We have reached the last block on the Diamonds are Forever quilt. I can not quite believe it! Tumbling block 21 sits in the bottom row 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. Also there is one extra mid-toned block to make a half-section at the side of the quilt. Here are the light tone diamond, the mid tone diamond 1, the dark-tone diamond, and the extra dark tone diamond 2.
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. 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 Tumbling block 21
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 stitches mentioned in the article are linked 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 a tutorial written by Allison Aller. You can find Curved Foundation Piecing here.
Light toned Diamond for Tumbling block 21
The PDF for the Light toned Diamond is here.
The main thing you notice about his block is a large section is covered with Woven ribbon roses and Fargo roses. The location of these are marked on the PDF file. The are a Woven wheel stitch worked using a 7mm silk ribbon.
The curved seam that runs along the edge of patch 4 has tatting butting against it with 3 straight stitches topped with seed beads. Along the edge is Running stitch laced with a knitting ribbon. At the peak of the hills created by the knitting ribbon I have 3 straight stitches topped with seed beads.
Lace covers the seam for patch 3. Along the edge I spaced 3 Detached Chain stitches arranged in a fan shape with a bead at the base .
Mid toned Diamond for Tumbling block 21
The pdf for the Mid toned Diamond on is here.
The seam between patches 1 and 4 is covered with one of my favourite lace. I secured it to the block before adding long bugle beads and novelty beads that are in the shape of a flower.
Here another piece of lace covers the middle seam. I secured it to the block using very small stitches before adding beads and lines of French knots worked in a pale blue thread.
The last seam is covered in Feather stitch worked in Rayon Ribbon Floss with bugle beads and small gold disk spacer beads.
Dark toned Diamond for Tumbling block 21
The pdf for the Dark toned Diamond is here.
The main embellishment on this Dark toned Diamond is an ambling spray of abstract flowers. The flowers are lace units that I have cut up and the stems were first marked out on the block using my Stitchers templates before working them in Stem stitch.
The seam along the edge of patch 2 is covered with a hand dyed lace before adding Chain stitch and a vintage button cluster.
Patch 4 has a vintage ric-rac braid covering it. I added 3 Detached Chain stitches arranged in a fan shape before tucking 2 straight stitches topped with seed beads in between the chain stitches. I added the bugle beads last.
Alternating Buttonhole stitch covers the seam for patch 3 which I whipped with a black and gold metallic thread.
Second Dark toned Diamond
Since we are dealing with 1 and half tumbling blocks we have an extra diamond to complete the row. The pdf for the second Dark toned Diamond Tumbling block is here. If you want to make a light triangle to fill-in the space where half a light-tone diamond would go, feel free to do so. On my quilt, the area is the same plain burgundy fabric that I used on the border, but some people might want to continue the tumbling block pattern.
The two central seams consist of Cretan stitch worked in red cotton perle #5 and Buttonhole Stitch worked in Blue cotton perle #5. I added seed beads and the novelty heart-shaped beads last.
Single Detached Chain stitches worked in red cotton perle #5 run along the edge of a commercial braid before adding bugle beads and further embellishing with the red star shaped beads.
Along the edge of patch 4, I used my Stitchers templates to mark a zig-zag line. I covered it with Chain stitch. I added 3 Detached Chain stitches arranged in a fan shape. And last came the bugle beads, blue novelty flower beads and butterflies!
On this final seam, I used my Stitchers templates to mark the curves which I covered with Chain stitch. I then added the brass beads and this completed the block!
A last word … This is the last Tumbling block of the quilt. I am pleased to have finished the series but also I am a little sad. This series has been very enjoyable to write and share how this quilt was made. It turned in to a very interesting personal review for me. I loved watching people stitch each block as the design was released. And seeing how you put your twist on it has been wonderful. You are all so creative!
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:
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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.
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Follow Pintangle and have it delivered to your inbox
You can have Pintangle including TAST delivered to your inbox — just type in your email address and click on the Subscribe button below. Then check your email inbox for a confirmation email and click the link to confirm your subscription. If you don’t see a confirmation email, check your spam folder — sometimes the computer puts it there.
Thank you so much Sharon for the crazy quilt experience… I’ve always fancied doing a crazy quilt this last couple of years have been fabulous, thank you again for sharing. Last 2 and a bit to go !!!