Some people want to re-create the original quilt. There are 137 different, diamond-shaped blocks in this breathtaking quilt. Working on these blocks is like opening a new box of chocolates - each one is tasty in a different way. There is weird and wonderful applique. There is curved piecing. There are miniatures for the fussiest miniaturist. There is a range of patchwork from simple to insanely intricate. Check out this blog to see the blocks in progress: http://www.idalively.blogspot.com
Some people like the diamond block shape and want to use it with plain fabric. Some people use the template to cut up old blocks or boring tops to recycle them into beautiful scrap quilts. Look at the photo album to see some examples. |
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Lancaster Diamond Acrylic Template
Use this plastic template with your rotary cutter and mat to cut out and piece the shapes for the Lancaster Diamond Sampler Quilt and Variations: the large diamond block, the small diamond cornerstones, and the sashing. Complete instructions & project sheet included. Seam allowance is included on the template as are holes for marking seamlines for hand-piecing.
$13.00 plus postage
Free Project Sheets to Download
Making Friends with the Diamond:
A good project to start with to become familiar with the Lancaster Diamond template. See the big picture of the quilt on the photo album page. MakeFriends.PDF
Orphan Blocks Project:What to do with all those orphan quilt blocks you have laying around in your sewing room? Put the orphans to work in a quilt! OrphanProject.pdf
Cutting Stripes: This sheet shows you how to control the direction of stripes when you use this template to cut fabric. (For an example, see the "Woven Twigs" quilt in the photo album.) CuttingStripes.pdf |
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Lancaster Diamond Sampler Quilt Starter Pattern & Collection #1
$10.00 (sent to you as a pdf file)
Note from Ann: I decided to distribute my drawings as pdf files, which means that you can print out the patterns as many times as you want for yourself or for a group. You can print a block in mirror-image for applique or paper-piecing. You can print a block then cut it apart for templates. All I ask is that you don't re-sell my drawings for a profit. I encourage you to share these designs with other quilters and, particularly, to share your skills with new quilters. Let's keep quilting alive!
- Large, color picture of the original, 1840's quilt from Lancaster County, PA.
- General directions for making the blocks
- Key to blocks for identifying drawings
- Instructions for making your own paper/cardboard template
- Instructions for assembling the rows
- Block Collection #1 (11 block drawings, shown left)
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Collection #2
$5.00 (sent to you as a pdf file)
This collection of 10 blocks includes: square-in-a-square, quarter square triangles, half-square triangles, and Seminole piecing. The Lancaster Blue in F10 is used only a few times in this entire quilt. |
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Collection #3
$5.00 (sent to you as a pdf file)
This quilt contains lots of mysteries. Those shapes in Block K18 aren't half-circles. I think the quilter traced the heel of her shoe for those four chrome yellow appliques. There are tiny checkerboards in this collection of 11 blocks. |
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Collection #4
$5.00 (sent to you as a pdf file)
Block D3 has 1/2" quarter-square triangle units! Block F7 is shares a unique characteristic with only one other block in this quilt! There are some very interesting patchwork exercises and bold fabric choices in this 10-block collection. |
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Collection #5
$5.00 (sent to you as a pdf file)
This 11-block collection is a smorgasboard of block styles. What are those strange applique shapes? Notice that one block is a 9-diamond miniature, complete with miniature blocks, sashing, and cornerstones. More tiny checkerboards and some curved piecing to keep things interesting. Would you believe 1" flying geese? |
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Collection #6
$5.00 (sent to you as a pdf file)
This collection of 10 blocks contains "chopped blocks," "slashed blocks," and a an odd 8-pointed star with only 6 points. There are 1/4" finished size strips that are fussy-cut to show off the little pink flowers. What's up with the "slashed" blocks? |
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Collection #7
$5.00 (sent to you as a pdf file)
There are two blocks in this 11-block collection that contain miniature diamonds. There are only 16 applique blocks in this quilt - one of them is the sweet little bird at G6 - but is it upside down? Another interesting block features large-scale printed plaid fabric that has been fussy-cut to look like nine-patch piecing. |
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Collection #8
$5.00 (sent to you as a pdf file)
This collection of 10 blocks contains the showstoppers. The sunflower is at the smack-dab center of the quilt. The pineapple block is based on a diamond at the center. And then, there's the block with sixteen, 3/4" four-patch units. Yikes! Snowballs! A wheel! Hexagons! It's all going on in this collection. |
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Collection #9
$5.00 (sent to you as a pdf file)
The pumpkin seed applique shape is used in three blocks in this quilt, including one in this 11-block collection. Block N20 is a style of applique that involves woven strips. If you've gotten this far, you'll find the block that shares the distinction with only one other block in the quilt (from Collection 4). |
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Collection #10
$5.00 (sent to you as a pdf file)
The final three collections of blocks that make up this quilt each contain 14 block designs. There is one block that I think of as "fruit salad" - all the bits and pieces left over from other blocks pieced together. The blue gingham check seems odd in this quilt, but it's only used this one time. |
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Collection #11
$5.00 (sent to you as a pdf file)
Some bias-edge applique gives the center of one of these blocks a lovely curve. More show-offy miniature diamonds with tiny patchwork inside. Also, it looks like someone got carried away making 4-patch borders and used the red/white/green patchwork in two blocks - but cut in different directions, of course! |
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Collection #12
$5.00 (sent to you as a pdf file)
This is the last collection of whole-diamond blocks. A little more "fruit salad." Another "pumpkin seed." And more of that Seminole piecing. Another miniature diamond for good measure! Each of the 137 blocks in this quilt has been different and interesting. Your bonus will be the free patterns for the 36 half-blocks in the border when they're finished! |
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