Drafting for the Creative Quilter

80 DRAFTINGFORTHECREATIVEQUILTER

Any time you are working in tra-
ditional patchwork, see if you can
fracture any of its existing space to
create a unique design. It doesn’t
matter if the design already exists
somewhere in the universe; it’s new
to you. However, if you plan on
publishing it as “original,” do some
checking and adhere to all copyright
rules and laws. You get the idea. Just
one word of caution: Don’t go over-
board and create a chaotic design; do
use good taste and good sense.

Chaotic design

When I do this process of frac-
turing, I first sketch or draw my
block on graph paper. Then I begin
my fracturing process, still some-
what roughly. I draw lines from
corner to corner, midpoint to mid-
point, intersection to intersection,
or any combination of those. When
I create these sketches, I can work
on the whole block, or, if the block
is symmetrical, I have the option
of working with a part of it (1/2,
1/4, 1/8) and then use mirrors to see
the whole block design. Becoming
familiar with what you’re looking at
when working with a partial design
does take some getting used to.
However, it saves time, gives you
information, and allows you to see
multiple design options on one line
drawing or sketch.

Four design options on one

symmetrical block (Dashed lines

indicate four mirror placements.)

uuu Noteworthy uuu

Symmetry, in this case, means

that the square design is

divided into two, four, or eight

divisions; the opposite side of

the dividing line is a mirror

image.

Here are a couple grid-based traditional blocks you might be familiar with

and some design ideas to fracture them. Sometimes I added lines or shapes,

and other times I removed lines or shapes; sometimes I did both within the

same design. Please feel free to use any of these blocks in your own work.

Traditional tree

(Dashed line indicates

mirror placement)

Redesigned tree

Autumn Window, 17 ̋ × 24 ̋, designed and pieced by the author.

Detail