Jan Krentz - Quick Diamond Quilts & Beyond: 12 Sparkling Projects--Beginner-Friendly Techniques

Text copyright 2010 by Jan Krentz

Artwork copyright 2010 by C&T Publishing, Inc.

Publisher: Amy Marson

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Editor: Karla Menaugh

Technical Editors: Ellen Pahl and Sandy Peterson

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Production Editor: Julia Cianci

Illustrator: Tim Manibusan

Photography by Christina Carty-Francis and Diane Pedersen of C&T Publishing, Inc., unless otherwise noted.

Published by C&T Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549

All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be used in any form or reproduced by any meansgraphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval systemswithout written permission from the publisher. The copyrights on individual artworks are retained by the artists as noted in Quick Diamond Quilts & Beyond. These designs may be used to make items only for personal use or donation to nonprofit groups for sale. Each piece of finished merchandise for sale must carry a conspicuous label with the following information: Designs copyright 2010 by Jan Krentz from the book Quick Diamond Quilts & Beyond from C&T Publishing, Inc.

Attention Copy Shops: Please note the following exceptionpublisher and author give permission to photocopy the pattern pullout pages for personal use only.

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We take great care to ensure that the information included in our products is accurate and presented in good faith, but no warranty is provided nor are results guaranteed. Having no control over the choices of materials or procedures used, neither the author nor C&T Publishing, Inc., shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book. For your convenience, we post an up-to-date listing of corrections on our website ( or at P.O. Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Krentz, Jan P., 1955

Quick diamond quilts & beyond : 12 sparkling projects, beginner-friendly techniques / by Jan Krentz.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-1-57120-581-0 (soft cover)

1. Patchwork--Patterns. 2. Quilting. I. Title.

TT835.K7684 2010

746.46041--dc22

2009020113

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

acknowledgments:

I want to thank each quilter and editor who made this collection of quilt designs as exciting and inspiring as it is! A book is as rich as the contributors whose work appears within.

Special recognition goes to each quiltmaker and machine quilter: Betty Alofs, Anna Mae Bach, Kathy Butler, B.J. Coopes, Mary Beth Craig, Frances Cunningham, Jan Darnell, Carol Gilbert, Jacqueline Lacey, Lynne Lichtenstern, Sue Mezera, DAndrea Mitchell, Lee Olson, Carolyn Reynolds, Nancy Rowland, Jane Sassaman, Cindy Stearns, Janet Sturdevant Stuart, Suzanne Taylor, Patricia Votruba, Amy Wazny, Pat Wolfe, and Julia Zgliniec.

Thank you to the C&T editors, graphics designers, and photographers whose expertise made this book shine! I am blessed to have had Karla Menaugh, Ellen Pahl, and Sandy Peterson edit the text and verify the pattern calculations. Thanks to Kristen Yenche, Zinnia Heinzmann, Julia Cianci, Tim Manibusan, Christina Carty-Francis, and Diane Pedersen for your workmanship, inspiration, and artistry.

dedication:

With thanks to my loving husband Don and our family: Ryan, Tanya, Dan, Lindsay, and Ryan O.

I enjoy making and using quilts! Traditional pieced designs are especially appealing to me, and pieced patterns are a great way to learn the skills required to make larger or more complex designs.

For years I have explored eight-pointed star designs and related patterns. While creating one quilt, I am often struck with inspiration for numerous additional quiltsresulting in a series of eight-pointed star designs and diamond quilts. The patterns in this book are based upon traditional designs made in a larger scale. My previous book, Quick Star Quilts and Beyond, featured 20 patterns for colorful, fun star quilts on a grand scale. This book features more 45 diamond patterns that are guaranteed to get you sewing and reduce your fabric stash!

Creating detailed geometric patterns can be challenging. Artists who are new to quiltmaking will enjoy this lighthearted pattern collection featuring larger shapes, with some easy piecing options, and fresh fabric combinations. Seasoned quilt-makers will enjoy the attractive designs that piece together in a relatively short time.

The designs in this collection begin with the 45 diamond, or parallelogram. This shape has two opposing parallel edges, and all four sides are of equal length. It differs from its half-square or right-angle counterpart, whose four sides are not equal. The designs created from the true diamond are more appealing to me.

You can use 45 diamonds in a variety of patterns, including one-patch designs. Smaller and larger diamonds may be combined in the same composition for variety and interest. The diamonds can also be altered in appearance when pieced, or when cut specially to feature prominent fabric motifs.

Versatile 45 diamonds are used in a variety of patterns. If you cut the diamond shapes in half or in quarters with additional seams, you create a myriad of new design possibilities. Other piecing options provide unlimited variations.

Another way to dramatically alter the appearance of the basic shape is to carefully cut the full or partial diamonds to feature prominent stripes or fabric motifs. This is known as