Everyone knows the traditional quilt blocks like a star block or the Log Cabin block. But did you know, you can take these traditional blocks and create interesting new blocks by combining them? This is also an easy way to make a block bigger if you need it to be for a particular project! I will show you a few examples I have created using my design software.
This first technique I will call “Log Cabining” a block. Sounds funny, but you can create a whole new fun design by doing this. Let’s say you have a pattern for a plain 4″ star block.
It’s pretty, right? But what if you want a larger block to fit with other larger blocks. For instance, if you had 8″ snowball blocks you wanted to use in the quilt. Well, just add strips of fabric to the sides of this block to “log cabin” it!
This not only serves the purpose of making the block larger, it also makes it “scrappy” and more colorful! So, if you combine these blocks with a snowball block, look what you create:
The Second technique I use to mix things up it to take a block like the star above and turn it into a 4-patch block by adding two plain 4″ squares. So, here I start with a 4″ star block:
I made this one with black fabric and you’ll see why in a minute. Now, I combine two of the above star units and two plain 4″ squares to make a 4-patch block.
Now comes the fun. I’m going to combine the Log Cabin star from my first technique and this 4-patch block to make the quilt top:
So now, you have a completely different look from the first quilt top above. You also get a directional secondary design with the stars running diagonally.
Taking that directional secondary design one step further adds a fun additional twist to this quilt top. Replace the plain 4″ squares with 4″ half-square triangle squares of 2 different tans and make the star units with the 2 different tans:
Now combine these blocks with the Log Cabin stars:
Now you have two diagonal designs going in opposite directions! Isn’t this fun? I’ve taken a simple star block and created this fun quilt top.
My final technique is “snowballing” a block. I’m going to use the Log Cabin star block above to show how this can help you create a fun quilt top, but you can use this with any block. I’m going to use 3 1/2″ squares to make my corners. Use the “flip and sew” or “folded corner” technique I describe in this blog post to make snowball blocks.
Here’s the Log Cabin star block “snowballed:
Now, I combine the above block with the plain Log Cabin star block:
Once again, with the same elements, we get a completely different quilt top! Imagine if you use different colors for the center star.
Finally, I put the snowball blocks from above with the 4-patch star blocks for a completely different look.
As you can see, the possibilities are endless! So dig through your fabric, find a simple block pattern like the star block and have fun!
Leave a comment on this post on what topics you would like me to cover in future blog posts and be entered to win a free pattern: Star Struck! The drawing will be on January 22nd. **We have a winner! Congrats Jenniffer!**
Happy Quilting!
Deanne
I enjoyed a little insight on your creative process. It is always interesting to find out how different designers come up with their ideas and then create such awesome quilts from those ideas. Thanks for sharing!
I love how you can turn something plain into scrappy and different. You have some interesting borders and would like to know how to change a plain border to an interesting one.
I’ll put that topic on the list!
I love your creativity! Thank you for sharing.
You make the possibilities seem endless. Very interesting.
Thank you for sharing your process with us. I love your designs and especially your color sense!! I would like to see examples of how to make a block a different size (without adding strips around the outside of the block). In other words, how to resize a favorite block. Thank you!
Good idea! I’ll put that on the list.
Love all of the scrappy possibilities. Thanks
Have a stash of fabric that I thought was not for me, but now, I see a BIG POSSIBILITY!!!! Thanks for the inspiration!💖💖
How creative…I love your ideas! I’ll have to do this with some orphan blocks I have and spruce them up with some scrappyness!
Do you use a computer program to do this? I have never tried to change a block. The only thing I tried to draw out was a few Minecraft character blocks for a wall hanging. They were just squares but drawing it out helped me. I couldn’t do it in my head.
Hi Mary, yes I do use a computer quilt design program called Quilt Pro. There’s also another company called Electric Quilt or EQ for short that has good design programs as well.
Nifty!! I’m fairly new to quilting but your info inspires me to keep going!!
Thanks!!
I love the way you take something so simple and make it look complicated it’s so beautiful. This is what i inspire to do, I have been quilting for 3 years and am learning everyday, my mistakes are my learning curves as I put it. Sometimes i come up with something. Thanks for the push that it can come out
Thanks for the fantastic blog post, you blew my mind! I love sewing but unfortunately I’m not great at coordinating colors, you could call me color challenged. Your choices make me so envious of your talent and creativity. I would like to see how to make scrappy blocks/quilts look good. I’m so excited I just found your blog at Primitive Quilts and Projects. Thanks Toni Anne
Thanks for your kind words! I’m glad you found my blog. Keep following me and you will see me post about scrap quilting quite a bit!
Enjoyed reading this blog post, lots of good tips ! I have trouble arranging blocks on point, maybe you could treat this topic.
Your work is inspiring !
I am just beginning to quilt again after doing other “craft” projects for many years along with raising two children.
I absolutely love the creative ways you used just a simple square and star to produce several very different looking quilts.
I’m a hand quilter and your quilt would be wonderful one to start with!
Always looking for ways to use leftover fabric from projects.
Love the way you can change the look of a block or guilt with small changes.
I love your quilt patterns!