Cloud9 New Block Blog Hop: Geometric Transparency

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Welcome to my blog, especially to any first time visitors finding me through the blog hop. I'm joined by almost 70 quilters over the next three days for the 2016 Cloud9 New Block Blog Hop, hosted by Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl, Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs and Stephanie @Late Night Quilter. Each participant has designed and created a 12" finished block that will be donated to the hosts to make into charity quilts. And we've each created a free tutorial of our block for you.  Our hosts curated this Berry Harvest bundle of Cirrus Solids from Cloud 9: Amazon, Sky, Iris, Lilac, and Shadow. Cloud9 generously donated fat quarters of each fabric to each participant.

I love this palette. Purple is my absolute favorite color and, in general, I'm a fan of the cool side of the spectrum. Early in the design process I began toying with a design involving transparency since I liked the idea of two layers of the lighter color "overlapping to create" the darker color. Initially I was working only with rectangles. It was late in the game that I decided to make one shape a triangle, forming a trapezoidal overlap. This also allowed me to create a design with rotational symmetry within the block. Here is my final design, Geometric Transparency.

 

CUTTING

Dark Fabrics (Amazon & Iris), cut from each:
A. (1) 2.5-inch by 3.5-inch rectangle.

Light Fabrics (Sky & Lilac), cut from each:
B. (1) 1.5-inch by 8.5-inch rectangle
C. (1) 2.5-inch by 5.5-inch rectangle
D. (1) 3.75-inch square
E. (2) 2.5-inch squares

Background Fabric (Shadow), cut:
F. (2) 1.5-inch by 12.5-inch rectangles
G. (2) 1.5-inch by 10.5-inch rectangles
H. (1) 4.5-inch square
I. (2) 1.5-inch by 3.5-inch rectangles
J. (2) 1.5-inch by 2.5-inch rectangles
K. (2) 3.75-inch squares

 

Piecing Directions

Sew all seams with an accurate 1/4" seam allowance. My seams are pressed open, using a shortened stitch length of 2.0. I find pressing seams open helps me match up points and makes free motion quilting easier.

Step 1: Use 2.5-inch by 3.5-inch dark fabric and coordinating light 2.5-inch square. Mark diagonal on each square as shown in first photo below. Sew on marked line and trim off excess fabric 1/4" from stitching (second photo below). Press open (no photo) and set aside.

 

Step 2: Pair each 3.75-inch light squares with a 3.75-inch background square. Mark and sew on the diagonal. Trim 1/4-inch from stitching line and press open. Trim to 3.5-inch square.

 

Step 3: Attach HSTs from step 2 to 1.5-inch by 3.5-inch rectangles of background fabric as shown below.

 

Step 4: Piece sections to form each row. Rows should finish at 10.5-inches wide.
Row 1: G (no piecing)
Row 2: B + H
Row 3: C + unit from step 1 + E
Row 4: unit from step 3 + H + unit from step 3
Row 5: E + unit from step 1 + C
Row 6: H + B
Row 7: G (no piecing)

 

Step 5: Attach rows in order shown. Pay particular attention to matching up points. These photos show how I matched up my points when connecting rows 4 and 5.

Use straight pin to go through the fabric 1/4-inch from the edge, directly through the seams for each triangle. Pin should be perpendicular to fabrics.

Push layers of fabric together so they are flush, then pin fabrics together on either side of the vertical pin. Remove vertical pin and sew.

Once all rows are connected, your block should look like this.

 

Step 6: Attach 1.5-inch by 12.5-inch background rectangles to each side to finish the block. Unfinished block should measure 12.5-inches square.

 

Finishing
Each of the following options is made with 20 identical blocks, creating a quilt with a finished size of approximately 48" by 60".

Option 1: Straight set.

Option 2: Alternate Set.

Option 3: Tossed Set.

Option 4: Starburst Set.

Option 5: Rotational Set.

