I was so excited when my block, Parallel Lines was chosen as a finalist in the Modern Quilts Unlimited Fresh Ideas block challenge. The 9 finalists and 3 winners’ names were listed in the Fall 2013 issue (page 26).
Parallel Lines Block Designed by Christa Watson
You can view pictures of all the finalist blocks on MQU’s website. Each of us finalists gets a free one year subscription to the magazine, so that’s not a bad deal for a fun bit of designing. (Who else loves to quilt for for freebies?!)
The three winners got a few extra goodies and are each having their quilts patterned in current and future MQU issues, so congrats goes out to each of them. 🙂 The first one was amazing and I can’t wait to see the other two!
Modern Quilts Unlimited Fall 2013 – I love this magazine!
I designed and made my 12″ Parallel Lines block using paper piecing techniques. However, I’ve been toying around with the idea of what it would look like as a 6″ block repeated over the surface of the quilt.
Here’s a quick sketch I came up with showing what a quilt would look like using my block. I like to keep things simple, so I’ve chosen a clean grey/white color scheme. But wouldn’t these be fun to make in a rainbow of colors?
Parallel Lines Quilt Design, 36″ x 36″
Click here or the picture below for a free download of the paper pieced block template in the 6″ version. You can print it off as many times as you like to make the number of blocks needed. You can also enlarge it on a photocopier to a bigger size, if desired.
When you click the image below, it may not show correctly in Firefox. Be sure to save it to your computer first and view it in another pdf viewer (like Adobe Reader, etc.).
Parallel Lines – Click above to download the paper pieced template.
I’m not calling this a pattern because I haven’t included any instructions on how to paper piece it – but there are many wonderful blog tutorials out there including this paper piecing tutorial from the Quilter’s Cache.
I’ve also included an EQ7 download for the block and quilt here.
If you decide to play around with this block or make a quilt, please be sure to share it on my flickr group: Christa’s Quilt Along.
Christa Quilts 
I like this block! I’d like to see it laid out all mixed up and “random.”
Thank you Christa! I’ve been looking for a simple paper piecing pattern to try! This looks great! I’ve got just the fabric for it too!
What a great block pattern!
How exciting! Love the simplicity of the block! I have yet to try paper piecing, this makes me want to try it out!
And just think of how the stitching would bring it to life!!!! I love it!!!!! Hugs…….
Thanks for the pattern. I can see this as a rainbow, but I can also see it using a print for the current gray lines along with a solid, or a print for the cream area and a solid gray line color. Congratulations on your block being accepted and winning a free subscription to the magazine.
Thank you so much for a paper piecing pattern I might actually be successful with!!! Love the block and the quilt!!! Be sure to let us know when your block is in the book 🙂 I think doing this with a rainbow of colors would look great, but I love how calm the white/gray combo is!
congrats this is a very cool pattern and I can see it will be very virsatle. (Oh well cant spell this early LOL) Thanks for the pattern.
Love this block! I needed some inspiration for a contemporary quilt for my son and dil. Did you cut fabric on diagonal or did you piece straight lines and cut the block on the diagonal? I enjoy your blog very much.
Congratulations!
You should make all the lines grey, with one block neon orange or something. 🙂 Haha!
Now that’s a clever idea!
I think this new block is great! Also, it’s such a good block for somebody who isn’t 100% comfortable with paper piecing, and then the quilt can have such beautiful and dramatic results. This has definitely gone on my “quilts to make” list. Thank you for the block.
Congratulations! What a neat design! Can’t wait to see this done up as a quilt. So Happy for you!
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Are you kidding…I’d quilt for a freebe! I really love this new block. The gray and cream are so modern. You are really going for all the great accolades that you deserve! CONGRATULATIONS!!!
That’s great! A year’s magazine subscription is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. =)