Monday, February 20, 2017

Reversible Blocks


These are my Buckeye Beauty in the red range.  I'm trying to decide whether to make more blocks and whether I think this layout works.  (Many of these blocks are not yet sewn together so they look askew.)  A challenge with this pattern is that any block can only be moved diagonally to keep the pattern in place. I can't move a block right or left and turn it 90 degrees because that throws the pattern off.

But, after the four-patches and triangles are sewn together to make squares they are completely reversible.  They can be sewn with lights in the middle or with darks in the middle. 















I notice how strong the colors look in the blocks with darks in the center.  There's something about having a strong concentration of color that seems especially noticeable when the reds are really dark.  But the darkest darks are pretty obvious when they're on the outside, too.

And then there are the light diagonals and the dark diagonals crossing each other.


These blocks are simple to make and this has been a fun challenge.  I'm probably pushing myself to make more blocks by the end of the month when I still have many of these blocks to sew and press.  But always the question is, what does the quilt need/want?

I'm linking this post to
Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework
Moving It Forward Monday at Em's Scrapbag
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times
Thanks for hosting, ladies.

--Nancy.
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18 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks, Jeanne. Did I call those blocks red? I probably did but in the past I've said "in the red range" which is definitely more accurate.

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  2. It is a fun pattern, with the value placement in the blocks reversed on the opposing diagonals. (I hope that made sense--you know what I mean.)
    I like it in the shades of red as much as I do in the blues/greens (remember that I really like it in the blue/green combo, so that is a good thing). : )

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    1. It is a fun pattern, Janet, but I also think it's a challenging one, especially when I want to move blocks around and am limited in placement. I'm glad you like the red. It seems much happier and cheerful to me than the blue/green.

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  3. Now that you've explained it, I can see what a versatile block this is. And yes the dark centered blocks stand out. Reds have a special warmth all their own so will add something wonderful to the overall quilt. Love reading about your process, as always.

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    1. Thanks, Jocelyn. Red is one of my favorite colors -- happy and cheerful, I think.

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  4. I like this one just as much as its blue/green twin. Didn't think that was possible, but I do!!

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    1. Thanks, Joyful. I wasn't sure how the "red range" fabrics would work together but I think they're doing okay. I'm glad you like it.

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  5. Love all the reds and the secondary patterns.

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    1. Thanks, Cathy. I think I could make the patterns work better if I were more serious about it but I'd rather play!

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  6. Lots of fun playing with these blocks! I do love a red quilt!

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    1. Thanks, Linda. Yes, I'm enjoying playing. I love a red quilt, too. I still have so many red scraps. Now I'm thinking of a simple 9-patch with red and white/off white/tan/cream. We'll see if I get to it, though.

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  7. I love these blocks, they look like a lot of fun!

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    1. Thanks, Missy. I'm enjoying making them and playing with the arrangement.

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  8. How fun that you can just move the pieces around to change the look. Love the quilt you've got started. It's got a lot of motion to it.

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    1. Thanks, Kate. I think this block, while it's still in the process of construction, is versatile, but after the block is sewn together the placement of the blocks is a little more limiting, at least if one wants to keep the pattern going. I agree about the motion: lots!

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  9. It looks beautiful. I can see this block has loads of possibilities and would be a lot of fun to make.

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    1. Thanks, Candace. This block is very much like a Jacob's Ladder block, about which you recently posted, except the Buckeye Beauty is 4 units instead of 9. I love how both can be so different depending on the colors, arrangement within each block, and the final layout of the blocks.

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I appreciate your comments and look forward to reading what you have to say. Thanks for stopping by.

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