 

Please check out today's other blocks:

Host: Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl (PLUS GIVEAWAY)
Abigail @Cut & Alter
Janice @Color, Creating, and Quilting!
Lorinda @Laurel, Poppy, and Pine
Melva @Melva Loves Scraps
Renee @Quilts of a Feather
Kathryn @Upitis Quilts
Kim @Leland Ave Studios
Amanda @this mom quilts
Holly @Lighthouse Lane Designs
Irene @Patchwork and Pastry
Jennifer @Dizzy Quilter
Karen @Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Anne @Said With Love
Suzy @Adventurous Applique and Quilting
Sharla @Thistle Thicket Studio
Kathleen @Smiles From Kate
Amanda @Gypsy Moon Quilt Co.
Chelsea @Patch the Giraffe
Jinger @Trials of a Newbie Quilter
Anja @Anja Quilts
Daisy @Ants to Sugar

Visit Meadow Mist Designs on the 13th and Late Night Quilter on the 14th for links to the remaining participants. Thank you for visiting!

I'm linking up to Main Crush Monday.

Related posts:

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80 thoughts on “Cloud9 New Block Blog Hop: Geometric Transparency”

    1. sarah

       Post author

      Thank you, Velda! I had to stop myself at five layout options. I could have kept playing with the blocks. Seeing others' quilts, I wish I had thought to put in some solid squares in place of some of the blocks. I may have to play more with quilt design possibilities. I also think a companion block might be fun.

      Reply ↓

  8. Sarah, what an awesome block. I love the different names you came up with for your sets. I'm most drawn to the Tossed Set. I really like how the sashing is part of the design. Take care, Mary.

    Reply ↓

    1. sarah

       Post author

      It was subconscious, but I don't love the step of adding sashing... just when you feel like you're done with the blocks and making great progress, sashing takes so long to piece. Thank you for visiting, Mary!

      Reply ↓

  11. Sherry VF

    I love the modern feel of your block and, better still, the quilt top. Thanks for the tip on matching seams...yours are perfect.

    Reply ↓

    1. sarah

       Post author

      Thank you, Sherry. Sometimes being a bit of a perfectionist leads to great results. Sometimes it just slows me down. ;-)

      Reply ↓

    1. sarah

       Post author

      I might. There's a lot on my plate in the short term, so if I do it won't be for a while. Thank you so much, Jayne!

      Reply ↓

    1. sarah

       Post author

      The Tossed layout is one of my top two favorites. If I make a complete quilt top I'm gonna have to think hard on which one to make. Thanks for visiting, Kim.

      Reply ↓

    1. sarah

       Post author

      Thanks, Yvonne. I thought you'd like it. ;-) Thank you for all the work to organize the hop. It's so fun to see what everyone comes up with.

      Reply ↓

    1. sarah

       Post author

      Be sure to share with me if you do make it! I'm glad I can help inspire you! I don't work with solids only very often, so I hadn't worked with transparency before now. Thanks for visiting, Abigail!

      Reply ↓

    1. sarah

       Post author

      It is kind of a lot of pieces for a 12" block. I did ask my self as I made my one block, how excited am I about making 20 or 35 of them? All I know for sure is that I don't have time for that at the moment. ;-) Thanks for your comment, Bo.

      Reply ↓

    1. sarah

       Post author

      So many options! I certainly like it with a grey background better than I would with a solid white, though I generally don't prefer a solid white background. I would enjoy playing with the other colors within the block. Thanks for visiting, Melva!

      Reply ↓

    1. sarah

       Post author

      I like that as well. The more I played with block layout, the more I liked the block. ;-) Thanks for visiting, Stephanie!

      Reply ↓

    1. sarah

       Post author

      Thank you, Amanda! There have been so many excellent quilts featuring transparency in the last year or so. It was fun to try it out.

      Reply ↓

    1. sarah

       Post author

      Thank you, Joanne. I've been intrigued by transparency in quilts for a while. I could totally get more into this. :-)

      Reply ↓

    1. sarah

       Post author

      I'm so glad that you like it and I hope you'll share pictures if you decide to make it. Thanks for visiting, Lisa.

      Reply ↓

    1. sarah

       Post author

      Thank you so much, Carrie. How fun that it reminded you or something you enjoy. My favorite part is the variety of quilt designs from the one block. Thanks for visiting!

      Reply ↓

    1. sarah

       Post author

      Thank you, Janice. I had to stop myself from continuing to play with block layout and start writing the blog post. ;-)

      Reply ↓

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