Decisions, klosjes part II

I've had these fabrics for awhile with the idea that they would play together really well  in a quilt one day  To me, they look a bit "oldy worldy English" They seem to be mostly muted tones and this collection is what I've decided on to make the klosjes, little spools blocks.

Sometimes choosing fabrics and colours is a hard decision to make, I could just as easily have gone reproduction, reds and creams, scrappy anything goes or with some other theme or colour scheme.

I like to make quilts that you wouldn't necessarily be able to put my name to. I like variety and flexibility and a bit of a change now and again, but in the end, colours and fabrics have to be decided upon. That's not to say that minds can't be changed down the track.

I've had some queries about finding a tutorial or print out of templates so here it is in my finished size. Just remember to add seam allowances. It is based on a nine patch and I think the drawing is self explanatory. If you wanted, you could elongate  the size of the center square to make it look more like a spool. You don't even need graph paper to draw this, you just need to start with an accurate square.

I should add here that a lot of these little blocks are being made by others to finish at 2 1/2"

Usually there isn't just one given name for a patchwork block, there can be many and some would call the spools a bow tie or visa versa. That's not wrong but here's a drawing of what I understood a bow tie block to be. It's drawn in a four patch grid rather than a nine patch. I guess both could be called spools or bow ties.

The other question I got asked is how to arrange the block for easy machine piecing without set in or Y seams so I drew that out too and made a practice block. You would of course add seam allowances to the drawing as before.

Adding the half inch all around for seams, these are the measurements for a 3" block if you were to rotary cut it. Easy peasy!

Sewing the corners. I do trim off the excess behind the patch.

I really don't know if this is quicker than hand piecing, there are more patches to cut but hey, we like choices.

Roll on Saturday, klosjes day.