floral quilt blocks Archives - Ludlow Quilt and Sew

Large daisy quilt block

The Large Daisy quilt block probably has several names, but I couldn’t find any so I have named it myself. It really does look like a bright and cheerful daisy to me. It is classified as an eight patch block, which is not as common as four or nine patch blocks. I have made it here as a 24″ square so I won’t have too much to add to it to make a small Linus quilt.

Cutting requirements for the large daisy quilt block

3.1/2″ squares: twenty red, sixteen white

9.1/2″ by 3.1/2″ rectangles: four white

3.7/8″ squares: eight red, eight white

Make half square triangles

Make the half square triangle units

Use all the 3.7/8″ squares to make half square triangle units. Place a red and a white square with right sides together and mark a line along the diagonal.

Sew a 1/4″ seam either side of the marked line and cut along the line. This will produce two half square triangle units which are now 3.1/2″ squares. Trim the two corners where fabric sticks out.

Make the large daisy quilt block

Layout for each quarter

I found it most simple to make this block in quarters and then just sew the quarters together. Lay the squares out in four rows of four squares.

The first row contains a red, white then red square with a half square triangle at the end.

Row two is made with white, red, white squares followed by a half square triangle.

For the third row you need only one red square and one white rectangle.

Finally the fourth row is made with two half square triangles followed by a white and a red square.

Completed quarter block

Note that the two red triangles at the top form a larger red triangle pointing to the left while the two red triangles at the bottom form a larger red triangle pointing upwards.

Sew the squares together across each row and then sew the rows to each other to complete the quarter block. This measures 12.1/2″ square at this stage and you need to make four of them.

Large daisy quilt block layout

Assemble the large daisy quilt block

Rotate the quarter blocks so that there is a red square in each corner and those three red squares form a diagonal across each corner. Check that the pairs of red triangles now combine to form diamonds and that there are four red squares in the middle.

Sew the quarters together in two pairs and then sew the pairs to each other.

Basic large daisy quilt

Large daisy quilt design ideas

For the basic quilt suggestion I have shown nine blocks sewn together in three rows of three. I have added a green border and this makes a bright and cheerful quilt.

Alternate design

However I felt that it might look better if the blocks were separated a little so that they showed the block design more. I added green sashing (leaves?) and I like this quilt design better.

Here’s the video:

Thanks for visiting my blog.

I hope to see you again soon.

Rose

Texas cactus quilt

Texas Cactus quilt pattern is actually more difficult to say quickly than I expected when I made the video for this week’s project. However the quilt itself is very easy to make. It’s based on the simple Texas cactus quilt block, which is very similar to some of the basket quilt blocks. I’ve used two batik fabrics together with a lovely deep green fabric from Fabric Freedom’s Tudor range. The quilt measures 48″ square and I have used sixteen 11″ finished size quilt blocks.

I’ve used 1.1/4 yards each of white and green fabrics with 1/2 yard each of blue and pink. As ususal you can buy these fabrics at a 10% discount in this week’s special offer.

Completed Texas cactus quilt block

Cutting for the Texas Cactus quilt

3.1/2″ squares: sixteen white, sixteen blue, sixteen green

3.7/8″ squares: sixteen each in blue and white, sixteen each in pink and white, sixteen each in pink and green

2.7/8″ squares: sixteen each in green and white

2.1/2″ squares: sixteen white

2.1/2″ by 7.1/2″ rectangles: thirty two white

Make half square triangle units

Making the Texax cactus quilt block

Use both the 3.7/8″ and the 2.7/8″ squares to make half square triangle units in the colour combinations listed above.

Place two squares with right sides together and mark a line along the diagonal. Sew a 1/4″ seam either side of the marked line and cut along the line. This will produce two half square triangle units. These are either 3.1/2″ or 2.1/2″ squares. Press the seam allowances towards the darker fabric and trim the two corners where fabric sticks out.

Texas cactus quilt block layout

Lay the squares out as shown. The best way to think of the Texas cactus quilt block is as a nine patch unit with a bit extra added on two sides. So in the main part of the block you have three rows of three: the first row has a white square, a blue/white half square triangle and a pink/white half square triangle, the second row has a blue/white half square triangle, a blue square and a pink/green half square triangle. The third row is made with a pink/white half square triangle, a pink/green half square triangle and a green square.

Down the right hand side of the block there’s a white rectangle and a green/white half square triangle. Across the bottom there’s a white rectangle, a green/white half square triangle and a white square.

Sew the 9 patch section first

Sew the squares together across each row of the nine patch unit and then sew the rows to each other.

Sew the white and green strip to the right hand side of the nine patch unit and then you’ll be able to sew the white/green strip to the bottom of the block.

You’ll need to make sixteen of these blocks.

Assembling the Texas cactus quilt

Add the quilt border

Sew the blocks together in four rows of four.

I have placed the blocks so that in rows one and three the cactus points to the top left while in rows two and four the cactus points to the top right. I feel that this gives a sort of chevron effect to the quilt which I like.

Finally add the Texas cactus quilt border. I have used 2.1/2″ strips of green fabric for this. You’ll need two lengths of 44.1/2″ for the top and bottom of the quilt and two lengths of 48.1/2″ for the sides.

That completes the Texas cactus quilt border. It is now ready for layering, quilting and binding. You can find full details of these steps in the beginner quilting section.

Here’s the video:

Edgbaston reservoir

Before I moved to Birmingham, if anyone had said ‘Edgbaston’ to me, I would immediately have thought of the cricket ground. However Edgbaston also has a reservoir which is an absolute delight. It’s really close to the city centre but is an oasis of calm. There’s an all-weather walk in the trees around the reservoir or you can walk along the edge where it is sandy and feels just like a beach. I can see that I’ll be returning there many times for walks.

Large Daisy Quilt Block Pattern