74 DRAFTINGFORTHECREATIVEQUILTER
Working within a grid format allows me to design my
own quilts in a familiar environment of simple squares.
Working within a grid format is structured, safe, orga-
nized, and orderly. You make all the choices. You decide
space composition, size of the grid, and size of the
shapes. The grid size determines quilt size. For example,
if you assign a grid value of 2 ̋ and your design covers a
20 × 30 grid space, your quilt size will be 40 ̋ × 60 ̋.
Even though you are working on an underlying grid
of equal-sized squares, the composition of your quilt
design can include different shapes and sizes based on
multiples of the individual grid size. For example, if you
are working on a 2 ̋ grid of squares, you can include 4 ̋
squares, triangles, and so forth.
You could also include any size shape you want in your
quilt and then fill in the difference to put yourself back
in sync with the grid. This happened to me in Sampler
Supreme, which was developed on a 11/2 ̋ grid. The
3-Dimensional Cube block measures 6 ̋ × 7 ̋ finished.
Six is divisible by 11/2 ̋ (4 grids), but seven is not equally
divisible by the 11/2 ̋ grid size. The next higher number
that is divisible by 11/2 ̋ is 71/2 ̋ (5 grids), so I simply
added a 1/2 ̋ strip to the bottom of the block to put
myself back on track and in sync with the grid size. The
3-Dimensional Cube block took up the space of 4 × 5
grids.
When choosing the initial grid value, take into consid-
eration visual balance. You can always change the grid
value if your first choice isn’t working.
If you do not have a specific idea for creating a quilt, the
following questions might help nudge your creativity
and give you ideas.
Do you want to follow a certain theme, such as a spe-
cific holiday, spiritual theme, or friendship?
Do you want to explore a favorite block or work with
a favorite block in different sizes?
Do you want to express a feeling or emotion, such as
joy, love, happiness, or patriotism?
Is there a color or combination of colors you’ve always
wanted to use?
Do you have a fabric that inspires you?
Do you want to honor or celebrate an occasion or
relationship?
Once you have an idea, acknowledge what you know
about that idea and what you want to include in your
design. Design freely without getting involved in color,
fabric, or how it will get sewn. Only think about
design—the arrangement of details that make up a work
of art.
Remember, whenever you draft, design, calculate, or
figure out anything in patchwork, seam allowance is
never included.Design Process for Sampler Supreme
Sampler Supreme, 441/2 ̋ × 471/2 ̋, designed and pieced by author,
machine quilted by Lois Russell of San Diego, CA.I knew that I wanted to make a sampler that incor-
porates a variety of block designs based on a variety
of drafting categories in a variety of sizes that offers a
variety of skill challenges. I wanted to arrange the blocks
on an overall grid format to give the quilt a more con-
temporary feel. I chose a 11/2 ̋ grid value.
Next, I decided specifics. I chose to include eight dif-
ferent blocks—three major in size and five minor in
size. Chrysanthemum (Spiraling Squares) would be the
largest (15 ̋), then Trip Around the World (101/2 ̋) and
Interlocking Squares (12 ̋), and finally Corn and Beans,
Sawtooth Star Variation, Ten-Pointed Star, Hexagon,
and one block from the Fan drafting category would all