Aeroplane Blocks

Aeroplane Blocks

You know the scenario. Your niece/sister/neighbor is having a baby, and you think, "Oh, I'll make them a quilt." Then Quilter's Block kicks in. Not like a quilt block, but the mental block as in, "What will I make?"

To tackle that block on my creativity, I started with rules such as, "What can I make with my Accuquilt die system that will be fast and fun, and can I learn something in the process?" No, this isn't an ad for Accuquilt, but I've invested a lot in one, and haven't used it as much as I'd liked. I purchased and used several specific dies, but also the 10" QUBE kit, and the cellophane was still on the QUBE. It was time. 

None of the blocks in the GO! QUBE book looked appealing for this, and I thought a simple churn dash would be darling in browns and blues for a little boy. I started with the HST corners with the 5" finished die from my set, the 2" finished squares with my 2.5" die, and rotary cut 3.5" x 2.5" pieces. It was a chunky churn dash! Still very simple, but it became a 12" finished block instead of a 10". With sashing and perhaps a small border or two, it will be slightly over 40", which would be perfect for a new baby!

The outer 4 blocks plus the center block are brown with pale blue low volume backgrounds, and the other 4 the opposite. I hit my scraps totes first, then stash second to find some unusual combinations. I wasn't looking for cute, but interesting instead. It is definitely going to need sashing to pull it together, but I like how it's going so far.

As to the name, "Aeroplane", I found out this isn't a churn dash after all with the modifications I've made. I paged through "The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns" by Jinny Beyer last night looking for the proper name, and found, "Aeroplane, The Patchwork Book. See pgs 112-2." It does give the feeling of a whirling propeller, and as there are several pilots in the family so I was rather pleased. 

I'll get this wrapped up in the next few days, and let you see how it developed. I'm eager to get back at my Star Upon Stars quilt, but this was a fun diversion for sure.

Come on, Doxie girls.
Let's go sew.