DESI QUILTERS: June 2014

I am so happy to introduce my “Block of the Month” (BOM) quilt “ROUND THE YEAR” from July 2014 - June 2015!

You do not have to be an experienced quilter to be able to make the blocks (that look so difficult!!) that make up this quilt. Initially, one just needs to know how to stitch on a straight line printed on paper.

Lots of pictures will guide you each step of the way, just like a quilt along!

The Quilt

Designed by me on Quilt Assistant sotware, and inspired in part by the Camelot quilt by Trish Harper, the quilt has sixteen blocks, each a 15” circle set in an 18” square.

Unlike the Camelot (which is hand-pieced), these are, as far as possible, paper foundation pieced.

The blocks have been drafted/ designed using traditional patterns based on circles/ curved piecing ( yet simple to assemble) like the Mariner’s Compass, New York Beauty, Dahlia, card-trick, drunkard’s path, winding ways etc. besides improvised Camelot-like blocks etc. However, an attempt is made to incorporate other techniques, where possible, in the blocks that come up later, so that the blocks do not become repetitive and boring over the year.

To help you along, complete patterns in .pdf files and several pictures will be posted with each block, tested by me or generous fellow quilter volunteers!

Layout

One to two blocks will be released each month, a total of 16 over 10 months. The last two months are set aside for putting together the top and quilting and finishing the project. We shall be joining them up them up in the traditional 4X4 layout, but...if you find this too much to handle...you could piece just a few blocks surrounded by a lot of negative space to make up your quilt.

You can also square up nine in a 3X3 layout for a lap quilt, a 2 X2 to make a table cloth, line up 3 or 4 or 5 to make table/ bed runners. The possibilities are endless, whether you decide to make all the blocks or not...

You could even make a single circle block and use it as a table topper like the DAHLIA here (which even a beginner can whip up in a few hours!) This, incidentally, is also Block Number One of the quilt!

What you will get

I shall post the fabric requirement on 7th July 2014 on my blog. The detailed instructions for each block will be made available on this blog on the 1st /15th of each month from 15th July 2014.

The .pdf files which can be downloaded include

The block pattern in colour, with colour codes and fabric requirement.
Colour coded templates for paper foundation piecing where required.
Individual templates where needed.
A Master Template with block assembly instructions.

Colours

- I am making my quilt with shades of blue as the main colour and yellows to oranges as the focus fabric. I shall be setting them in squares in various shades of blue to grey.

- For each of the blocks, I shall be suggesting 2 more colour ways! Firstly, there is a two-colour option. . There is another option with black & white print and blue solid as the main fabric and the colour wheel as the focus.

You could, of course, use any other that you like or go totally scrappy!

Fabric

I shall be using fat quarters of Fossil Fern by Benartex, with some batiks from The Square Inch thrown in! Here is a look at my fabrics.

And here is a look at the options for the first block, pattern for which is coming up on the 15^th of July!

In the meanwhile, you can decide which of these you would like to make.

Fellow Desi Quilter, Aliya Mir, has been kind enough to test this block pattern for me! Here is a peek at her block, which is done in a totally different colour scheme! Isn’t it pretty?