Chevron Brick Wall

A pattern is seldom just one way of making something.  It is often a starting point.  You can follow the pattern exactly or your can play with it and make it uniquely yours.  And that might be as simple as changing the order of fabrics.

Take my Brick Wall block from The Patchsmith's Sampler pattern book.  In the book I use different fabrics for each brick and I love the scrappy look.

I even used the pattern when making a gingham road for a sew-along a few years back.

Who wouldn't love a gingham road?

But today I wanted something a little more co-ordinated so, this time I used just three fabrics.  And what a difference! 

You wouldn't think it was the same pattern.  That is the fun of this scrap happy block (and that there is no seam matching required).

If you want to mimic the chevron brick wall you will need to choose three contrasting fabrics.  From each of them cut five of block A and two of block B as detailed in the pattern.

Tip 1:  Lay the cut blocks out on your sewing table in the order you want them before stitching.

Tip 2:  For a slight variation rotate the block a quarter of a turn as shown at the top of this blog.

Until next time....

Scrapilicious Patchsmith Sampler Blocks

It has been a while.  Truth be told I broke my elbow mid February and haven't been unable to do much of anything.  But I have just started to ease myself gently back into some sewing.  

I need to practise both cutting and sewing but cutting is proving the most difficult and painful. Thankfully, I have a stash of scraps and a couple of favourite blocks from my Sampler Quilt Blocks pattern book.

Available via Amazon

First up is the Chunky Log Cabin.  

Block 32 - Chunky Log Cabin Block

This is block 32 in the book.  I remade this block with the offcuts that I had available and, I have to say it turned out lovely.

Chunky Log Cabin Block

There is also a Night and Day Log Cabin block in the book but I am building up to cutting thinner strips as my elbow progresses.  

Block 25 - Night and Day Block

However, I did take the opportunity to play with Lori Holt's Haystack Block turning it into a night-and-day version.

A 'Night-and-Day' Haystack Block

Next I thought I would try a little bit more cutting and sewing and chose block 33 from The Patchsmith's Sampler Quilt Blocks book - the Scrap Box.  

Block 33 - Scrap Box

I did have four small half-square triangles already in my scrap box together with another eight perfectly sized squares.  So the cutting was too difficult. 

Scrap Box alternative with HST corners

I will remake this block very shortly using an alternatively to the Kona Snow background fabric - just for fun.

Spring-time Chunky Log Cabin

These blocks are perfect for beginners as it really doesn't matter if your seams, or cutting, aren't accurate - the blocks will still look good.

So I better get back to practising some more as I have new designs I want to create.  Until next time....

A Hive and a Side Mug Rug

A Hive and a Side Mug Rug

Sometimes a little pattern comes along that I design because it looks good.  I then find out from my customers how much they like it for its simplicity.  The Flag Sidebar from my One Block Mug Rug pattern book is perfect if you are new to patchwork – it is very forgiving due to the ‘give’ in the block and is suitable to any 6” block that might be slightly bigger than the 6½” (unfinished) size.

The Flag Sidebar and the Tea Mug 
(both included in the One Block pattern book)

The Flag Sidebar works really well as a traditional flag – perfect to picnic and holiday gifts.  However, it also works well in non-traditional fabrics.  When teamed with a patchwork, embroidery or applique block, this sidebar will turn any 6” block into a fun and functional gift suitable for young and old alike.

A simple block suits the Flag Sidebar very well.

And here is how simple it goes together.

First pick your block – I picked the Hive block from my Sampler Blocks pattern book …

The 6" Patchwork Hive from my Sampler Pattern Book

Picking fabrics is always the longest part of any project for me.  This time I let the dusky look of the charcoal grey on the hive block guide me and went for two grey 5” charm squares.  I added a scrap of green for the upper corner to tie in with the spring colours of the hive.

Two charm squares and a small green scrap of fabric

I then stitched the flag sidebar together – it took just 10 minutes.  

A scrap happy Flag Sidebar

And with a press it was all ready to stitch to the side of my block.

Quick and easy to put together ...

Quilting for me is very time dependent so I did a simple double layer of outline quilting around the hive and then quilted along the seams of the flag and the hive.

Finally, a vintage piece of Debbie Mumm fabric was cut to create the borders.  I love the black-and-white border – it screams county chic to me.

A hostess gift ready and waiting.

There you have it.  Just one of the ten patterns from my One Block Mug Rug Pattern book – available via Amazon or Etsy.

Until next time when I will be visiting another pattern from the book.