If you participated in the Riley Blake Block challenge you may be wondering what you should do with your completed quilt blocks. Today I’m sharing with you 12 quilt layout ideas perfect for sampler quilts.
This week I was able to finish the 12″ blocks from the Riley Blake Designs Block Challenge.
What is the Block Challenge?
In March, a group of Riley Blake Fabric designers coordinated a block of the week challenge. Each week a different designer shared a block pattern for a 12″ & 6″ finished quilt block.
Where do I find the Block Patterns?
Each of my blocks is linked below. A link to the free pattern is included in my blog posts. They are all hosted on various designer’s blogs.
- Churn Dash Block
- Log Cabin Block
- Friendship Star Block
- Economy Block
- Nine Patch Block
- Shoo-Fly Block
- Sawtooth Star Block
- Bear Paw Block
- Maple Star Block
- Bow Tie Block
- Pinwheel Block
- Maple Leaf Block
Since each of the blocks was shared on a different designer’s blog, there are not any finishing instructions included. For those of you who participated, I wanted to give you a few options for how-to sew your quilt blocks into a quilt.
How Do I Sew my Blocks into a Quilt?
The first, and easiest option is to just sew your 12 blocks into 4 rows of 3 blocks in each row. That will yield a quilt that is approx 36″ x 48″. If you’d like your quilt a bit bigger you can add sashing or an outside border.
I am choosing to set my quilt blocks in a less traditional way. After playing around with the blocks, I narrowed it down to two different options.
The first one featured 6 rows with 6 blocks in each row, and the blocks clustered in the corners.
The second layout features the blocks clustered in the center.
Both layouts feature a lot of negative space.
I will be sewing my blocks together in the second layout. The finished quilt will have 6 rows with 5 blocks in each row. I plan to cut 12 ½″ squares of gray fabric for the spots in the “quilt grid” that do not feature sewn blocks, then simply sew them together by rows.
Sampler Quilt Layout Ideas
If you’re looking for ideas for how to finish your quilt, I’ve rounded up some ideas for you.
These are just ideas. I do not know what size the blocks are in each of these quilts. Most of these quilts are purchased patterns. They are all unique and different, and I feel like you can get a lot of great ideas from these designers.
Sampler Quilt Layout Ideas Both Traditional & Modern
If you have quilt blocks that you need to finish but aren't quite sure how to go about it. I've found 12 completed sampler quilts to give you a few ideas. Each of these is meant only to give you ideas, for more specific information visit the respective websites.
Modern Heritage Quilts :: Superstar
This quilt pattern by Amy Ellis features 6 quilt blocks laid out in a non-traditional format. It
How to Finish your Block of the Month Quilt
A few years ago we hosted a block of the month program. You can still find the blocks shared in the series on our site. To finish the quilt, I simply set the blocks traditionally into 3 rows of 4 with 2 ½" wide sashing between the blocks.
Chocolatier Block of the Month Quilt Pattern
This gorgeous block of the month quilt created by Anne Marie Chany features quilt blocks centered so that they form a large star.
Summer Sampler 2018 - Summer Road Trip
Each year a group of designers hosts a quilt along called the Summer Sampler. They offer various options to set the blocks into a quilt. In this design the blocks are set alternating with quarter square triangle blocks and laid out in a grid.
Vintage Quilt Revival Book
The Quilt Revival Book offers several layout ideas for sampler quilts. Including this one with gray sashing with a few pops of color.
Sampler Quilt at Martys Fiber Musings
I love this sampler quilt layout. It's one I considered for my quilt. The square layout features 20 blocks but could easily be adapted to 12.
Bonnie & Camille Sampler Quilt | A Finished Quilt
I love how this quilter set the sampler blocks in the center and added half square triangles to the border. This makes the entire quilt look like one giant star quilt block.
Skopelos Fabric Showcase Quilt
The designer of this quilt used 2 different "neutral" backgrounds to show off the center blocks in the quilt.
Quilt as You Go... Block of Month... Finished!
These quilt blocks are set in rows by color. A simple fabric print is added between the blocks which nicely shows off each of the quilt blocks.
Let's Talk Quilt Top Layouts — Fresh Lemons Quilts
Faith from Fresh Lemon quilts offers several ideas for sampler quilts in this blog post.
Layout from the Quilt Block Cookbook
I love how the blocks in the quilt are set with wide strips of solid fabric. More information can be found in Amy's book, the Quilt Block Cookbook.
Sisters Quilt by Gen X Quilters
Another great example of a sampler quilt from Anne Marie Chany. This quilt also features sampler blocks set in the corners with a large section of negative space in the center.
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