Orphan blocks are left over blocks from a quilting project or just blocks you tried and did not ever complete enough for a quilt. They tend to accumulate in every quilter’s stash. Then other quilters see your collection and donate their orphan blocks to it.
These blocks can be used individually or in small numbers to create exciting bags, place mats, table runners or even mug rugs for beside your computer. Or you can combine them to make an Orphan Block Quilt.
Collect
All your orphan blocks or sampler blocks
Arrange
Use a design wall to arrange your blocks. Design walls can be created with just a sheet on the floor (flannelette is good), on a bed or hung on a wall. Commercial design walls are also available.
At this stage do not worry if your blocks are not the same size.
There are many different ways to combine the blocks. Some are shown in the photos here. They can have alternate plain blocks of fabric, sashing and cornerstones or just joined together in rows or randomly.
When you are happy with your arrangement take a photo of the layout or sketch it to aid memory.
Audition
Once you have arranged your blocks in a pleasing way there might be spaces you need to fill. You can add fabric to some of the blocks to make them all the same size, or choose fabric for alternate blocks or even sashing and cornerstones. You might need to trim your blocks or add odd shaped blocks to fill spaces in your design or you might just need to choose borders.
Whatever design you have you will need to use fabric colours and designs that allow your blocks to shine rather than compete with them. This is when a good stash of plain colours and fine prints comes in handy.
Start with your block layout then scatter any fabric, no matter how wrong you think it is, around your ‘quilt’. You will be surprised sometimes with the fabric that does the job best.
Try calico, black, colours that are featured in a few of the blocks or colours that form a small part of most blocks.
The magic is that each colour or fabric pattern will bring out something different in the quilt. You need to find the one that gives the quilt the feeling you want.
Variations
Use large corner stones and plain blocks from some of the fabrics found in the orphan blocks.
Create a border from diagonal scrappy blocks like in the quilt here.
Notes and Tips
To make different sized blocks fit together try creating strips of small squares or cut border fabrics to fill the spaces as shown in the quilt below.
Helpful Resource
Project Linus Quilt Block Orphanage at http://blog.quiltingonline.co.uk/2008/05/project-linus-quilt-block-orphanage.html Maybe your group could start a quilt block orphanage!
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