Quilter BOB's BFF - 7/6/12

Read about Quilter BOB's BFF - HERE -
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This rant is basically in three parts -

Part 1 - The Beginning -

Part 2 - The Middle -

And -

Part 3 - The End - ;))

The day before yesterday I directed you to The Beginning - HERE -

It was pretty much a “Modern, my a$$” sort of rant -

Yesterday I directed you to The Middle - HERE -

It was pretty much a "Get a clue, people" sort of rant -

Today is The End -

Unless I have more to say later -

Which I probably will - ;))

So -

SIMPLE DRAFTING -

First - draw a square -

Then - draw a line down the middle -

From top to bottom -

And another one -

From side to side -

Hey -

You just DRAFTED a 4-Patch -

MAGIC!!

Most blocks are based on a GRID -

The grid may be 2x2 - 3x3 - 4x4 - 5x5 - 6x6 - or whatever -

Obviously - or maybe NOT so obviously -

The BLOCK size is USUALLY a MULTIPLE of whatever the GRID size is -

For example - a 6” block can use the following grids quite easily -

2x2 (4-patch) where each "unit" FINISHES at 3” - (2 x 3 = 6" block)

3x3 (9-patch) where each "unit" FINISHES at 2” - (3 x 2 = 6" block)

4x4 (16-patch) where each "unit" FINISHES at 1-1/2” - (4 x 1-1/2 = 6" block)

6x6 (36-patch) where each "unit" FINISHES at 1” - (6 x 1 = 6" block)

The individual "units" can be squares - 4-patches - HST - QST - or whatever -

You draw the block -

Measure the pieces -

Add 1/4” seam allowances on all sides -

Make a pattern/template -

Mark and/or cut the pieces out -

Done -

IT’S NOT HARD - PEOPLE!!

My LHQSQ - Left-Handed Quilter Sampler Quilt -

Is based on a 3x3 grid -

A simple 9-Patch -

Where each "unit" FINISHES at 2" -

The ones that I have made -

So far -

Are basic - simple - public domain blocks -

And are EASY to draft -

I swear -

Even YOU could do it -

Honest - ;))

One of the biggest problems with a lot of the FW quilt blocks -

Is that they are trying to fit a 5x5 grid into a 6” block -

Good luck with that -

It can be done -

But it takes some actual DRAFTING -

Using some weird measurements -

And requires some actual TEMPLATES -

Oh, the horror!!

Q - How in the world did our grandmothers and great-grandmothers make weird blocks?

A - Simple - they knew how to draft them - ;))



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -