Drafting for the Creative Quilter

30 DRAFTINGFORTHECREATIVEQUILTER

Baby Blocks

Baby Blocks, or Tumbling Blocks as they are sometimes
referred to, are a familiar, traditional design that relies
on consistent value placement of light, medium, and
dark to effectively achieve a three-dimensional look. It is
developed by first drafting a hexagon and then dividing
it into three 60° diamonds. See a wonderful variation of
this block in Sampler Supreme (page 99).

One Baby Block Three Baby Blocks

TO DRAFT A 3 ̋ (FINISHED) BLOCK:

1. Follow the steps on page 29 to draft a 3 ̋ hexagon,
   using Option 1 or Option 2.


2. Label and connect 3 hexagon corners (A, B, and C) to
   the center to create three 11/2 ̋ 60° diamonds.

A B

Center

C

Draw a hexagon and connect the corners to the center.

uuuuuu Noteworthy uuuuuu

You only need to make one diamond template to

construct this block.

3-Dimensional Hexagon Box Block.

I was inspired to make this block by a fabric design

that appeared to have three-dimensional boxes on it.

My challenge was to create a three-dimensional look

through value placement. My initial mock-up used three

values of one color. I then decided to try three colors,

with three values of each color. One of many lessons I

learned was that the degree of light, medium, and dark

must be the same for each of the three colors. I thought

this would be a good block not only to make but to draft

as well. The pattern for my block is on page 103.

3-Dimensional Hexagon Box

TO DRAFT A 3 ̋ (FINISHED) BOX:

1. Draft a 3 ̋ hexagon (Option 1, page 29) by starting
   with a 3 ̋ circle, orientated as illustrated. Divide it into
   6 equilateral triangles by connecting all opposite points
   through the center.

Draft a 3 ̋ hexagon and divide it into 6 equilateral triangles.

2. Draw 2 lines to create a 1/4 ̋ border on 2 sides of 1 tri-
   angle. This block is made using templates A, B, and C.
   Repeat in all 6 equilateral triangles.

A

¼ ̋

B

C

Add 1/4 ̋ border to 2 sides of the triangle.