Introduction

I designed the Column Block to fill a specific need. I needed an easy, modern quilt block for large scale prints and hand dyed fabric.  I wanted a quick sew for charity projects in a size that would be easy for a variety of layouts.  I also hate wasting my precious fabric, so I designed a block that makes the best use of a fat quarter of fabric.   This pattern will be free until June 12, 2022. 

The block is:

·         Fat quarter friendly

·         Easy to sew

·         Variety of layouts

·         Perfect for a nap size charity quilt

·         Great for King Sized and Double Quilts 

 Layout and Ratio

The block is 24 x 30 inches, a 5:6 ratio of width to length.  This is unusual in the quilting world, where the focus is on square blocks. A rectangular block can be rotated 180 degrees and mirror imaged (flipped) and still fit in a grid structure. The block uses only rectangular cuts of fabric, so for the mirror image blocks – the cutting instructions are the same. You only need to mirror the layout. Here is the column block diagram and its mirror image.  

Pattern Testing

I am extremely thankful to Aimee Wilson for pattern testing this block! Her handle on Instagram is SewingScientist and you can see some amazing quilts there. She made many versions of this block which are going to be part of a king sized quilt! She decided to feature her favorite large scale prints and scraps from her Minerva project. The background fabric is a Minerva Core Range washed cotton chambray. My favorite blocks involve the octopuses.   I’ve got to admit that I’ve also got some octopus prints in my stash and I might want to use them in this block!

The Wall Quilt

I used the column block for a wall quilt featuring my ice dyed fabric. I used Shibori style folding techniques with ice dying. As a result, the fabric has a stunning large scale “X” pattern. (And as usual, I have having problems with actually cutting the fabric!) I decided the highlight the subtle hints of jade in the dye pattern, so I used this color to border the columns. I’ve got a weakness for floral freehand (and these summery colors), so I went with floral freehand.  I’ve also got a flimsy of a tone on tone proto-type of the column block.

The Lap Version

For the lap version, I selected a layout measuring 54 inches wide by 66 inches long.  I used rotation and mirroring to arrange 4 copies of the block in an airy butterfly design. I also broke out one my treasured large scale prints –Terrestrial - Epiphyte by Sarah Watson from Cloud 9 Fabrics (https://cloud9fabrics.com/fabrics/terrestrial/).  I selected the colors breakers and baby blue from Kona Solids. The finished (yet to be quilted) top looks amazing.

The Double and King Size Versions

I have a king size bed and I made the quilt that’s on it! The size of my current bed quilt is 90 inches wide by 120 inches wide. I’m really happy with this size – the drop fits my extra deep mattress (I don’t tuck pillows) and the width means that my next king size quilt will fit in my 10 foot long arm.  I mocked up layouts for both the King and Double size.  The King Size is 90 inches by 120 inches and the blocks are in a 3x5 grid. For the Double Size, the blocks are in a 3x4 grid resulting in a quilt that is 90 inches by 96 inches wide. If you aren’t worried about the constraints of a 10 foot longarm table, you can also layout the blocks in a 4x5 grid to construct a more traditional 120 inch by 120 inch King size quilt.

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