I've had a lot of fun trying out different block patterns over the last couple of weeks. It seems I can dream them up and I can draw them, but I can't always make them or explain them, so in the end I settled on this simple but pretty block.
I call this block Lucite Beads because the colours and shapes reminded me of Lucite beads you see in vintage jewellery.
Here's the block repeated in a quilt top. I played around on Quiltography to get an idea of what the block would look like in a quilt. I like all the negative space incorporated in this design and I find the repeated blocks remind me of strands of beads in a necklace.
Lucite Beads uses four of the fabrics included in the Cirrus Solids bundle Amazon (medium blue), Sky (light blue) Shadow (grey) and Lilac.
Cutting Instructions:
From the Shadow fabric cut:
two 4" squares
two 3" squares
two 3 1/2 X 6 1/2" rectangles
two 2 1/2 X 5 12" rectangles
two 4 1/2 " squares
From the Amazon cut :
one 4" square
one 3" square
From the Sky cut:
one 4 " square
From the Lilac cut:
one 3" square
one 2 1/2" square.
Block Construction:
1. Pair one 4" square of Shadow with the 4" square of Amazon and the other 4" square of Shadow with the 4" square of Sky. With a non permanant fabric marker draw a diagonal line across the Shadow fabric going from one corner to its' opposite corner. Sew 1/4" on either side of the line.
Do this for both pairs.
2. Cut on the diagonal line. You will have 4 half square triangle blocks. Press the seams open and use a squaring up ruler to trim the blocks to 3 1/2". Repeat for all four half square triangle blocks.
3. Pair one 3" square of Shadow with the 3" square of Amazon and the other 3" square of Shadow with the 3"square of Lilac. Repeat steps 1 and 2 above to make 4 half square triangle blocks, trimming the blocks to 2 1/2".
4. Line the half square triangle blocks up in rows like this:
5. Sew the blocks together in rows, chain piecing as you go.
6. Sew rows one and two together and rows 3 and 4 together matching the centre seams. This will make two blocks: a 6 1/2" square block with Amazon and Sky and a
4 1/2" square block with Amazon and Lilac.
7. Arrange the blocks as in the photo below. For row one place the two 3 1/2 by 6 1/2" rectangles of Shadow on either side of the 6 1/2" block.
For row two place the 2 1/2" by 5 1/2" rectangles of Shadow on either side of the 2 1/2" Lilac square.
For row three place the 4 1/2" squares of Shadow on either side of the 4 1/2" block.
