it would only finish at 30" square. Of course, you could also use larger blocks. Notice I used only red and white for this example? I think a whole Nancy Cabot sampler quilt would be stunning if made with only two colors. Anybody trying that?

For more ideas on on how to lay out your quilt, look at my Pinterest board where I have collected ideas of various ways to use sashing in your quilt. I will add to this board as I find more ideas so feel free to follow it if you want to keep updated.

Adding sashing in the center of the quilt is another interesting idea! This quilt from swim bike quilt has two rows inserted. Yet another way to make your quilt bigger and require less blocks. There are some tips in the blog post about adding sashing/borders to this quilt. 

If you know of any creative ways to lay out a quilt, let me know and I'll post about it.

Making a Sampler Quilt-Part 2

Yesterday, I gave you a couple of ideas for using your Nancy Cabot blocks in a sampler quilt using a straight set layout. Today I am going to discuss on point or diagonal layouts.

The first quilt layout shown below sets your Nancy Cabot blocks on point with alternate plain squares. Unlike the quilt shown yesterday with the straight set layout (below right), the on point layout requires setting triangles to make the sides and ends straight. There is an excellent tutorial at C&T Publishing's blog that explains this concept very well. The example they give is even for 6" blocks!!

Another idea is to add sashing and cornerstones between the blocks like this-

Or add sashing and cornerstones and eliminate the plain blocks and add more Nancy Cabot blocks.

Change the sashing to white to match the background fabric and get yet another look-

Or, change the color of the setting triangles to match your border and your quilt could look like this-

For a queen size quilt, set on point, you will need 162 Nancy Cabot blocks.  If you alternate every other block with a plain block, you only need 72 Nancy Cabot blocks and 56 plain blocks. Remember to cut your plain blocks at 6 1/2".

The number of blocks I am giving you is an estimate. If you are making the quilt to fit a bed you really need to take into account the thickness of the mattress and box springs and how far you want the quilt to drop down the sides when deciding how large to make your quilt.

If you are looking for a smaller project to use your Nancy Cabot blocks in, a table runner is an option. Here are a couple of ideas I came up with-

This table runner finishes at approx. 16 1/2" X 42". Another option would be to use four different blocks.

This square table runner or table mat finishes at 28"x28".  Or use five different blocks as in the runner shown below.

Both styles of table runners are shown with a 1 1/2" inner border and a 2 1/2" outer border. Of course, you can make the borders any size and use as many blocks as you like to make a table runner the size that you want.
        
The possibilities are really endless! I hope the ideas I am showing you will spur your imagination and I'd love to see any ideas any of you have.  Send me an email and I'll post any pictures you send or leave your ideas in the comments. Either way, I'd love to see your ideas.

Tomorrow-Making a Sampler Quilt-Part 3

Making a Sampler Quilt-Part 1

More than 250 of Nancy Cabot's blocks have been posted on this blog so far. I'm taking a little break from posting blocks to work on designing my sampler quilt.

Have you decided how you are going to use your blocks? Over the next several days, I will be giving you some ideas on how to make a sampler quilt and other items from your Nancy Cabot blocks. Make the blocks you love and use them in a quilt or quilted project.

One of the easiest ways to join the blocks in a sampler quilt is to alternate the blocks with plain squares.  In the first example, I have used blocks that I made with a white background and added white plain squares and a white 1" inner border before adding a 4 1/2" outer border. I think this method works best when there are an odd number of blocks in each row so that a block ends up in each corner instead of a plain square. This type of quilt takes the least number of blocks. To make a queen size quilt, you need 98 6" Nancy Cabot blocks and 97 6" plain blocks. I am referring to finished size when I say 6" blocks so your plain blocks would be cut at 6 1/2".

The next example shows the blocks set with 1" wide white sashing strips with contrasting cornerstones, a 1" wide inner border and a 4 1/2" outer border. You need 132 blocks to make a queen size quilt using this layout. Other options would be to use sashing without cornerstones or make each cornerstone from a different fabric.

This example changes the color of the sashing to match the color of the border, eliminates the inner border, and changes the cornerstones to white. This quilt uses the same number of blocks as the one above but how different it looks with the colors reversed!

For more information on what size to make your quilt, check out this information from Quiltmaker magazine or allpeoplequilt.com.

Have an extra block or a favorite block you want to use? I think a single block is a good size for a pot holder. But, if you like a bigger pot holder, add a border to your block to make it the size you want. Just make your pot holder exactly like you would a quilt (but much smaller). You can add a layer of Insul-Bright Insulated Lining in addition to your cotton batting to make your hot pad more heat resistant.

Leave me a comment with your ideas for designing a sampler quilt!

Tomorrow-Making a Sampler Quilt-Part 2

Wreath of Daisies quilt block

Wreath of Daisies

September 29, 1933-The Wreath of Daisies quilt block is yet another green and yellow quilt design published by Nancy Cabot this month!

She explains, "An ideal color combination for the Wreath of Daisies quilt pattern is milk white for the flower petals, swirling around a golden yellow center on the leafy stem of green. The entire wreath is placed on a delicately tinted green background."

"A quilt of this design will be quite as suitable and charming in a room of the modern plan as in one not quite so modern."

A Wreath of Daisies quilt won a second place award at a Chicago Sears store according to the Quilt Index. I can not find a picture of the quilt or any additional information though.

Tomorrow-Modernistic Pansy