Dozen Squares Paper Quilt Blocks Display Suggestions

The "Dozen Squares" quilt blocks have recently become available 

from the SnapDragon Snippets design team 

through the online store at Silhouette America. 

"Dozen" refers to the fact that the collection includes 

one quilt block design for each of the 12 months.

If you have been interested in this set of designs, 

but aren't sure how to include them in your decor, here are some ideas. 

Select one you like best, then you are ready 

for a full year of sharing your paper (or fabric) creations!

The first display version is a wonderful tabletop easel that is made from wood components. It comes from staff designer Whitney at the Wood Connection Crafts in Midvale, Utah. (For more information about this project, click here, then scroll down to "Chic Multipurpose Block".)

Here I have displayed the April block connected to it's month label panel, with ribbon knot tails at top. It is held in place with strong magnet discs attached to its backside that attract to the metal plate on the easel. (NOTE: the cut file for each variation in this post is scaled smaller to fit the particular display treatment shown.)

This picture shows the display piece by itself. The block with finial, candle stick, wood applique and routed oval are joined, painted and distressed, with metal plate glued in place on the front. Another variation replaces the metal plate and magnet discs with a square of cork so the blocks can be pinned in place like a bulletin board.

My next variation is a cute tabletop wire frame from Ackfeld Wire Co. I used sheer ribbon ties threaded through the block's top hole punches to tie the block to the top of the frame. Frame details: item no. 88027, 6x6 fringed single stand in text linen (creamy white). Find this frame at www.ackfeldwire.com.














Or follow this link http://ackfeldwire.com/product_info.php?products_id=1000055 for the specific wire stand used here.

This side shot gives a better idea of how the wire frame 
actually looks and works.

The final display idea for this post is a fabric version. July's square is cut from Silhouette fabric interfacing (fusible web), assembled as a block, then fused to the front fabric panel of the sleeve (or fabric tube with muslin-faced side edges and ribbon on front and back at each end). For this version, I used the "July" tag from the Docket quilt block, but you could get creative to use the "July" from the lower panel of the Dozen block, too. The sleeve is placed over a stuffed muslin "quilted" pillow.

The sleeve is removable, so that when one month is done, the ribbon tie at one end is loosened to allow the sleeve to be removed. Then the new month's sleeve is replaced. Only one pillow needed for all twelve months.

Here is a closeup of the pillow with sleeve.

(If you would like more specific information about how I made my sleeve, dimensions, ribbon length, etc., email a request for "Dozen Squares Sleeve fact sheet" to hearthsewnpatterns@yahoo.com.)



At least one more idea for using this series of "quilt block" designs will be presented in a later post. Hope this gets your imagination and creativity flowing!

Log Cabin Quilt Blocks Puzzle Patterns

This Quilt Blocks Puzzle set is available as a cut file design by SnapDragon Snippets 
from the Silhouette America online store. The set includes the paper tray, 
the paper block (to duplicate for 16 blocks), the surface square shape base 
and the strips (or "logs") for the log cabin block. 
A separate tutorial for constructing the tray and blocks can be found on this blog.

This layout is called "Attic Windows".

Log Cabin is a favorite traditional block that continues to capture the imagination of patchwork enthusiasts because of its variability, inclusion of several "scraps" in one unit, and its historic throw-back to a kinder, gentler time.

Included here are five block patterns that can be made using this simple log cabin unit as shown with center square and two rows of logs, with all 16 blocks identical. Perhaps you can come up with more, especially if you place "plain" squares on the block backsides, or varied colorations.

This layout is called "Four Square" or

"Circle the Wagons".

This layout is called "Straight Furrows" and is one of the traditionally favorite ways to use the log cabin blocks to create visual drama in a quilt design (diagonal real or "implied" lines = energy and motion.

This layout is called "Ojo de Dios" because of the "cross" design that forms when the colored log cabin "halves" come together.

Log Cabin was very economical for prairie quilters and homesteaders to make because it could use up very narrow scraps, including the un-worn parts of thoroughly worn-out clothing.

This layout is called "Country Corners" or "Town Square".

If you enjoy the pattern play of the Log Cabin blocks,

you may also enjoy the Half Square Triangles, Flying Geese,

 and the Crooked Mile (Drunkard's Path)

patterns that are also available as Quilt Block Puzzle sets.

Flying Geese Quilt Puzzle Blocks Patterns

This "Flying Geese" Quilt Blocks Puzzle is available as a cut file design
from SnapDragon Snippets through the Silhouette America online store.
The file includes the paper tray pieces, the paper block piece 
(to copy and prepare 16 blocks),
the block face square and the "flying geese" triangles.
Tutorials for constructing the tray and the block base 
can be found elsewhere on this blg.

This group of patchwork designs uses this "double triangle" to represent the flying goose. Motion, direction and energy are created by the angles of the triangles, making this a traditional and long-time favorite. The puzzle blocks are square and must therefore include a pair of geese triangles, so some of the variability is lost. But you will still have fun arranging the blocks to create varied patterns.

This layout is called "pinwheels" because four of the triangle tips come together at the center of each of the four "blocks" in a way reminiscent of a child's wind toy.

This pattern is called "star" or "nova star". Look closely to see how this one is different from the block layout above, with a square "hole" in the center of the block in place of the pinwheel tips coming together.

This pattern is called "china star". If the triangles could be manipulated and positioned one by one, the star would be more visible. See if you can see it. The places where the two triangles come together to form a square are the centers of the star that has six points.

This layout is called "flying geese" or sometimes "north and south". Again, if it were possible, it would be fun to make each "column" of geese in one color way.

This variation replaces four geese block faces with plain background squares. Putting the plain squares on the underside of the blocks will provide some additional variability.

Perhaps you can come up with additional layouts 

using the flying geese blocks. Or combine blocks from 

each of the four block patterns available to make 

wild and crazy new blocks and patterns. 

The other styles to look for include: 

half square triangles, log cabin, and crooked mile (drunkard's path). 

June On the Docket Kit Swatch Key

This is the fabric swatch key to help identify the fabrics

included in the Spring 2013 Quilts, Etc. (Sandy, Utah)

June On the Docket project kits

available for purchase.

Kit fabrics are used to create the mini quilt shown (right) that celebrates dad activities. 

If you are interested in purchasing the "On the Docket: Summer" HSN 189 pattern by mail order from Hearthsewn, click here. 

(Please scroll through the pages to the 'O' section of the patterns listing.) Titles in the series include "On the Docket: Spring", "On the Docket: Autumn" and "On the Docket: Winter".

If you are interested in contacting Quilts, Etc., quilt shop in Sandy, Utah, to inquire about kit availability (and pattern as well), click here.

This kit and kits for previous On the Docket mini banner projects may be available for purchase while supplies last.