Quilts in the Classroom

Pieces of Art
using the book, PIECES: A YEAR IN POEMS AND QUILTS
by Anna Grossnickle Hines
 

Many of the quilts in PIECES are done using a technique called "watercolor" or "color wash".  To do this the quilter arranges squares so that colors or values (dark or light) cluster together or change gradually. Color wash is lots of fun, but takes a lot of squares and time to try different combinations until you find the one that works.  In the background of  "To Each His Own" I started with light yellow squares at the top, changed to deeper yellow, then gold, orange, reds and finally ended up with dark browns at the bottom.  For "Encore" and "Misplaced"  I used very dark floral prints for my outside borders, then worked in patches of yellows, reds, purples and pinks, until I got to my white center. I also used color-wash technique in "Silhouettes" and "Shadows",  "Noontime" and "Rock and Roll", and the  "Nose Knows" and "Mirage" quilt.  The following activities can be done with value or color, or both. You could go from light to dark values, or change color from blue to green to yellow, or yellow to orange to red to brown, or red to purple to blue.  You will need squares of different colors and/or values, either paper or fabric. Paper squares can be cut from garden or home decorating catalogs, gift wrap, or wallpaper samples.  Designs or pictures on the squares can be large or small; a variety is good. Evenly spaced, overall patterns don't work as well as those with more varied designs.  A variety of values is very important.  For more on selection of patterns and colors see Fabric Selection Tips for Watercolor Quilts by Deanna Spingola or Barbara's Tips: Fabric Selection (go to the bottom of the page).

Materials:  5 x 5 grid 11/2 inch squares in a range of values 25 or more (more is better)  glue or paste . (I tried to make a printable one, but

Directions: Sort squares according to value making 3 piles (light, medium and dark), or 5 piles (light, medium-light, medium, medium-dark, and dark). Arrange squares on the grid to make a quilt block.

Some possible ways are:     Random:                                          Dark or light center:                         Dark and light corners:    Light and dark on the diagonal:          Dark or light center diagonal:             Dark cross or light cross:   Dark to light stripes:                          Examples using color change rather than value:

Make at least three more blocks like the first. (If working in a group each person could make a block and then combine them in one "quilt".) Arrange blocks in a quilt pattern. Can you move or turn the blocks to change the quilt pattern? How many different ways can you find to arrange the blocks?

Example: Using this block with dark squares in the corner...

You could arrange four blocks  with all blocks going the same way...                            with dark corners in the center...    with light corners in the center....                                alternating to make a striped pattern.

Can you find more ways?     What happens to these patterns when you add more blocks?

Fabric Selection Tips for Watercolor Quilts by Deanna Spingola Artistic Addictions Watercolor quilting kits show some possibilities of using dark and light in larger designs. Mostly Quilts: Barbara Booth, an excellent watercolor quilter, offers a free Paperhearts Pattern including tips and instructions. She also shares  Barbara's Tips: Fabric Selection at the bottom of her patterns page and at the bottom of her Gallery you'll find  Barbara's Tips: Design.

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