Category: Pieced Quilts (Page 2 of 2)

Make your pieced quilts sparkle with interest when you use BOTH beautiful sides of fabric!

Image of pieced quilts

Pieced quilts are especially fun to make from both sides of fabric! Whether your are making a nestled block quilt or one with lots block units, you can add interest to your quilt by using the reverse sides of your fabrics.

Nestled Block Quilts

Firstly, when you look at the pieced quilts patterns that feature nestled blocks, notice that you can use stash fabrics from differing designers or a manufacturer’s coordinated line. The VariLovable Star quilt (top-right above), for example is made using both beautiful sides of Hoffman California Fabric’s “Floral Rhapsody”. Secondly, this entire quilt is made from only three fabrics. Four variable star blocks are made using the reverse of each block as it’s background. Finally, nestled block quilts are especially fun and fast to put together because you start with the centermost block. When it is made, you’ve already completed the center of your next block!

One Block Pieced Quilts

Another fun way to use both sides of fabric is shown in the pieced quilt, Treasures. This quilt is made using only one block, the Contrary Wife block. However, it is made in two “value-ways” to achieve the dazzling diamond patterns you see. Additionally, Treasures (middle-right and upper-left above) is made with both sides of three fabrics on a soft-white background.

Combination Pieced Quilts

Of course, all quilts have some piecing in them, unless they are whole-cloth designs. Some “Use Both Sides” patterns call for a combination of techniques. Admittedly, you’ll discover fusible applique, broderie perse, and pieced borders in some patterns! The possibilities are endless!

Use Both Beautiful Sides

Most importantly, you’ll learn how to audition both sides of fabric, with itself AND with both sides of other fabrics. It’s all about value. When you audition and find fabrics you love that pass the test, it’s easy and fun to choose fabrics for your pieced quilts.

One Block Quilts

February 10, 2020 / The Bee

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Each of the four quilts shown are one-block quilts.

Classic quilt blocks can make stunning quilts and be fantastically fun to make!

Each of the four quilts shown are one-block quilts.

Firstly, from the Variable Star block comes the VariLovable Star Quilt Pattern! You can stitch up this girl from four nestled Variable Star blocks. She’s bursting with color! And, you’ll make her using both beautiful sides of only three fabrics! Because the background for each star is made from it’s own REVERSE, the effect makes the quilt sparkle with interest. Your eye will linger on the quilt.

See the VariLovable Star quilt made using Hoffman California Fabrics!

VariLovable Star Quilt Pattern

Saying a quilt is made with one quilt block might sound a bit boring, but it’s so not true.
The outspoken Quilter

Image of Variable Star block made with both sides of fabric.

Ohio Starburst Quilt Pattern

Secondly, you can stitch up the Ohio Starburst Quilt Pattern with the classic Ohio Star block. Again, the three center blocks are nestled. This means the centermost block becomes the center for the next block and so on. You add borders and cornerstone blocks, too. Ohio Starburst is also made from BOTH beautiful sides of three fabrics.

Image of Ohio Star Quilt Pattern made with classic Ohio Star block — “Ohio Starburst”

Dash About Quilt Pattern

Thirdly, meet Dash About. You’ll have a blast piecing this quilt! Start with a small center Churn Dash block. Next, use that block for the center of the next block. Finally, Dash About is made with both beautiful sides!

Dash About quilt made with one churn dash quilt block

Treasures Quilt Pattern

Finally, make Treasures from two versions of one classic block, the Contrary Wife.

Image of Quilt Block — Contrary Wife Blocks made in to “value-ways”, using BOTH sides of fabric!

Contrary Wife Blocks made in to “value-ways”, using BOTH sides of fabric!

See more about TREASURES HERE!

Treasures Quilt Pattern made with classic block — Treasures

In summary, using BOTH sides of three fabrics with a “solid” background, the use of value and placement provides an interesting secondary pattern in Treasures.

