Four Patch Tessellation with a Chisel

Yesterday I was playing around with a tessellation with a four patch block of squares and half square triangles. After stitching it together, it made more sense to simplify the block. There are several ways to simplify it, but in order to get the tessellation, the quilt layout has to be a “vertical half block drop” layout. After trying several different configurations using the Signature Block shape and the chisel in a couple of different configurations, a final half block configuration was chosen. And actually, if you wanted to make this as a quilt in the simplest configuration, you could use the Signature Block shape as well as the chisel shape. And, as the saying goes, “not to shoe the goose” or “plow the sand”, but here are some of the options.

This is the quilt that is a true tessellation and is the final result of these blocks. The blocks can be made several different ways.

This is the original four-patch block:

 

This is the four patch block modified by combining a square and half square triangle into the chisel shape. This block is also the half drop shape that would begin every other column on the quilt.

Twist Tessellation using Chisel Shape

This is a rectangular block using the half-drop as the right hand half of the block. This would work for those who like to make square blocks.

Twist Tessellation as Square Block Using Chisel Shape

This is the rectangular block using the signature shape in the center. However, one would have to add a half drop block on every other column of the quilt.

Twist Tessellation as Rectangular Block Using Signature Shape

I’m not sure how I would make this, but am thinking about playing around with the 4″ or 5″ Qube to make a miniature version of this just for fun. How would you make this?

Making a Bed Quilt and a little Update

A lot has changed around here. We started an addition to our house in May, and it is now complete. School started in August as a virtual school only. With five grandchildren here in town and all in school, we have taken on the job of working with our oldest granddaughter in the 8th grade. She has some special needs because of the four brain surgeries she had as a toddler.

I told you yesterday that I had used the Comfort Quilt that Barbara designed to make a bed quilt. Our house addition was a downstairs master bedroom and while there are lots of quilts all over the house, they are not bed size quilts. With a new bed downstairs, there was an urgent need for a quilt for the bed. I decided to do something that I thought would be easy, but that turned out not to be the case.

The quilt was sized to comfortably fit a queen size bed without going all the way to the floor. I laid out the top and it seemed just perfect. I had a King Size wool quilt batting which I love for bed quilts – warm in winter and cool in summer so I used that when I quilted it. When it was finished, I threw it in the washer and dryer to soften it up.

What a surprise when it came out ten inches shorter and narrower than when I put it in. I have used wool batting in the past and this never happened. I don’t know if this was a different brand from my past batting as I don’t make many bed quilts. I still love wool batting, but will have to figure out how to shrink it before quilting next time.

The quilt is beautiful – just too small to be comfortable for sleeping – although we’re using it until I can make a quilt that fits. I am sure this one will fit a standard double bed perfectly.

This is the quilt and you can see that the drop is just not enough to be comfortable.