Crazy quilt stitch along Tumbling Block 18

Tumbling block 18 sits second row from the bottom on the right-hand side of the Diamonds are Forever quilt.

You can download the patterns for the three diamonds that make up the block. Here is light tone diamond, the mid tone diamond, and the dark tone diamond.

Just to remind you that the pdfs have NO seam allowances but are to scale. Set your printer to print to the actual size. Do NOT use the ‘fit to page’ option as it will reduce the diamonds by half an inch or so. When you print them out, they should have 6-inch sides. So I advise you to use Adobe Acrobat™ as a PDF reader (it’s free).

When embellishing, feel free to follow what I have done, OR adapt my ideas to your liking. Embellish the blocks as you see fit and have fun and there are no rules in Crazy Quilting!

Tips for Tumbling Block 18

As you stitch keep beads away from the edge of the diamond and give yourself a generous seam allowance. When you piece the diamonds into blocks you will break your sewing machine needle if it hits anything hard.

As usual, I have linked stitches mentioned in the article to tutorials usually in the Stitch dictionary so people can know how to do them.

When foundation piecing your diamonds try and make sure that you don’t have a seam ending at one of the points of the diamond. When you come to piecing your diamonds into blocks you don’t want to be dealing with bulky diamond tips or corners.

If you need a tutorial on curved piecing take a look at a tutorial written by Allison Aller. You can find Curved Foundation Piecing here

Light-toned Diamond On Tumbling Block 18

The PDF for the Light toned Diamond is here.

I covered three of the seams on this block in hand-dyed lace and then embroidered along the edge of the lace. The first seam illustrated above has a line of three Detached Chain stitches worked in a fan shape using a hand-dyed silk thread. Then, in the middle of the fan, at the base, I stitched on a small bead.

For the second lace-covered seam I simply added some small blue seed beads.

I worked the embellishment along the third band of lace. Specifically, I used 2 bugle beads and 3 straight stitches each topped with seed beads. For this, I used silk thread.

Using a rayon thread the seam up the middle of the block consists of alternating quarter Buttonhole Wheels.

The seam to the right of the button cluster is a line of Buttonhole stitch worked in cotton perle #8. Then on every third ‘arm’ I added 2 Detached Chain stitches . In the space between these Detached Chain stitches I added a straight stitch topped with a seed bead. Following this, to the left side of the seam, I added a straight stitch every third Buttonhole stitch.

Mid-toned Diamond on Tumbling Block 18

The PDF for the Mid toned Diamond on is here.

The first thing you notice about this diamond is the silk ribbon iris that are emerging from the button cluster. Specifically, the leaves are made of Leaf stitch which is on page 133 of The Visual Guide to Crazy Quilting Design. The upright central petals of the iris are made using a 7mm ribbon. I worked a Twisted Chain stitch and then the lower petals that point downward are made by two leaf stitches that emerge from under the Twisted chain stitch.

The seam between patch 1 and 2 was covered by lace with a heart-shaped motif running its length. And then at the top of every second heart shape, I added Detached Chain stitches and two straight stitches topped with seed beads. At this point, between the heart shapes I added a seed bead. On the other side of the seam in brown perle #5 thread I worked three lines of Stem Stitch. Along these lines in light brown 2mm silk ribbon I worked Leaf stitch (directions for this can be found in my book The Visual Guide to Crazy Quilting Design) At the top of the stem is a metal novelty charm, 6 petal flower that is secured to the block with a black bead.

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Along the edge of patch 5, I have secured some brown velvet ribbon. Over the ribbon, I used perle #8 cotton thread to work the stems in Stem stitch. Then to the stems I added Cast-on stitch and added a gold bead at the base. Following this, I made these gold flower petals using Bullion Knots wrapped in a Detached Chain stitch. Seed beads top off a row of Straight stitches worked in a metallic thread.

The last seam runs along the edge of patch 4. I covered it in a green commercial braid to which I added beads along the central line. Then along the edge, I added 3 straight stitches in cotton perle #8 and small novelty flower beads secured with a seed bead.

Dark toned Diamond on Tumbling block 18

The pdf for the Dark toned Diamond is here.

You can see that I started these two seam embellishments with a line of Feather stitch. I used a buttonhole twist silk thread. In particular, using the same thread I worked the base of the flowers in Cast-on stitch. Two Bullion Knots formed the buds to which I added two straight stitches topped with seed beads.

A commercial braid covers the seam of patch 4.

For the edge of piece 5, I first covered it with hand-dyed lace. Then, I worked straight stitches on both sides topped with beads or topped them with blue flower novelty beads. Down the center using 7mm hand-dyed silk ribbon I worked a line of Fargo roses

This small detail along the edge of patch 6 is covered with a dark ribbon. Then, along the edge of the ribbon I used Alternating Buttonhole Stitch worked in a hand-dyed cotton Perle #5 thread. I then added Cast-on stitch to the arms before adding two straight stitches to the base and a seed bead to the middle of each flower.

I added seed beads to the butterfly lace motif.

If you are stitching along please share what you do in either of the Crazy Quilt Divas and/or Crazy Quilt International groups on Facebook.

The quilt is on the front of two of my books: The Visual Guide to Crazy Quilting Design and my new book Crazy Quilting for Beginners Handy Pocket Guide. You do not need my books to join in on this stitch along, but I strongly recommend that you have at least the pocket guide, if not the full Visual Guide to Crazy Quilting Design.

Previous blocks in the series

Guidelines and general information about the series:

Tumbling Block 1;

Tumbling Block 2;

Tumbling Block 3;

Tumbling Block 4;

Tumbling Block 5;

Tumbling Block 6;

Tumbling Block 7;

Tumbling Block 8;

Tumbling Block 9:

Tumbling Block 10:

Tumbling Block 11:

Tumbling Block 12:

Tumbling Block 13:

Tumbling Block 14:

Tumbling Block 15:

Tumbling Block 16:

Tumbling Block 17:

Tumbling Block 18:

Tumbling Block 19:

Tumbling Block 20:

Tumbling Block 21:

The next tumbling block in the series will be on July 11th. (I publish a block monthly, usually it’s the second Thursday of the month)

Have you seen my Crazy Quilting book?

My book The Visual Guide to Crazy Quilting Design: Simple Stitches, Stunning Results shares detailed practical methods about how to design and make a crazy quilt. From fabric choice, to balancing colour, texture, and pattern, in order to balance and direct the eye around the block.  I cover how to stitch, build decorative seam treatments in interesting and creative ways. My book is profusely illustrated as my aim is to be practical and inspiring.

Please note if you buy one of my books via this link as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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