Housetop Quilt Block

The last time on this blog, I wanted to talk about something new that I learned, the Housetops block.  Turns out it really is only the name, Housetops that was new to me.

This block is almost a Natural block that one would make if you had no idea about what patchwork patterns were out there. Perhaps this would be the very first block that you would make if you had a stack of fabrics and had no idea about patchwork.

"It is a historical utilitarian pattern used by the amish, african american women, rural women and many others. It is a form of log cabin variation at its simplest, but according to Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns, is called "Blocks in the Box," and "Bright Hopes." Gees Bend quilters called it a variation of a pattern called "Housetops."

From a stack of scraps this is the block I came up with, as you can see, quite similar to a log cabin but each round varies depending on how much of a particular scrap you have.  Some of the pieces were easily long enough to sew a complete "side" but in most other cases, I had to patch together scraps to create a length to go along a side before sewing the next side (or log onto the block).

You can practically use any format to put together a Housetop Block.  You could get quite artistic or very random about it.  You could choose a colour theme or just use the idea of colour value in piecing the scrappy bits.

The only thing about this block, it uses all your leftovers and in this world we have so much that often we don't need the leftovers from our projects.  This is where this type of block would be very useful in creating blocks and the piecing together the blocks for donation quilts. These would also make great picnic or beach quilts.   So maybe make up a few of these and incorporate them into the next "utilitarian" type project you have.

Putting together a number of these blocks, whether or not you used light and dark sides to enhance or create a secondary pattern would be up to each individual quilt maker.  You could do the patches, completely randomly.

I only made the one block, for now mainly to see how it worked out.  This block is 19" square and turned out just about perfect for a pillowform that I had sitting on a top shelf, that was waiting to be used someday.

OOPS

I decided to machine quilt the Housetops block to a piece of blanket flannel as I did not want a puffy or textured finish to the pillow cover -- EXCEPT somehow along the way, a tiny (this piece is about 1/2 inch wide x 1 inch) bit of scrap got stuck onto the back of the blanket flannel and was quilted along with the layers! 

This I'm sure is not such an unusual occurence!  How many times have you done this?  Well, this time it was not a big deal and I am leaving it right where it got quilted in because it will be on the inside of the pillow cover and no one but you will ever see it again!!

There now.  Can you see the Oops from the right side?  No, eh?  So it's fine.

And then when you step back and see the cushion on the recliner you would never even suspect there was an Oops!

I hope you enjoyed this little Mystery and puzzled over what a Housetops Quilt Block might look like.  So Easy, wasn't it?

Well, today, I think I shall do a bit of crochet instead of sewing.  I ordered some fabric from anETSY seller so that I can make a pair of pillow cases for my son in Victoria, BC.  I'm sure, as a single man, buying pillowcases is one of the last things on his mind, so I am going to make some for him...  He is a guitar player and a car restorer in his spare hours so the pillowcases are a bright blue with sporty cars and car parts print.   I have to wait til it arrives before making the pillowcases so, a crochet project seems to be just the thing to fill in the rest of the day.