12 blocks, 14 settings, dynamic quilts

Pat Speth, author of “Nickle Quilts” and three other books about quilts made entirely from five-inch squares of fabric, was the lecturer at the Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild yesterday.

The lecture was the fourth one she gave to our guild, so she created a brand new lecture to keep things fresh. As promised in yesterday’s post, I’m going share her insights with you all.

Pat started with 12 simple blocks made from five-inch squares and then switched the setting to create 14 different quilts.

First she added cornerstones and sashing.

Then Pat added white squares around the cornerstones to create a nine patch look and secondary design in between the blocks.

Next the squares were replaced with triangles to create a friendship star in between the blocks.

Now the sashing and corner stones gets a little wider to accommodate two triangles at the ends. Now a large secondary star design has developed.

Here is another variation on sashing.

This sashing is strip pieced and arranged to frame the alternating blocks in white and teal. Notice the cornerstone now are four patch units.

Pat said adding an easy to make alternating block, like the orange and yellow one, is a great way to make a large quilt very quickly.

This simple block makes a secondary star design.

Now there’s a background fabric to simulate setting triangles because the blocks have been set on point. I love the alternating block Pat came up with. This setting is my favorite.

Next Pat added pieced setting triangles and large half square triangles for the alternating blocks.

Now the alternating blocks are facing a different direction for a different look.

Here’s another option Pat prepared for an easy alternating block.

And here’s the same block with the color values reversed.

Check out Pat Speth‘s patterns. She’s got lots of great ideas that turn simple patterns into beautiful, dynamic quilts.