AnglePlay™ Challenge Class

October 2002 – Let's Get Started

We are going to start with block design this month. Rather than using lines on graph paper, you will use shaded paper rectangles, which will make it easier to create patterns. You will be working with half-rectangle triangles, half-square triangles, and blank squares (dark and light).

Supplies Needed

• Blank paper (11" x 14" if you have it, so you can draw two six-inch squares on each sheet).
• Rotary cutter for paper (will blades too dull for cutting fabric!)
• Rotary mat
• Straightedge for rotary cutting
• Glue Stick
• Envelopes to store leftover shapes

	Figure 1

Definitions: There are two kinds of triangles involved in AnglePlay™: a right-facing and left-facing triangle (Figure 1).

Draw a series of six-inch squares on pieces of paper (doesn't need to be graph paper: these are the "puzzle boards" on which you are going to create your blocks).

Print out several copies of the shaded rectangle shapes in this PDF file; cut the rectangles apart with your rotary cutter and stack in like piles. For example, all the right-facing 1" x 2" rectangles should be in one "supply stack", all the left-facing 1" x 2"s should be in another one. (Note that any half-square triangles can be either right- or left-facing; you need only rotate them.)

Creating Blocks

What blocks can you create using the following combinations? This would be fun to do with your family or with your small quilt group!

Below is a list of varying combinations of shapes. Select the number of shapes listed, and create a block with them by arranging them within your drawn six-inch square. Unless one or the other is designated, use either right-facing or left-facing triangles (or both) of any listed shape. Some designs work better with one or the other.

Notes

• Square shapes can be either solid or half-square triangles.
• Solid (shaded) squares are listed as '2" square'
• Half-square triangles are listed as "2 x 2"
• Note: some combinations of shapes may not fill the 6" square completely: there may be "holes" (i.e. white paper showing through) in some blocks. This is okay: consider these as solid light squares (as opposed to the solid shaded ones you have cut out).
• If you can see more than one design to make with any given combination of shapes, create it on another six-inch square.
• Glue shapes in place with glue stick.

For example: By selecting four G's and four A's, you might create either of the blocks in Figure 2.

Figure 2

Here are some "warm up exercises" so you get the feel of playing with the paper shapes. What block can you create with:

1. Four B's and eight K1's
2. Four E's and four 1.5 x 1.5's
3. Four A's and four H's (play with all right-facing vs. right-facing A's and left-facing H's)
4. Four A's and four G's
5. Four E's (2 right-facing, 2 left-facing); four 1.5" squares, four 1.5 x 1.5
6. Make your own combinations, using the leftover paper shapes, or by printing off more pages of shapes to combine with them!

Variations

1. Take one shape and turn it around wherever it appears (Figure 3).
2. For selected right-facing triangles, substitute left-facing ones (Figure 4).
3. Add half-diagonal lines to selected patches of your block (Figure 5).
   Note: Half-diagonal lines literally extend corner to corner in the rectangular shape; but half of the line is "hidden" by the whole triangle (Figure 6).

Figure 3		Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Note for those of you who can't wait to get to fabric!! The paper shapes are half scale, and the letters on the shapes correspond to your templates. So, if you cut out fabrics using the AnglePlay™ templates indicated, your resulting block would be 12" square. If you want to retain your design as a 6" block, just use the smaller triangle on each template. (See instructions that came with templates for how to cut smaller triangles). If there is a "1" after the letter on the paper shape, that refers to the smaller triangle on the lettered template.

With fabric: take your favorite paper block design and make it in fabric several times: try to make each block look very different by the way you place light, medium and dark value fabrics.

Next Month: Breathing new life into traditional patchwork patterns with AnglePlay™ templates!