Design Challenge - Diagonals

In Stuffed to the Gills, I talked about using my batiks as part of my small quilting group's design challenge.  The book "Color and Composition for the Creative Quilter" lists nine design compositions:

1. vertical
2. horizontal
3. circular
4. diagonal
5. radiating
6. grid
7. framed/border
8. symmetrical
9. asymmetrical

My plan is to make one block in each style, then assemble them into a quilt.

For my first composition, I chose diagonals.  The method I chose was fused applique with machine stitching on the edges.  This block is 10 x 10 inches. Each of the other blocks will have a different color combination, and the blocks will all be done without a pattern.

I thought it would be fun to also do the design challenge in modern fabrics, using pieced blocks from patterns.  I chose my diagonal block pattern from Shape Workshop for Quilters.  I like to preview books from the library first, then decide if I want to buy them.  This is definitely on my buy list in February.

This is the modern block I made, designed by Tacha Bruecher.  Of the four authors of the book, I find myself consistently drawn to her designs. 

Her block was 12.5 x 12.5, which is much larger than I wanted it to be.  I thought I was clever by making my center triangle 1 inch smaller than her's.  Even so, my block turned out bigger - 14.5 x 12.5 inches.  Uh oh.  How did I do that?  My strips were 1/8 inch wider than her's and I guess that's why.  Oh well, now I need to make the other eight blocks huge, too.  Maybe it will be interesting.

Whereas the batik blocks are all going to be different colors, for the modern quilt I'm going to stick with this color palette and reuse these particular fabrics along with some new ones.

Originally I thought I would do one block a month, but I don't want to work on the same two quilts for nine months!  So I'll keep plugging away in between other projects.  I'll keep you posted as I get each block done.