Sunday sketch #303

One of the most fun (funnest?) parts of quilt designing – for me, at least – is creating designs with interesting or unexpected secondary shapes. They’re the shapes that emerge in the spaces between the main (primary) shapes.

In this week’s designs, I just started with a circle and replaced one quadrant with something different – in this case, a 9-patch block coloured to look like two steps.

There was no real reason or inspiration behind the choice of a 9-patch – I just needed something different, and that was the first idea that came to mind. As soon as I started rotating the block in Electric Quilt 8 though, I liked how those steps combined with the curves and steps of adjacent blocks to make interesting secondary shapes.

I tried using a limited colour palette to let the secondary shapes blend into the background as negative space…

…and also tried colouring the primary and secondary shapes differently for emphasis.

I also kept rotating the blocks to create new and interesting shapes. The version below led me off in a new direction for loads more sketches, some of which I’ll share next week.

I love the feathery movement in this last one, and the balance between the undulating curves and the up/down steps. Definitely lots more potential in this design! Check in next week to see where I take it.

This week’s designs are just quarter-circles (drunkard’s path units) and 9-patches. Basic elements that combine to make more than the sum of their parts, I think.

 

7 comments

  2. Pingback: Sunday sketch #304 | Geometriquilt
    • geometriquilt

      Probably not – I prefer the variations in Sunday sketch #304. But even then, I’m not sure I’ll ever get around to making them…! You should definitely try if you’re tempted 🙂

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      • clairewitherspoon

        Hmmm…I checked out the #304 layouts. For some reason I find the broken egg graphic more interesting. But whay I noticed about the #304 was how much I liked the side by side view of the two color schemes. Might be interesting to put 4 columns on one side and then switch to the opposite color scheme for 3 colums on the other? That might be harder to piece but the contrast would be interesting? It certainly is fun to play with the patterns, Thanks for the visuals!

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