More of those long lazy curves this week – they’re such an interesting and versatile shape, I can’t stop playing with them.

This is a block-based design that uses a standard layout. Two curves lie across each block, and two lie up/down; the four points where they intersect creates those little squares.

Do you see the vertical ovals first, or the horizontal ones? Or both at the same time? Or another shape entirely?

I often like to ‘float’ designs on a background so you can kinda see the shapes uninterrupted, but this one works quite nicely tiled from edge to edge. (I don’t know why, but I much prefer the dark-on-light version.)

 

A random colouring is fun too. With more movement, it can take a bit longer for the eye to settle on the ovals.

A multicoloured palette works for the original layout too, although I prefer the two-colour version I think. Colouring those little squares in a different colour is fun though.

 

Obviously one of the advantages of this design is the opportunity to play with transparency. This version feels a little balloon-animal/Jeff-Koons-y, maybe just because of the bright colour palette. Removing an oval or two helps to introduce new secondary shapes too.

 

I played around with a different palette and another layout (on point). I think I prefer the ovals vertical and horizontal rather than diagonal. But it’s always worth trying out a different layout, just in case!

 

 

I made so many variations of this one, I think because I really like that combination of bright orange and dirty green(s). Anyway, you get the general idea.

I’m not entirely sure how to construct this block, to be honest. It’d be nice to use Jenny Haynes’ long oval drunkard’s path templates, but I can’t wrap my head around exactly how that would work. Two curves pieced together, back to back, and then…? Sub-cut and re-pieced with the corresponding shapes from a second block in different colours? I really need to sit down with some fabric and try it.

Otherwise, you could make smaller templates for each of the 9 pieces in the block (based on the curve in Jenny’s templates), sew the pieces together into 3 (curvy) rows of 3, and then join the rows. I’m not super-confident with sewing curves – one of the reasons I love Jenny’s templates is that you cut the pieces oversized and then trim the finished block to perfection – but I think this design is doable. It has similarities to Jenny’s This Way and That and Pond Skater Quilt designs, so I know her crafty brain would be able to figure it out in no time!