Today we are going to learn how to make a Jacob's Ladder block. Originally, the block was made using two sharply contrasting colors: a dark and a light. The pieces are arranged in such a way as to create diagonal patterns of light and dark across the block.
We are going to make the version that looks good by itself. It is one of those quilt blocks that really only looks good as an entire quilt unless modified. The true block's pattern is only revealed when multiple blocks are put together in a straight set.
Are you ready for some more traditional block fun? I am finding that so many of the traditional blocks have half square triangles in them somewhere - really such a versatile block. Our block this week is the pinwheel block.
This block features a very simple half square triangle block, Crosses & Losses. Also known as Goose & Goslings, Fox & Geese, and Bouncing Betty, this block is easy to put together and allows for many drastically different looks, depending on your color choices.
We are going to use the method that we used for the pinwheels because this entire block is made of half square triangles. LOTS of half square triangles - 16 to be exact! But no worries, it will go quickly!
Today's Traditional Block Thursday tutorial features a new technique! We are going to learn how to make a quarter square triangle (QST), also known as an hourglass block. It is pretty obvious by looking at the block how the hourglass block got its name. Just like the half square triangle, the quarter square triangle is a very versatile block.
Our last block for our Traditional Block Thursday is this beautiful Weather Vane Block. This block "dates back to the time when great-grandmother used that commodity to 'calc'late a change,' instead of listening to a scientific forecast on the radio. But her pattern, the weather vane, is one of the loveliest of our old-time quilt designs." - Ruby Short McKim
We will be making a Pieced Star today. There are many variations to a pieced star.
