Exploring the Basics: The Grid 7x7 Mosaic Block

This month's Quilt Block Remix was for the 7 x 7 Grid Mosaic - which is, well, exactly what it sounds like.  A grid of seven rows of seven squares each.  49 units in the block.  That's it.  Pretty straight forward, pretty simple.

Here is the block.  Yup - pretty straight forward, pretty simple (or is it??? - we'll talk more about this later).  Want to make your own?

MAKING YOUR OWN GRID 7X7 MOSAIC BLOCK

Here's what you'll need:

•    TWO different high contrast 1 1/2" x WOF (40") strips

1. Sew your two strips together.  I recommend pressing the seam open, because this block will have a LOT of seams, and pressing seams open will give you the flattest block possible.
2. Cut (24) 1 1/2" segments from the resulting strip set PLUS ONE 1 1/2" square from your contrast fabric (my blue in the picture)
   
3. Arrange the cut segments so that they alternate contrast (blue) and background (white) fabric.  Note that you will create THREE rows of seven segments each AND one sideways row of THREE segments plus the single 1 1/2" contrast square.
4. Sew the segments together into rows.  Again press your seams open.
5. Sew the rows together.  Yup - press your seams open.
6. Ta-da!  You have a 7" (finished) 7x7 Grid Mosaic block.

Ok - so that's the basic block.  But....what did designers do with this block?  Let's peek at a few!

Duck Creek Quilting

 

Meg's Choice Patterns

 

Modern Roots Stitchery

 

South Wind Quilts

 

Want to see more of the reimagined Grid Mosaic blocks?  Head over to Instagram and search the hashtag #Mosaic7x7Blockblockchallenge.  You'll find the feed for each of the designers that participated, and see all of their fabulous remixed blocks.  Yup - some of them already have patterns available too!  Get all the info (and don't forget to follow them as well) on their individual Instagram feeds!

My thought process: challenge the concept of a grid and take it off kilter. Combine multiple size improv blocks to skew the grid and add movement.

So the first draft was abandoned because it felt too structured, too orderly - yes, I started over.

 

So I really mixed up the block sizes and shapes. And yes - I DO have 49 blocks (a 7x7 grid is 49 - ack! that's a lot of pieces!). But...I also thought it would be fun to challenge what makes up the grid blocks as well!

I embroidered some of the improv blocks in @aurifilthread 12wt. And there's one more "trick" block. Can you find it? Can you find all 49?

 

I'm in the process of quilting this bright beauty (why yes, it IS done in my @islandbatik Kismet line!) with more @aurifil 12wt thread using big stitch quilting. And I'm toying with the idea of some more texture stitches when the outline stitching is done.

 

Since this is small - about 16" long - I used @warmcompany fusible fleece for my batting, because the fusible is light weight and makes it super easy to layer everything. And it hand stitches beautifully!

 

Can you tell I had fun with this one?!

Oh - before you go.......one more thing!  Please come back next week for all of the details on a brand new Quilt Along!  I am so very excited to be hosting this quilt along with the talented Kate Colleran.  And I think you're going to want to join us!  Details next week on the blog!

Head over to Kate's blog to see her insights on the 7x7 Grid Mosaic block too!

Like what you see here, and want to hear more from Tamarinis?

Like me on Facebook, follow me on Instagram, and sign up for my newsletter at www.tamarinis.com!  PS - I'm trying to get to the next milestone number on Facebook and Instagram (I am trying to get 2000+ followers) and would REALLY appreciate your help - so please click and follow!  Thanks so much!

Following is one way to demonstrate your interest in my projects, patterns, and partnerships.  Your comments are also GREATLY appreciated, and provide valuable feedback regarding what inspires you, as well as what you'd like to see explored in future posts.