Welcome! I have been anticipating my stop on Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks Blog Tour and I am so glad you here today. If you are new to my blog, my name is Yvonne and you can read a little bit about me here.
I am so honored that my block, Four Way Block, is included in this issue of 100 Blocks along with so many other designers I admire.
I like to create block designs that interact to create secondary patterns, and a traditional block grid layout shows how the “ears” of the flying geese come together to create a star or economy block pattern.
Four Way Block – Traditional Layout Quilt
Removing some of the blocks from the layout and filling in the space with more background fabric creates a more modern layout option while still retaining some of the fun block interaction and secondary design attributes.
Four Way Block – More Modern Quilt Layout
One of the features that gets lost a little in a three color way design is the arrow shape within the center of the block. I named the block “Four Way” after these four arrows and the cardinal directions (North, South, East, and West).
Four Way Block – Recolored to Highlight Cardinal Directions
The cardinal directions are often associated with colors, which vary from culture to culture and region of the world. The colors associated with North, South, East, and West typically are typically natural colors instead of primary colors (reference: Cardinal Direction via Wikipedia).
Cardinal Directions – Traditional Quilt Layout
With the block recolored to mimic the Cardinal directions, a traditional layout becomes perfect for a scrappy quilt.
Cardinal Directions – Modern Quilt Setting & Modified Blocks
But by re-imagining the block color placement even more, a very modern take on Cardinal Directions can be made using negative space and selective color placement.
Giveaways
Prize 1: The editors at Quiltmaker are sponsoring a giveaway for a copy of 100 Blocks Vol. 15 and they will mail the magazine directly to you anywhere worldwide.
Prize 2: I also have a copy of 100 Blocks Vol. 15 plus a printed version of Bundle Buster, my most recent printed pattern that is fat quarter friendly. This giveaway is open to everyone (international included) and will be shipped by me.
The giveaway will run through Friday, May 5th and close at Midnight Eastern. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter to win.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I hope you have enjoyed the 100 Blocks blog tour this week at Quiltmaker’s blog, Quilty Pleasures . To see all of the creative and original blocks in this issue, 100 Blocks Vol. 15 is available on the newsstands now or you can order 100 blocks from Quiltmaker to see other great blocks included in this issue.
I sometimes struggle with getting the right fabrics that I have in my mind and what I can find.
Congrats on a yet another exciting career!
Love the designs that can be made with your block.
i as a rule do not have trouble picking out colours for my projects … somehow i can usually just grab the right piece of fabric as long as i go with my instincts … altho sometimes piles of fabrics sit on my table as a add and take away
I usually know exactly what colors I want to use – no problem there. However, sometimes I’m not sure what pattern I want to use to show off my fabric.
I like this block! and I learned about the colors for North, South, East and West — cool. and Makes sense.
Thanks!
Very versatile block! I like how you’ve shown modern variations and layouts.
Another great block design.
I am the worst with color! Thanks goodness for designer lines!
I have a hard time because I have so many fabrics bought at different times that don’t coordinate with each other. I learned i have a lot of focus fabrics without a lot a blenders and am working to correct that imbalance.
I love blocks that create a secondary design also–this looks like a fun one. I love working with just blue and white, but do a lot of controlled scrappy quilts–I just go by what I like.
I usually know my color preference, but have trouble mixing fabrics that I want to include!!
Thank you.
I have a terrible time selecting fabrics! If I find the right color, it is the wrong size print. Or right print and color, but would look better in a darker or lighter shade next to the other chosen fabrics. I’m never satisfied.
Congratulations on your block and being included in the blog tour. I really like the the multiple color version of this block and thank you for pointing out the arrow because I hadn’t noticed it until you did.
Thanks for taking the time to post many options for combining your block into quilts. I love selecting fabric, in fact, I could do that all day. So many beautiful choices out there.
A great block, love the secondary patterns and the story behind the pointing arrow and the detail on the cardinal directions and their color ways! Never knew that.
I plan to make a red and white quilt this next winter and would love to win this book to give me a kick-start!
I have a lot of difficulty selecting colors when I actually sew a project. Mostly because I imagine it in such a particular way, but because I am currently trying to destash, I may not have those colors available.
Fun block. I am usually great at picking designs. It’s gotten easier as I practice more. Thanks.
Congratulations on being chosen for the magazine! Very fun block.
oh, yes, I do have a difficult time selecting colors for projects. I do have a friend that’s good at it and sometimes ask for her input.
Great block!
choosing colours can take me a long time
I have followed you a while. this is a great block
Like the block! Looks fun to make!
I love block designs that present a secondary design in the quilt!
I like how the “arrow” comes out in your block. Loving these 100 Blocks magazines, too.
congratulations. your block is so fun.
Cool block! I always love all the interesting blocks in this magazine.
Congratulations on your block. It always takes me a long time to make a final decision on colours
Another STELLAR block, and each variation made me gasp in delight! SUPER!
Congrats! Love the block.
Thanks for the interesting secondary designs, and the cardinal directions information was very interesting. Keep up the good work. Kathy in colo
I really like what you did with color and placement–a visual challenge and inspiration, for sure!
Great collection of new blocks! Thanks for the giveaway.
Nice little block! Good job!
I generally don’t have any problem selecting color or fabric when I am beginning a project.
Love your block!
And I LOVE picking colors!
I feel, choosing a colour palette got easier once my stash reached a certain critical mass having multiple shades per colour family.
I love your block, Yvonne, especially with the four colours added in!
i LOVE picking color!!!! along with buying fabric it is my favorite part of quilting!!!! the only trouble is i buy fabric faster than i can sew. my mind just flies with ideas!! i have bags, stacks, and boxes with fabrics for quilts with the pattern for them. i jsut can’t sew fast enough!!!
Choosing fabrics is almost always the hardest part of starting.
Congratulations on your block in the magazine. I usually know what colors I will like for a quilt but often have difficulty finding the fabrics that fit my color scheme.
I don’t have any problems choosing fabric, my problem is choose which pattern.
Love the different settings you have shown, especially the last one. Love seeing the arrows once you added the other colors.
Congratulations on having a block in the book!
Congrats on getting your design in the publication!
I like the multi-color blocks better… I totally missed the arrow in the bi- and tri-color blocks.
Great block! Congratulations on having a block in the magazine. It always takes me quite a while to pick out fabrics for my quilts.
Deciding on colors can be daunting especially when trying to use my stash instead of buying more fabric. congrats on your quilt block.
I really like the arrows. Sometimes I buy kits, which eliminates the “choosing fabrics” dilemma.
congrats on your newest block contribution! I LOVE it.