Studio 180 Design | If These Threads Could Talk

During the Studio 180 Design Teacher certification we participated in a skill building exercise, “Quilt Block Detective”. Various quilt blocks were displayed and we had to identify the units that made up the blocks. It was great fun and very educational. There are many fundamental units that are used to make a variety of quilt blocks. In the book “Pattern Play” by Doreen Speckmann, she introduces us to those basic units.

I wanted to practice, so I thumbed through the book. It contains fabulous quilts. I chose to investigate “Cross Street Pasture” below.

Doreen uses templates. Studio 180 Design tools can make the same units without templates. I identified Square/Squared, V Block, High/Low Left, High/Low Right, and the Corner Beam.

I decided to make 2″ finished units making it a 10″ finished block. This block could be made bigger by making the units bigger.

I really liked this block.

When I was getting ready for the Studio 180 Design Teacher Certification retreat we had to have a sample made from every tool. I had not used the Hunter Star tool yet, so I chose to make the companion pattern “Star Cross love” designed by Deb Tucker for Marie Bostwick. It only required 25 fat quarters for the blocks and made a 74″ by 92″ quilt. I had a fat quarter bundle of reproduction fabrics I used for mine. I named it “Adirondack Nights”.

We were also asked to bring to class 16 light hunter square triangles and 16 dark hunter square triangles.

By not sewing the triangles together before we go to the design wall we were able to have some pattern play! If you go the Studio 180 Design website (there is a link on my home page). Un der the Gallery tab there is a link to “Basic Recipe Razzle Dazzle”. There you will find many options for 2, 3 and 4 color pattern play. This is so much fun!

The possibilities are almost limitless.