Drafting a Quilt Block
Drafting a Quilt block is a way to make a quilt block any size you want or to create a new block. Traditional Quilt Blocks generally fall into Grid Categories. The basics are 4 patch, 9 patch and 5 patch grids and extend from these foundations. Jinny Beyer published The Quilter's Album of Blocks and Borders, based on these grids. When you see a pattern and want to make it a specific size you can draft your own block. Start to Draft your own block by determining the grid the block is based on, then each unit in the block. Once those are determined you can choose the block size and calculate the individual pieces.
Benefits of Drafting a Quilt Block
- Drafting a Quilt Block allows you to design your own block
- Drafting a Quilt block will let you control block size
- The completed drawing will identify all the components needed to make the block and the cutting instructions
Tools and Supplies
- Graph Paper
- Pencil and Eraser
- Ruler
- Calculator
What I Wish I Knew When I Started
Drafting your own quilt block gives you control of the size of the blocks and finished size of the quilt. It's also a way to change the size of a quilt by making the blocks bigger or smaller. It's not hard, but there are plenty of books with blocks of varying sizes to buy if you don't want to do it yourself!
