This week’s sketch is much like last week’s, but I’ve changed the size of the main shapes in the block. Instead of all the curves being the same dimensions, I’ve upsized some and downsized others. As a result, the blocks have gone from 16-patches to 9-patches.

The rows and columns of secondary shapes are still there, but the circles are now a mix of small and large. The block has a circle in the middle, and then half- or quarter-circles around the edges that combine with those of adjacent blocks to make more circles.

That introduces lots of colouring options. Here, I’ve coloured the centre circles in a consistent colour (white) across all blocks, or just coloured them in the same as the block colour. In the first case, my eye’s drawn to the white circles, whereas in the second case, I see the dark blue circles first.

Here’s the design with a lighter background.

With a simpler palette, you can just alternate colours…

…or use colour to emphasise the edges of the blocks.

The design even works in a two-colour palette, although I feel like the focus becomes the blocks rather than the circles between them. It just goes to show the effect that colour choice and placement can have on a quilt design.

This week’s sketch could be made into a quilt using quarter-circles (or drunkard’s path units), half-circles and full circles. I’ve never actually pieced a half-circle or a full circle… I always just use quarter-circles to make up larger shapes. It might be nice to have fewer seams though, so maybe I need to practice them. I even have Clammy templates for cutting half-circles and full circles, so I have no excuse!