Welcome and thanks for stopping by to visit during this road rally through the latest issue of Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks. You have wound your way over to me in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains in Central California, where I live with my husband and cat named Puppy. Have you had an opportunity to drive Highway 1 along the Pacific coast? It’s one of our favorite roads to spend time along on road trips and vacations.
I am so pleased to be part of the Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks Volume 16 issue. My block is even shown on the cover (!!!) and is called “Clasp”. This is my third block to be included, and you can find my previous blocks below.
Clasp is a great block to work on establishing sewing a consistent 1/4″ seam and it lends itself to chain piecing for a quick finish.
I pieced the Clasp block using Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton in Shadow, Coal, Charcoal, and Riviera.
Clasp was inspired by a combination of the idea of a belt buckle and links in a chain. I really like how rotating every other block in a quilt top shows off the chain link effect.
I think that Clasp is a great masculine quilt option. Changing the background color from a light gray to a deep blue it gives it a heavier feeling, too.
I did notice one other thing about this block design… when rotated, it reminds me a lot of my college Alma Mater, the University of Tennessee, UT logo. It wasn’t my intention at all, but once the idea was in my head, I had to color it in bright oranges and white!
When I think back to my years at UT, I have fond memories of lots of wonderful friends and exceptional professors. I certainly wouldn’t be the person I am today without having had a part of my journey there. I didn’t like the orange and white school colors very much at the time, but they have grown on me a bit over the years. Perhaps living in California and thrilling at the sight of meadows of blooming orange poppies has helped win me over. 🙂
~Giveaway~
Thanks for following along with the 100 Blocks Road Rally! I am pleased to offer 2 giveaways:
Prize 1: The editors at Quiltmaker are sponsoring a giveaway for a copy of 100 Blocks Vol. 16 and they will mail the magazine directly to you anywhere worldwide.
Prize 2: I also have a copy of 100 Blocks Vol. 16 plus a printed version of my pattern Oh Happy Day. This giveaway is open to everyone (international included) and will be shipped by me.
Use the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of this post to enter to win. By entering, you acknowledge you are 18 years of age or older. I will select 2 winners at random after the giveaway closes on Friday, November 17th, at midnight Eastern. The winners will have 48 hours to reply via email or a new winner will be randomly selected.
Good luck and visit The Quilting Company (Quiltmaker) site to continue the road rally and visit all the other blogs today and this entire week. Quiltmaker is also giving away daily prizes and 5 grand prizes at the end of the week!
Keeping with the college colors theme, I would like to try it in my college colors of orange and maroon. When I started college at Virginia Tech they seemed like an odd combination. In freshman orientation they even tell students they will soon like those colors together — and it’s true! And as it happens, the quilt I’m working on now is fall leaves and uses lots of orange and maroon! I like your block, it is very original.
I would love the blocks book. Am currently working on triangle transparency but travel will interrupt completion until January! Love your blog!
Lovely block, Yvonne! I love how you relate it an everyday object.
Interesting block. I was thinking it could have an oriental look to it using the right fabrics. Thanks for sharing!
I would make my blocks in black and yellow. I am currently not working on anything. All my stuff is packed while we build a house.
I really like the blue/charcoal gray color way you have above. This one goes on my list of things to do after I finish the Wayward Transparency and Magnolia Mystery!
Fun block. I’m working on baby quilts – I have a great nephew due before Christmas and another great great due next Spring. Thanks.
This could be a good pattern for a “Quilt of Valor” in red, white , and blue.
What a fun block. I love how it interlocks when you put them together. I’m working on a Christmas quilt now.
This is a very interesting modern block. I wonder if all primary colors red, green blue and yellow would work. It sure can teach color value.
I would like to make Clasp in a variety of low volume prints, greys, and a pop of lime here & there. I am about to finish Tula Pink’s Bitterfly Quilt & just started Jen Kingwell’s Small World.
Since it would make a great masculine quilt, I would use shades of gray with black.