SHOP more than 45 Creative Bee Studios quilt patterns HERE

#usebothsides

Introducing…Treasures

January 20, 2020 / The Bee

Use BOTH beautiful sides of THREE fabrics in a one block quilt pattern…

Image of One Block Quilt Pattern quilt — Treasures Quilt Patternwww.etsy.com/shop/CreativeBeeStudios

Rummage your stash to use three random fabrics OR choose a line of fabrics you love. Make the Contrary Wife blocks in this one block quilt pattern by using both sides of three fabrics on a soft white background! Learn to audition BOTH sides (I tell you how) and discover the nuances of value that’ll make your quilts sing!

I used a line of fabric featuring sea life, but you could make this quilt with Christmas, Americana, florals…any theme or colorway you like!

Toss in a sweet background fabric…

It can be solid…or NOT. As long as the values work together (I tell you how), you can choose a background you love!

Image of one block quilt pattern at beach — Treasures at the beach.

to make this ONE BLOCK quilt.

The Contrary Wife quilt block has been, well, around the block a few times! The key to the sparkling nature of this quilt is the use of the reverse sides in each block and the placement of the blocks.

“Treasures” was so named because I’m continually amazed by the effect of using both sides of fabric…it’s like the quiet moment of discovering a precious gem in packed antique store. While I love all kinds of quilts, the ones that really get my juices flowing are the ones I have to linger over a bit…that make me pause…ponder.

I hope you like the “Treasures” quilt pattern as much as I. If you like these fabrics, stay tuned to my Etsy shop for fabric kits coming soon!

You can SHOP HERE for all my patterns and focus fabric kits.

*Each pattern comes with the BONUS: Prairie Point Hanging Method.

*All applique patterns have full-size, paper templates.

#usebothsides patterns have been featured in AQ Magazine, Hancock’s of Paducah, Nancy’s Notions, Connecting Threads and quilt shops across America!

It’s a…Dash About!

September 12, 2019 / The Bee

Here’s a fun, fast quilt pattern made with only one block and THREE fabrics!

Dash About is made using the Churn Dash block and BOTH beautiful sides of three fabrics!

At first, you might think there are separate background fabrics for each block. But when you take a second look, you notice that the background for each block is made from the REVERSE side of the same fabric!

Using both sides makes choosing fabrics, well, half the trouble!

Image of Quilt from Pattern — ***Dash About*** Quilt Pattern

It’s all about VALUE. Each #usebothsides quilt pattern describes how to audition your fabrics’ value by “removing” the color. Of course, you don’t physically remove the color. But colors can be tricky when it comes to value. And, fabric values change, depending on what fabrics are next to them! Take a look here at The Tricky Traits of Value for more information.

The most important thing to know is that auditioning both sides of fabric is easy and fun. Learning to look at fabric values in this way is a fantastic tool for all quilters when choosing fabrics or designing their own quilts.

I’ve found that auditioning both sides of fabrics is a great conversation starter in quilt shops. Quilters can’t help but ask what you’re doing!
Karla

Next, look at the Dash About quilt shown above. It is made using three unrelated fabrics. The centermost, smallest block is made with fabric that has a tiny motif. The floral in the middle block is larger. Of course, the outer Churn Dash sports an incredible large motif that comes in backing fabric widths!

The fabric shown, starting in the center, include a sweet little blue print which belonged to my late mother-in-law, Pat, a darling Anna Marie Horner floral, and a super-big Kaffe Fassett print. (I love adding a touch of her to my designs).

Additionally, see what happens when you make Dash About using a line of fabrics:

Dash About Quilt Pattern — **Dash About** for Hoffman California Fabrics

When I saw the beautiful reverse sides of this line by Hoffman California Fabrics, I was certain this would be a winner in the Dash About layout! The line is “Floral Rhapsody”. The reverse is lighter but has lots of movement and can definitely stand on its own!

Image of fabric — Floral Rhapsody Splash

Image of fabric reverse — Floral Rhapsody Splash Reverse

Like most quilts, these fabrics are even more fabulous in real life!

When compared with a solid or white on white fabric, the movement and slight changes of color and value of the REVERSE side makes for an interesting background!