AnglePlay™ Challenge Class

December 2002 – Grids and Patterns

This month we are going to expand the view of AnglePlay™ a bit, to creating your own grids, and applying different kinds of diagonal line patterns to them.

For this exercise, you need:

• 8 or 10 squares/inch graph paper (8 sq/in is easier on the eyes; find it at university book stores, art supply stores, sometimes office supply stores)
• Sharp pencil, eraser, flat ruler
• Tracing paper

You create a grid by using a scale of one little square of the graph paper represents one square inch of fabric. Since your AnglePlay™ templates are of the dimensions 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 inches, select from these sizes to create your grid. Grids are most effective when there is a combination of narrowly spaced lines and widely spaced ones.

The magic of AnglePlay™ quilts is the change in the angle of the diagonal seam as the shape of the grid unit changes from square to rectanglar, and from one shape rectangle to another.

Some sample grids appear in this PDF file; note that they vary by the placement of narrowly-spaced and widely-spaced lines. As you apply different diagonal line patterns to these grids, you will see that when the grid lines are close together, the quilt design seems "deep" in the quilt; as the grid lines are farther apart, the design seems to be "above" the quilt, closer to the viewer.

A. Narrow to wide, edge to center
B. Wide to narrow, edge to center
C. Grid with narrow "border within the border"
D. Narrow to wide, edge to off-center
E. Novelty grid: not symmetrical
F. Grid within a Grid

Put a piece of tracing paper over the grids, and try the diagonal line patterns in this PDF file on each grid. You need not trace anything from the grid below the tracing paper, except perhaps dots in the corner for ease of lining up your tracing paper drawing later. Also, write the letter of the grid on the tracing paper.

A. All diagonals one direction
B. All diagonals opposite direction
C. Diagonals both directions
D. Crossed diagonals
E. Motif with echoing lines (like ripples on a pond)
F. Parallel Zig Zags
G. Opposing Zig Zags
H. Interrupted Lines
I. Linked open motifs
J. Multiple patterns in one grid

Once you have played with applying diagonal lines to the sample grids, which range from 32" to 58" square, you can create your own grid of any size by drawing a square or rectangle which represents the size of the quilt you want, whether it be for a wall or a bed. Next, create the grid you want within your rectangle by drawing some narrowly spaced and some widely spaced lines, both horizontally and vertically. Then apply any of the diagonal line patterns to your grid; or perhaps use a combination of them to make your quilt truly unique. Working on tracing paper enables you to try many many combinations, without laboriously erasing between design ideas!

When you make these quilts full size, transfer your line design from the tracing paper to a hard copy, and be sure to write the sizes of the units along two sides of the grid, as shown. This will make it easier to find the templates you need to create your wonderful AnglePlay™ quilt!