A short lesson in layouts

Here are three quilts side by side:

#48 in my 2" strips series "Blades of Color"

#49 in my 2" strips series "Test Pattern #49"

#50 in my 2" strips series "Arapaho Roads"

I wanted to show you that these are all based on the same main block:  

This is the main block used in "Blades of Color". I kept the  second half of the HST to very light/cream and made the corner of the 9 patch light/cream as well.

This is the main block used in "Test Pattern #49". I left the second half of the HST as white and made the corners of the 9 patch a tad bit darker. I also put light gray in two of the 9 patches in the center.

This is the main block used in "Arapaho Roads". I used a low volume bluish print in the HST for the section where I used light/cream in "Blades of Color" and tan in the 9 patches on the upper left and lower right corners.

It is amazing how different designs can look depending on colors/shades and direction of layout.

The first quilt shown here is not on point - the other two are--they almost appear the other way around as you look at them. 

This is a screen shot view of the Electric Quilt program - and this block - is a "Road to California variation" according to this program. This is the block that these three quilts are based on. 

When designing these quilts, I took this block and put it into the layout and then added varying sashings. I also put two of the quilts on point for a very different look.

I played around with sashings quite a bit - and the coloring of the sashings drastically affected the look of the final quilt - esp. in Arapaho Roads. The sashing on that was fun to create and when I plugged it into the program and put them in position, I kind of got this excited feeling as I really liked the look!

I originally designed it,  the sashing block for Arapaho Roads that is, with gray where the tan is, but I knew I didn't have enough gray of that shade in my own stash to make that quilt - but I really like it with gray as well! 

The main sashing unit used in #48 "Blades of Color"

The main sashing unit used in #49 "Test Pattern #49"

The main sashing unit used in #50 "Arapaho Roads"

The cornerstones were also pretty similar.

Cornerstone block for #48 Blades of Color

Cornerstone block for #49 Test Pattern #49

Cornerstone block for #50 Arapaho Roads  (plus there is a different cornerstone used in half of the blocks)

So why am I showing you this?  For two reasons:

1. So you will quit thinking I am so wonderful - really - while it is flattering, it isn't true.

These are just units that, when put together, make a simple design. Changing a few things like color can change the entire look. It's not "rocket science" as the saying goes. I'm just like many of you - reasonably intelligent, but nowhere near as 'brilliant' as some of you seem to want to make me.

2. I'd like you to learn, too.  

You, too, can learn to "see" the elements in a pattern and change them around to your own liking. If you don't like that wild color there, or the busyness of a quilt, you can change the colors and make it look like you want.  If the pattern isn't busy enough - just change some of the colors and add some more interest until it is to your liking.

I pushed to quilt these 3 quilts just so I could show you these things!

That's all for now, folks!

Make sure you check out the goodies my sister has for you. She's working hard on the fabrics section every day these days to add goodies to the site.