An Introduction to the AccuQuilt Bright Sampler Quilt Block of the Month

Let’s Get Started

The inspiration for designing the Bright Sampler Quilt was a personal challenge to create a new sampler quilt using both the Mix and Match patchwork dies and the value die shapes that are packaged with the GO!® Fabric Cutter. The eight Mix and Match dies each have an alphabet letter (A through H) and work together to create various 12" finished blocks. Many of these block ideas can be downloaded from accuquilt.com. This set of shapes was originally designed by Jean Ann Wright for the Studio™ Fabric Cutter.

As a designer and consultant for AccuQuilt since 2003, one of my early contributions was to update the shapes to cut off the dog ears and layout multiples of each shape on a single die board for even quicker cutting. The Mix and Match die set divides the blocks into two or four sections. By adding the 4 1/2" square, 2 1/2" square and 2" finished half square triangles on the value die, this opened up blocks that can be divided into three or six sections. The Bright Sampler Quilt features blocks with all these possibilities.

Blocks from any sampler can be used to make one block quilts or to combine two blocks in a checkerboard layout for interesting quilt designs. Changing colors within the blocks can also create new quilts.

The EQ7 computer program is a great way to play with color and block designs. A hands-on approach is to cut different colored paper shapes with the various dies, then trim off the 1/4" seam allowances. Lay out the shapes, twisting and turning them to reveal how the shapes work with each other. Use 12" scrapbooking paper as a background. Once you have a design you like, take a digital photograph, and keep playing with the shapes. The block designs that can be created with these basic squares, triangles, rectangles and parallelograms are almost endless.

The fall colored quilt combines two block designs for a great layout highlighting a floating sashing.	This quilt shows 16 blocks that when combined add a secondary pinwheel design.

AccuQuilt Block Mix & Match System	Quilt Block Letter	Item Number	12" Mix & Match Dies
This is a simple alphabet system—each die has a letter for easy identification.	A	55000	GO! Square-6 1/2"
	B	55006	GO! Square-3 1/2"
	C	55001	GO! Triangle-6 1/2"
	D	55002	GO! Triangle-4 3/4"
	E	55003	GO! Half Square-3"
	F	55019	GO! Square-4 3/4"
	G	55004	GO! Parallelogram 7 1/4" W x 3 1/2"H
	H	55005	GO! Rectangle 6 1/2" W x 3 1/2" H
•  Cut 2 1/2" strips with GO! Strip Cutter-2 1/2" (55017 or 55014) •  Lay strips across GO! Square-4 1/2" (55018) or Strip Cutter-4 1/2" (55054) to cut 2 1/2" x 4 1/2"    rectangles.