Category Archives: Free Patterns

Part Eleven – Three Is The Magic Number

Bloggers, Free Patterns, Helen Howes BOM, Patchwork, Patterns & Makes, Quilting Fun, Techniques & Tutorials

This block (Three Becomes One) was probably the first truly “Improv” block I taught – and it is still a favourite Sorry for the small images – I had these prepared, they vanished, I swore, these will Just Have To Do… Start with three squares of nice cotton quilting fabrics. You really need some contrast…

Improv for Beginners and Improvers – Part Eight – Stones That Float

Bloggers, Free Patterns, Helen Howes BOM, Patchwork, Patterns & Makes, Quilting, Quilting Fun, Techniques & Tutorials, UKQU Facebook
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For this block I decided to work away from the more usual squares, and there are two variations – either make some of each or choose which you prefer. These make super borders for all sorts of quilts… Cut For each block One piece 6-1/2 by 2 inches in background fabric One 2-inch square in…

Improv For Beginners and Improvers, Part 7: Yet More Celestiality and a Mini Quilt to make

Bloggers, Free Patterns, Helen Howes BOM, Patchwork, Patterns & Makes, Quilting, Techniques & Tutorials

Now, the nice little game of adding eccentric corners to squares can be taken a little further, like so   Cut a rectangle (this is a charm square cut in half, so 2-1/2 by 5 inches, but any size that pleases you will be just fine. ) The mini-quilt used 9 charm squares and about…

Improv for Beginners and Improvers, Part Six, Celestial Happenings

Bloggers, Free Patterns, Helen Howes BOM, Patchwork, Patterns & Makes, Quilting, Quilting Fun, Techniques & Tutorials, UKQU Facebook

Last time, we did a regular Wonky Star, if that’s not too improbable.. This time I want to show you the more interesting version. Start with a background square – mine is about 10 inches. If you need a particular finished size, add about 2 inches, so, for an 8-inch finished block, use at least…

Improv for Beginners and Improvers Part the Fifth – Now is the Time For Starry Things

Bloggers, Free Patterns, Helen Howes BOM, Patchwork, Patterns & Makes, Quilting, Quilting Fun, Techniques & Tutorials, UKQU Facebook

Let’s start with the simplest version of my Wonky Stars Cut 9 squares of equal size, in a variety of colours if you wish. I have used Oakshott Fabrics Ruby Reds, plus black and white, here And 3-1/2 inch squares, but that’s up to you, of course. We are going to add starry points to…

Crossing the Eyes and Dotting for Teas…

Bloggers, Free Patterns, Helen Howes BOM, Patchwork, Patterns & Makes, Quilting Fun, Techniques & Tutorials

So, last time, we made simple crosses, and this time, a few extra ideas… This time, I started with a background square, but I made a strip from three pieces, two white and one red. As before, I cut the square about 1-1/2 inches bigger than the desired final block (so, for a 5-inch finshed…

Improv Blocks, Part the Third – Crosses of the Modern Persuasion

Bloggers, Free Patterns, Helen Howes BOM, Patchwork, Patterns & Makes, Quilting Fun, Techniques & Tutorials

Now, I fell in love with these slightly wibbly cross blocks, and one thing led merrily to another, and another, and yet more anothers. Thanks to Heather Hasthorpe, who was instrumental in leading me astray Here’s another another Just compulsive…you have been warned Start with a square of fabric – maybe an inch bigger than…

Improv for Beginners and Improvers – More Tigers

Bloggers, Free Patterns, Helen Howes BOM, Patchwork, Patterns & Makes, Quilting Fun, Techniques & Tutorials

So, having made your Tigers (see this post for details) you will find that there are various variations.. Start by joining the blocks together with all the stripes going the same way – you will note that your eye does not see a straight line where the blocks meet… You can cut this into narrower…

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