It could make a Christmas block if it was a black buckle with the gold clasp bar and a red background.
Congratulations on having your block included in Quiltmaker’s 100, Vol. 16! Such a bold and awesome design, neat!
usairdoll (at) gmail (dot) com
Interesting block. Congratulations on your block being included in the magazine. I’m currently working on a quilt for my youngest granddaughter.
I think the block would look good in some of the minimal / geometric designed modern fabrics that read like a solid would look great.
I’m currently working on a snowman quilt for my daughter. I think Clasp would look good in reds and yellows cause I love bright colors.
most unusual block… took me by surprise.
I don’t care what color comb you use, what a neat block. Kathy in colo;
I am currently working on pillowcases for charity and holiday gifts, a baby blanket and quilt for friends, a couple of birthday blankets and potholders for holiday gifts. I have cut and stacked the fabrics and pull them from the stack as I sew.
tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com
I like the chain link effect, too. I’d use blue and white for BYU, or green/yellow/white for my husband for his school, Utah Valley University. I’m trying to finish some projects, like bind a few mini quilts, finish a topper called Pinstripe Crossing that I’m testing for a fellow blogger designer, and just finished basting two quilts to start quilting. I gotta do all this on one machine….my little Bernina! I need a longarm or a Sweet Sixteen!
reillyr2(at)hotmail(dot)com
This is a very unique block……would love to make a quilt with it!! I think I would like to give it a try with black white and a vibrant color….maybe turquoise!!
Thanks. I need to look at this block in depth to really pick other colors. I do like the blue.
I would choose purple, lilac and lime green for the clasp quilt. I am making a Christmas Ribbons quilt with red & green scraps.
I think black and lime! Love your block -Thank you
I a manly version in blues nd greys might be nice. I am currently sewing a fancy forest!
I could see this being made in Christmas colors… looks a little like Santa’s belt! 😉
It’s an interesting block, I think the dark colour way is my favourite setting, but whichever colour it would have to be brights for me, I’m just obsessed, especially now I can see so much clearer.
It’s bold and modern and I really like it. I would do it in blues and greens. jskbloomers@gmail.com
I like it! Such fun and would be a great way to use some stripe fabric?
Would love the vibrant orange & peach tones but on a light grey linen blend as a combination, I’m in need of a new project maybe this is it!
You already know that I love this block! You design beautiful things, Yvonne. I’m doing a lot of FMQ lately, on my Janome 1600P, working on our small group’s 2018 QuiltCon Charity Quilt. Thanks for the chance to win your giveaways!
I’m working on a shoo fly quilt for my grandson. He lives in Texas so he wanted rodeo and horses in it. It’s been a fun quilt to sew. Like your block!!
You are very clever. You come up with great ideas, like no others. I don’t know how you keep up with all your projects, charities, giveaways, social sites and a husband and home. You’re an inspiration!
This is a great pattern. Maybe gray and green?
Thanks for sharing your block.
Great block , very original . I love it
Blue & Gold are some of my favorite colors~ I like how your block came to fruition to represent your Alma Mater. Cool!
I do love the masculine edge to this block! I’d make it in gray and rust for my son’s living room. Clasp really is a cool block!
love your block my youngest loves geometric designed quilts.. thanks for the chance to win. drhodes9@cox.net
Thnk you for designing a “masculine” block – it will be so versatile in different colorways from traditional “masculine” colors to black, whites and grays or neutrals.
A belt buckle? Interesting to see what will inspire a block design! It worked, though.
I feel you on the orange and white thing. Hubby is a Clemson fan. I had no idea orange and purple go together. Now, I don’t see the problem! LOL! Congrats on your great block. It reminds me of those blasted little wooden puzzles I could NEVER get back together when I was a kid.
What a fun block! I like the opposing block layout the best I think!
As always, I like your blocks and the way that your mind finds shapes that look interesting in repeat.
It’s a great block, Yvonne! I love the way the blocks connect 🙂