The Beauty of Two Block Designs

I wasn’t sure if I should show these pictures of my Road to Llano progress since I’m working ahead to check my instructions.  Photos of the top were taken with just the main blocks, then with half of the setting triangles, then with half the corner triangles.  When I looked back at the photos, I was surprised to see how plain and not very striking the quilt would be with just the main blocks.  This is an example of why I love making two block quilts.

Not everyone loves pieced borders, but I hope they’ll see the light some day!  🙂  Seriously, this is what I like — several blocks working together and a pieced border. Seeing this top at various stages of completion makes me realize just how important it is to tweak designs, use alternate blocks, with alternate colorings and to add the pieced borders.

First, I’m going to again show you the drawing of the Road to Llano top I’m working on.

Here are the main blocks on the design wall.

Doesn’t look like much, does it?  Half the side triangles have been added here.

It’s starting to look a little more interesting, with a little more “dimension”.  Here it is with two of the corner triangles added.

The setting and side triangles make a huge difference but the center alternate blocks are going to be what really makes this quilt sing.

I never realized until seeing these blocks on the design wall how much difference those center blocks make.  When I made the first Road to Llano quilt, I made the center alternate blocks first.  Had I made the blocks in this order for the first Road to Llano top, I’m not sure I would have kept going, but I’m glad I did!