Direction of blocks in quilts

[Jo H.]

I'm curious as to why blocks in most quilts always face toward the inside of the quilt. Is there a rule that makes this more preferable? Is it more pleasing to your eyes? For example, look at the beautiful TQS 2011 BOM.



See how all of the corner blocks face in toward the center of the quilt. I like how this looks. Now look at the bottom corner blocks. They also face toward the center of the quilt. I'm wondering if it is also acceptable to have those bottom blocks face out so that if the quilt is on a bed, you are seeing the pattern straight on instead of bending your head and looking upside down. Does this make any sense? :roll:

I know I can put the block any way I want but was just wondering since so many designers purposely design their blocks like this. I figure I've missed some discussion on this somewhere and was wondering if anyone else knew.

Okay, back to stitching more hats.

[Paula D.]

Designer's choice, and ultimately creators choice. The only thing I can relate it to is in a photo, where you don't want the person staring out into space.

[Margo C.]

It's just my opinion, but I'm thinkin' that designers turn them that way because it looks nice in a photo of the entire quilt hanging with everything radiating out from the center.
I absolutely agree that turning some blocks around would be more pleasing when viewed on a bed.

It's your quilt, so do it "however such way as you like, sugarbabe"!! (Mother's favorite saying!) :wink:

[Jo H.]

Thanks for the thoughts. My brain can't leave good enough alone. The more I looked at the quilt, the more I wanna turn that block! <giggling at myself> I bet a judge would take away points since no one seems to ever do that.

[Hannelore N.]

JoJo, in my opinion there are two types of quilts: The ones you make for exhibitions, and the ones you make for use, comfort and fun.

I made a very nice and very large bedquilt and only realized after It was pieced and quilted that the design wasn't really balanced. I always let visitors pick from a pile of quilts when they stay overnight, and guess which one is most popular for sleeping under.........

[Jo H.]

Thanks Lorchen. I've never made anything that I felt was good enough to enter into a show, but I always 'dream' of someday being able to perfect 'the one!' LOL All of my quilts are comfy quilts and we love them.

I'll wait until I get all of the pieces made and then stare at them up on the wall until it speaks to me.

[Hannelore N.]

JoJo, there is no magic to entering a show. I started with only entering a few shows where there was no jury. It's great fun to see your own baby hanging amongst quilts that are made by full-time quilt artists. Because of the 'Journal Quilt Project' I even had a quilt hanging in Houston! And then somehow something I made slipped into a juried show here in Europe. This is my hobby, and I'm not very competitive. I just want to have fun. As long as you go for it in a relaxed manner you'll be surprised what'll happen. Have a go some time!

[Hannelore N.]

I am like you, Jo Jo - I keep hoping one of the quilts I make will be the "the perfect one!" LOL!! I need to get more of that fabric off the shelf in my stash closet and into a quilt before that will happen!

I hand appliqued a Sunbonnet Sue quilt for my DD's graduation and the pattern (Eleanor Burns) calls for the side blocks to be placed so Sue is right side up as you look at it on the bed. The back corner ones are appliqued "on point" so that Sue basically "walks" around the bed as you look at it. The ones on the top of the bed are top to bottom, as usual. I thought that was pretty neat so now I look at quilts, too, and sometimes think, "Would I turn that block so it is right side up when I walk up to the bed?"

Kathy

[Hannelore N.]

We had a NQA certifiedl quilt show judge speak at our state guild (Land of Lincoln Quilting Association) yesterday. She talked some about design and balance in a pattern, especially a sampler quilt. She also encouraged all of us to enter our local shows, especially the county fairs and state fairs. If we don't start supporting these venues, then they will stop offering the textile competitions.

Maggie in E. Central Illinois

[Dawn S.]

This is a good question, Jo Jo! I think if I was hanging this on a wall, I would make it just as designed. If I was to put something like this on a bed, and the basket border were to hang down the sides, I would definitely turn the baskets and corner blocks 180 degrees, so that I would not have an upside down border on the sides and foot of my bed! I HAVE seen quilts similar to this where the person will turn just the bottom row right side up, and it is still a very pleasing-to-the-eye quilt. I do not believe a judge would ding you for that. I would call it creativity, or diversity. Personally, I like to change things up a bit!

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

[Dawn S.]

Look at the picture ladies--the baskets all face out; which, if the sides hang down, makes the only ones right side up are the ones at the top.

[Hannelore N.]

Ritzy, great new profile picture!!

Your comment, Ritzy, reminds us all of thinking about what and why we make a certain quilt. Placement of blocks and motifs may be different for a quilt that's used on a bed than those which will be hanging on walls.

Maggie, I totally agree. Entering the local shows is vey important in all countries. And you never know, you may even win something. I have only been in the US once, in 2002. A US friend insisted that I bring a piece of needlework with me. It was really exciting to see my Elizabethan Blackwork hang at Craft Adventure, the Massachusetts state fair. I even got a 2nd place ribbon (my only one to date) and a handful of embroidery floss. So, if I can do it, anybody can!!

[Marion D.]

Our local show is not judged or juried, but people do vote for their favorite. I was flabbergasted when my 2009 BOM won 2nd! I didn't think it was good enough. But it was hung at the end of the row, so it was easier to find. Plus there were so many categories that I wasn't completing with everybody! I just make sure that I enter something that it not "normal."

[Margo C.]

Way to go, Marion!!!

Here is a link to Marion's quilt: see-quilts/show-and-tell-quilts/

[Margo C.]

The geometric similarity in this quilt is one that I think is superb for any geometry lesson. When people study properties of congruence and similarity, they often miss the significance. This is one of the best quilts I have seen for displaying geometric similarity.