Quilts Sewn from a Single Quilt Block
Quilts Sewn from a Single Quilt Block
One-block quilts make nice wallhangings, but they can be used in other ways, too. Throw a quilt over the back of a sofa. Center the small quilt on a table or a bed. Put a light-blocking material behind the quilt and hang it in a window. Make a throw pillow cover. You'll discover all sorts of ways to use small quilts.
You don't actually need a quilt pattern to make this collection of easy quilts. Begin by choosing a theme, and then create a block of any size.
Surround smaller blocks with multiple borders to increase quilt size if you like, or make a larger quilt with one of the big blocks in my quilt block patterns library.
The two quilts illustrated on this page are both examples of medallion quilts. Each is designed with a block that's arranged on point and surrounded by setting triangles.
The quilt on the left has two plain borders, a narrow accent border and a wider border to finish it off. The quilt on the right has has somewhat different borders.
Try This: The four corner triangles are cut from two large squares. Instead of cutting triangles that are "just right," make your square (and resulting triangles) larger.
The block will appear to "float" within the first border. If your block has a single background fabric, like the basket block on this page, cutting triangles from the same fabric will enhance the float.
Determine a unit size that divides into the dimensions of the finished sides of your quilt block or top. It needn't be a whole number, but the length should be rotary cuttable.
For instance:
Squares that work along the first two sides of a square quilt will work on the remaining two, since the quilt is symmetrical and the units measure the same on both sides.
If you make a border from rectangles, be sure the dimensions work on all sides. For instance:
Adapt any quilt to suit the patchwork border you want to create by adding one or more plain borders to change the quilt's dimensions.
Your medallion can be set horizontally instead of on point. This quilt features the traditional Double Star quilt block. The outer border has squares in each corner (cornerstones).
If you want to miter border corners, cut four borders (for a square quilt) that are exactly alike -- match prints and stack them for cutting).
When sewn, the mirror image motifs create kaleidoscope-like designs, like the corners of the inner border in my Medallion Star quilt.
If you don't want to miter, add cornerstones to the quilt to keep the design in printed borders from becoming unruly where straight edges butt into each other.
One-block quilts make nice wallhangings, but they can be used in other ways, too. Throw a quilt over the back of a sofa. Center the small quilt on a table or a bed. Put a light-blocking material behind the quilt and hang it in a window. Make a throw pillow cover. You'll discover all sorts of ways to use small quilts.
You don't actually need a quilt pattern to make this collection of easy quilts. Begin by choosing a theme, and then create a block of any size.
Surround smaller blocks with multiple borders to increase quilt size if you like, or make a larger quilt with one of the big blocks in my quilt block patterns library.
The two quilts illustrated on this page are both examples of medallion quilts. Each is designed with a block that's arranged on point and surrounded by setting triangles.
The quilt on the left has two plain borders, a narrow accent border and a wider border to finish it off. The quilt on the right has has somewhat different borders.
To Make this Quilt:
- Choose and assemble a quilt block.
- Refer to my Setting Triangle Instructions to cut the four triangles that surround the quilt block -- use the instructions for corner triangles.
- Refer to straight border instructions to add borders to the quilt as desired, or sew a border with cornerstones (see page 2 for pieced border tips).
Try This: The four corner triangles are cut from two large squares. Instead of cutting triangles that are "just right," make your square (and resulting triangles) larger.
The block will appear to "float" within the first border. If your block has a single background fabric, like the basket block on this page, cutting triangles from the same fabric will enhance the float.
Add a Patchwork Border to a Quilt
When you're dealing with one quilt block you can typically use the "textbook" finished size to calculate border component dimensions (the size the pattern lists as its finished size, or the unfinished size minus 1/2" along each edge).Determine a unit size that divides into the dimensions of the finished sides of your quilt block or top. It needn't be a whole number, but the length should be rotary cuttable.
For instance:
- (6) 4" (finished) squares will fit evenly along the sides of a 24" (finished) quilt.
Squares that work along the first two sides of a square quilt will work on the remaining two, since the quilt is symmetrical and the units measure the same on both sides.
If you make a border from rectangles, be sure the dimensions work on all sides. For instance:
- Sew (6) joined 4" x 2" rectangles (finished size) along their short sides to make top and bottom borders of the same 24" quilt. The quilt top now finishes at 28" tall (24" + 2" + 2"). A border made up of (7) 4" x 2" rectangles (finished size) will fit along the 28" top and bottom (24" + 4").
On Point Quilts
Blocks placed on point are usually a bit of a wonky size -- not always rotary cuttable dimensions, and making patchwork borders a little more difficult. Measure for borders as you would any quilt and make a patchwork border that's a close to the correct size as possible (it won't be off by much). Ease the border to fit the quilt.Adapt any quilt to suit the patchwork border you want to create by adding one or more plain borders to change the quilt's dimensions.
Reminder
Used finished sizes to calculate unit dimensions for patchwork borders.Your medallion can be set horizontally instead of on point. This quilt features the traditional Double Star quilt block. The outer border has squares in each corner (cornerstones).
Border Stripes
Sew one border with a border stripe if you'd like to add interest without creating patchwork. Many border prints have motifs that are mirror images. Draw an imaginary line vertically across the stripe. If the design is the same on both sides of the line, it's likely a mirror image in all areas.If you want to miter border corners, cut four borders (for a square quilt) that are exactly alike -- match prints and stack them for cutting).
When sewn, the mirror image motifs create kaleidoscope-like designs, like the corners of the inner border in my Medallion Star quilt.
If you don't want to miter, add cornerstones to the quilt to keep the design in printed borders from becoming unruly where straight edges butt into each other.
