WesternWilson

deleted. see below

WesternWilson

I confess I am addicted to the block lotto portion of our local quilt guild meetings. It is the one gambling addiction I am comfortable with!

However. I manage to win the lotto fairly often (never the ones I really, really want to : ) , right?!) and have noticed that often the blocks make pretty boring quilts when all sewn together. I have compensated for that by waiting until I have won enough lottos to pool different blocks into one quilt, usually using the row quilt setting, with the rows separated by a solid or reads-as-solid fto add drama and sparkle.

The block set for our May lotto is brilliant, railroad ties. I realized that it is fairly unusual in that a quilt made exclusively of these blocks will look great and not boring at all (photo and link below, the photo is off instagram, quilt by Beth Wells, #bessielouwells).

(fwiw I found this block worked well when using 4 1/2-5" ground flanked by 3" rails, the inserts (ties) look great when varied both in width and very slight variations in hue as well)

***So my question is:
What blocks have you found that when sewn together (as block lotto blocks tend to be) make satisfying quilts??

toverly

My favorite quilts in a former Guild made from the block lotto used a focus fabric so each block was similar. I love sampler quilts so it was perfect when every block was different with the same focus fabric.

WesternWilson

Someone posted on a set of pages left up on the web, thank goodness, after the author passed away...one of her tutorials included a great little block that would be excellent as a group project/swap or for....block lotto!
https://stitchintherapy.blogspot.com/

It is a simple rail fence variation:

WMUTeach

Here is the link that takes you directly to the Rail Road Variation. https://stitchintherapy.blogspot.com/2015/02/2-patch-4-patch.html Lots of info and tutorials on the site mentioned by WesternWilson. Thanks WW for the site and good ideas.

WesternWilson

Found another block that even when repeated makes for an interesting quilt...so would really suit being a block lotto choice. Credit goes to the blog "Film in the Fridge" (always an inspirational read!):

https://filminthefridge.com/2016/04/...lock-tutorial/

Further interest could be created by using for the solid not just one the one colour but sometimes two or three different shades of that colour.

WesternWilson

And...here is another one!

Film in the Fridge (Ashley) again, her Two Triangle block tutorial:
https://filminthefridge.com/2019/05/...lock-tutorial/

This would work quite well both with free choice colour choices or by asking that one half of the block be a value of a specific colour...

WesternWilson

And.....another great block choice for block lotto.

This one is by Lynn Carson Harris, and is the basic block for her Licorice Allsorts quilts:
https://www.lynncarsonharris.com/

She also does incredible micro-piecing!

Hope she puts up a digital class on this block and these quilts!

WesternWilson

And another one! The good old economy block, which lends itself to themed fussy cutting for the centre.
https://www.stitchedincolor.com/blog...block-tutorial

WesternWilson

Here is another great block for block lotto challenges, from the Shine Quilt by Suzy Quilts!