Tagged: rectangles
Sunday sketch #374
I don’t often use prints in my designs (or my quilts), but this week I picked out some basic blender prints in EQ8 to subtly differentiate between the blocks.
This week’s sketch is a bit like Sunday sketch #162, but there are four dark corners in each block instead of two, two corners of the block are curved instead of square, and the sashing between the blocks is thinner than the rectangular parts of the block (rather than being the same thickness).
Because of the four dark corners in this week’s sketch, the design works well for a bit of transparency. But also just a two-colour palette (three if you count the background).
A bigger palette works too.
I also tried colouring in the full blocks. I haven’t decided yet how I feel about this one! I like how it emphasises the dark squares and that effect of that white grid in the foreground. But I kinda feel like the black squares in each block make less ‘sense’ like this.
I tried switching some to curves, to create interstitial circle rather than squares.
This last version sent me in a whole new direction, which I’ll share next week.
This week’s sketch could be made using rectangles, squares and quarter-circle units (or drunkard’s paths), plus some sashing.
Update (28 Feb 2024): I’ve just discovered that these designs are very similar to a quilt pattern released by Lynne Goldsworthy (@lilysquilts) in (at least) 2015. I can’t find The Tube Quilt pattern anywhere online anymore, but it may still be out there?
Sunday sketch #373
I designed the week’s sketch only a couple of months ago, but I’ve already forgotten what prompted it. The blockiness* and transparency remind me a little of Sunday sketch #246. (*possibly not a real word.)
I think maybe I just liked the colour palette. It kinda gives me the ick but I’m also really drawn to it. I feel like the dark brown squares (where the reddish orange and khaki green overlap) work really well.
I expanded the border a little to let the design breathe a bit; that first version’s very crowded and in-your-face.
I tried to refine the design a little by curving the edges of the ‘flower’ shapes, which introduces lovely new secondary shapes (the orange-peel units in dark brown). The curves of the flower shapes are maybe not quite right – there’s a point at the tip of each petal where two curves meet that’s a bit sharp for me. But I love those orange peels!
The first version of this week’s design could be made using squares, rectangles and half-square triangles set on point. The last version could be made using drunkard’s path units (or quarter-circles), rectangles and orange peels.
I’m mulling over ideas of what to make for submission to QuiltCon 2024 (submissions open on September 1 and close on October 31), but I don’t think this is a contender – the design needs more work. The palette though – that’s definitely on the shortlist! I just need to think up a four-colour design…. 🙂
Sunday sketch #371
I mentioned last week that I love sticking stuff in circles, so – surprise! – here’s the next iteration of that design. I’ve increased the size of the central crosses and sashing so that I can squeeze in some eight-pointed stars where the crosses were.
Also, I think this might be my new favourite two-colour palette. Electric Quilt 8 says it’s Kona Oyster and Kona Torch, although I’m not sure they’d look exactly the same in real life.
The interstitial stars – the ones between the circles – are made from the sashing between the blocks. So they can go around the edges of the design too, and the centre squares can be coloured the same as the star or different. Lots of options!
I quite like a limited palette for simple designs like this, and I always love that dirty yellow with an off-black.
Or this dusky raspberry with the charcoal black. Yum.
The arms of the stars are long and thin, so I’d probably use templates (or the forthcoming HuRTy 2 ruler from Latifah Saafir, which will do 1:3 and 2:3 half-rectangle triangles). I’m not sure how small I could make triangles like that (and still have them be nice and crisp and straight). I should try it and find out!
Otherwise, this week’s design would be as easy to make as last week’s: a bunch of quarter-circles (or drunkard’s path units), some squares (for the middle of the stars) and rectangles for the sashing. You just need to pick your colours! 🙂
