Quilting By Design

SUDOKU QUILTS

     Sudoku puzzles have been around for quite a few years; the modern version invented by Howard Garns in 1979 and published as “Number Place” in Dell Magazines. These logic puzzles became very popular in Japan in 1986, then became an international craze in 2005.
     So, what are these unique and addictive puzzles? They are logic-based puzzles that center around the placement of the numbers 1 to 9. These numbers are laid out in a 9×9 grid, made up of three 3×3 grids, with no number repeating itself in any 3×3 grid, or on any one line, or in any one column. To put this into “quilting” language, the grid is set up like a nine-patch block! In each “block” are the numbers 1 to 9, too (visualize this as nine different fabrics or colors). So, in order to solve this puzzle (which the person providing the puzzle always gives a partial piece of the puzzle to get one started), close attention needs to be paid to each 3×3 grid, and each row (9 squares wide) and each column (also 9 squares). Just as the numbers cannot be repeated in the 3×3 grid, row, or column, nor can the fabrics/colors be repeated in the 3×3 grid, row, column. Clear as mud? Let me illustrate this with a bright, cheery Sudoku quilt made by Nina from Iowa, which she donated to the “Comforting Virginia” Project this week via the Quilting Passion Forum. Nina used a finished puzzle as the pattern to where to place the colors in this gorgeous quilt.

     The first thing to notice about this type of quilt is that it is easily recognizable as a large nine-patch. Each 3×3 block is separated in this quilt by a thin black sashing (1″ strips), distinguishing the quilt even more. Black is a long-time standard that has been used in puzzles, first beginning with crosswords, however, any color sashing can be used… or no sashing at all. In this quilt, however, the sashing really highlights the color and fabric selections that Nina has used.
     The second thing you might notice is that each 3×3 block consists of nine different colors and/or fabrics. After studying one of the 3×3 grids, then notice that the other eight blocks are entirely different, each from the other, so that all nine blocks in the quilt are unique in color placement. This not only holds true for each block, it also then follows to hold true for each row and each column. Nina did not really pay attention when assigning her fabrics/colors to each number. She states, “I just went for it, not caring about it until it was done”.
     How does one go about planning a Sudoku Quilt? There are several ways to accomplish this, including, but not limited to:

Having made the individual blocks, it was time to think of sashing and backing as well as the quilting itself.
I had a rich cranberry fabric that seemed strong enough to stand up to the black fabric as well as act as border and sashing fabric on the quilt face.
I made the simplest and fastest sashing I knew. Each block is surrounded by the cranberry fabric and the entire top by a wider border of that fabric. (more…)

So I had fabric, a rough indication of the size of the individual blocks and a plan.
The first issue was wheather the fans would be monochomatic or alternate colors. I settled on monochromatic , with half the fans having 3 dark and 2 light blandes and the other half 2 dark and 3 light. This would prevent the quilt from being too static in color and form but no be chaotic as mixed green and rose fans would be. (more…)

This started out as a simple quilt.Don’t they all? Since this was for my mother, I wanted to make a more traditional , sturdy, dare I say utility quilt that could withstand reapeated washings and dogs.
I found a beige and a black grounded version of the same focus fabric on sale.It features country style angelic cats wearing old rose and green dresses. At first I thougth I’d make something with lots of fussy cut little squares that included the cats. The trouble was, the individual elements are so crowded and so large that I would have too many decapitated cats in each square!
Hexes did not work either.
In addition, since this sale fabric was several years old, I had trouble finding calicos that had the same hue, value and shade. Everything I could find was too saturated and or too grayed.
My first impulse, to use the black fabric as the focus fabric had to be ditched.
Lesson One Never be afraid to ditch an idea
Lesson Two When falling in love with a fabric, purchase some related fabrics within the same year. Colors do shift hue, intensity and value as styles change

color shift, grandmother’s fan, quilting colors, quilts, patchwork

My mother is in her early eighties and does not surf the net, so I’m safe discussing her Christmas gift.
Pictured here, this is a double sided 60 inch square quilt meant to be used as a couch covering rather than a bed covering. She watches TV at night and needs something to cover her feet , but not so large that it falls to the floor. This size seemed perfect.

patchwork quilting, Grandmother’s Fan, square quilts, quilt tutorial