Design a block, not me, so I thought.  I read Sarah’s post about designing a block and made a note to return to see the end results.    http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2012/01/whats-cookin-at-sweatshop-week-18-lots.html

 I don’t think of myself as being creative. (OK I did actually design my Snowmen quilt but that was a guild challenge years ago).  I can look at a pattern and maybe change up the size of the block or the fabrics but I don’t generally design from scratch.  

Well I finished up reading blogs that evening and took the dog for a walk.  Out in the dark, cold evening with a dog who strolls not walks, with no one to talk to but myself. My brain started playing with the squares and the pre set measurements.  By the time I got back home I had come up with a block. Not an exciting block but a basic useful block.  I think its new, but are any basic blocks really new in quilting. I really hope I didn’t step on anyone’s toes with this block.   I came in from the walk and drew a sample of what was going on in my head. 

Then, heaven forbid I wait, I ran up to my drawer of scraps and started in.  

You know that well worn quilting adage Measure Twice, Cut ONCE,   there is a reason for that.  Remember I told you I designed this in my head walking the dog, well I did all of the math in my head. Turns out it wasn’t exactly accurate.  Thankfully the error was on the segment with the least number of pieces and I had only made 8 of that part.  It was only ½ inch off in both directions.

Oh did I neglect to say that I don’t do 1 of anything, even when I don’t know what it is I’m doing. Once I start cutting, it’s just easier to keep cutting especially when you want a scrappy look.  The block itself is made up of 2 – 5 inch squares, 4 – 3 ½ inch squares and 16 – 2 inch squares with 4 – 2 inch wide filler strips along 2 sides of the  5 inch squares bumping them up to 6 ½ inches.  Each block is made up of 26 pieces, or a whole lot of scraps. 

Well the end result on making multiples from the start is that I ended up with almost enough to make a nice size top. While the bits and pieces were out and about I finished up enough blocks to complete the top.  This is one of those blocks where you could put the blocks together in a number of ways to get many different looks and secondary patterns.  This version was my favorite.  Sorry I didn’t think to take photos as I  tested the various looks. 

I choose this layout because I really impressed myself with the 64 piece square made by the junction of the 2 inch  squares.  Never would I attempt doing that particular block and it tickled me. This was great fun and I hope some of you will try this out and let me know how you did.  Sarah if you let me know where to send this top I will gladly drop it and the many components I have left over in the mail to you.  And thanks for setting this challenge up.