Rock the Block Quilting Challenge
Recently, my friends at Missouri Star Quilt Company invited me to participate in a really fun challenge called “Rock the Block: Quilting Style.” The idea is to make two different quilt blocks; the first is your “go-to” block, using a pattern and color palette that you often gravitate towards – something that reflects your usual style. Then, for the second block, you switch it up, challenging yourself to take the pattern to the next level and to use colors/patterns you wouldn’t typically choose. Take a look at what I created!
Block #1: Soft and Floral Sawtooth Star
My go-to pattern is usually some form of a sawtooth star, so for this block, I created a very simple one. The center is a solid square, and the points are created by four flying geese. In the corners, to add a little visual interest, I used half square triangles rather than just solid colored background squares.
Since I designed the fabric myself – the Bloom and Sew collection for Andover Fabrics – it definitely represents one of my favorite color palettes. I typically gravitate toward pinks, greens, and blues in soft shades, as well as patterns like florals and polka dots.
Block 2: Bold and Geometric Sawtooth Star
To make things a little more interesting, this block starts with a simple Sawtooth Star in the center, then has an additional set of flying geese around it to make it pop. In the corners, two solid blocks and two half square triangles create a three-dimensional effect.
For the colors, my first change was to use a dark background rather than a white one like I would normally do. I chose a black polka dot print from my Sunny Honey collection, then for the star itself, I looked for a variety of bright fabrics, including colors I wouldn’t normally pair together, like purple and orange.
I was really surprised by how much I liked the finished block! While it’s not at all my usual style, it’s fun, cheerful, and very modern. I could totally envision a whole quilt with more of these bright blocks.
I loved doing this challenge, because it pushed me to go outside of my comfort zone and learn not just a new block, but play with fabrics I wouldn’t normally choose. It allowed me to try different things and not get stuck creatively, plus it was a great way to use scraps I had no idea what to do with. If you’ve never tried anything like this, I’d encourage you to take on the Rock the Block challenge for yourself! Make a familiar, favorite block, then switch things up with new variations, colors, and patterns. You might be really pleasantly surprised by what you create – and how much fun you have in the process! Then, make sure to share photos of your blocks in the Amy Latta & Friends Facebook Group so we can all be inspired. See you there!
More Quilting Inspiration
If you enjoyed this challenge, here are some other quilted projects to inspire you.
