100 Blocks: Roundabout

by Carolyn

Designing blocks has been a passion of mine for a long time  so, of course, I was excited to design a block for this special issue. I have always been drawn to the Log Cabin and Roundabout is based on a Log Cabin variation. To add some interest to the block, I decided to piece the colored “logs” from 1″ squares. When the sections are sewn together, it looks like there are two different blocks that alternate.

Roundabout

 

My original thought when I designed this block was that it would look nice sewn in a straight setting.

I used EQ6 to draw the quilt in a straight set.

Roundabout straight set

It looks like there are two blocks that float on a white background. I wondered what it would look like in a diagonal setting. 

 

Diagonal Set

I tried a black background to see what would happen.

Diagonal set with black background

 

I know which one is my favorite. Leave me a comment letting me know which one you like, and I’ll randomly select one person Thursday around 10 to receive a copy of our 100 Blocks from Today’s Top Designers.

It was a revelation to me when I started coloring this design in EQ. When I designed this block, I was drawn to the combination of 30s prints on a white background that I had seen in a different quilt. That’s what I had in mind for this block. And I still like that combination. But when I decided to color the background black, I realized how much it made the design pop. In case you’re wondering, my favorite is the diagonal set on black—it seems like a lot of you agree. A couple people commented that they would like to see partial blocks in the triangles around the edges. I also tried that in EQ and it did look nice, but I decided to just post the diagonal sets with plain setting triangles to “float” the design.

And, now for the winner: #17, Jane. Congratulations! Jane will receive a copy of our 100 Blocks issue.

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83 comments

1 Shayla Sharp { 11.11.09 at 12:12 am }

While each gives a distinctive look, my favorite is the Roundabout on a black background set straight–it not only pops that color out, but reminds me of those images where first you see the one picture and then you see the other. Very fun!

2 Janet { 11.11.09 at 12:57 am }

I like the black background straight set. The colours really pop.

3 Vickie E { 11.11.09 at 1:23 am }

I like the round about straight set in black back ground.

4 Wyo Di { 11.11.09 at 1:33 am }

I perfer the black background, either setting. Thanks for this promotion!

5 lisa { 11.11.09 at 1:40 am }

I am a light and airy person, my apartment is already too dark for my tastes so I’m more drawn to the white blackground on a diaginal. because anything turned 45 degrees is funky and fun

6 Sonja { 11.11.09 at 3:57 am }

I agree, the black background straight wet is my favorite. Love the visual.

7 Sue Bone { 11.11.09 at 4:39 am }

I prefer the black on point.

8 Jill M in OH { 11.11.09 at 4:51 am }

Oh, I love the straight set with the black background. It’s very sharp!!!

9 fleurette { 11.11.09 at 5:01 am }

for me, its the diagonal on black background.
cheers

10 Lisa England { 11.11.09 at 5:01 am }

The straight set on the black background is my favorite. The blocks seem to dance.

11 nanci { 11.11.09 at 6:04 am }

I love the black. It’s a popper colour

12 Aggie { 11.11.09 at 6:22 am }

the black one in the straight set is very striking – would be ineresting to see that one made up.

13 Lynn S. { 11.11.09 at 7:05 am }

I like the roundabout straight set–first one shown!

14 Norma { 11.11.09 at 7:22 am }

I’m really liking the white one set on point

15 Katie B { 11.11.09 at 7:23 am }

I love the straight set with the white background. Very cool.

16 Pauline { 11.11.09 at 7:35 am }

I love the diagonal set with the black background–striking!

17 Jane { 11.11.09 at 7:40 am }

Oh my gosh do I love the straight set and I have a LOT of 1930’s fabrics!!

18 Joanne Klein { 11.11.09 at 7:50 am }

I like the black background set on point…the colors glow!

19 Mindy Peterson { 11.11.09 at 7:58 am }

I love the last one – the diagonal set on black. Black as a background is always dramatic.

20 dianne { 11.11.09 at 8:02 am }

diagonal set with black background – with lottsa brights!

21 Jill Binette { 11.11.09 at 8:03 am }

The black really makes those pastels (which personally, I find rather boring otherwise) POP! The white is sweet but the black is so dramatic.

22 Carol Sc { 11.11.09 at 8:30 am }

All four are striking, but I like the diagonal set with the black background best — gives me an idea for a quilt I am thinking about making.

23 Beth Schnellenberger { 11.11.09 at 8:33 am }

I like the straight set with the black background best.

24 Nancy B { 11.11.09 at 8:38 am }

I like the white straight set. I almost get dizzy looking at it! LOL!

25 Mary Flynn { 11.11.09 at 9:00 am }

The diagonal on black really pops out at me!

26 arlette { 11.11.09 at 9:03 am }

I love the colors you used, I’d like to make it , I adore the white diagonal set

27 Linda { 11.11.09 at 9:05 am }

I love the black background set straight. It really makes the blocks pop and gives it the appearance of the blocks floating.

28 Anita { 11.11.09 at 9:07 am }

I like the white background, but on point. I recognized in the first photo that you used Connecting Threads Mama’s 2 fabric. I like that line…made a tote from one of their kits with that fabric. It’s a lot of work using small squares, even when you use strips to start. Love the look!

29 Claudia { 11.11.09 at 9:08 am }

I like the black on diagonal set the best.

30 Beth { 11.11.09 at 9:12 am }

I prefer the black point on point. It gives the appearane of a stainglass window.

31 Bev { 11.11.09 at 9:16 am }

It’s black and white to me……..I like the black background with blocks set straight. All that color shines!

Bev

32 Esther { 11.11.09 at 9:18 am }

The roundabout straight set with a white background. It’s just so light and airy.

33 Cory { 11.11.09 at 9:19 am }

I like the diagonal setting with the black background best. It makes the colors stand out really well. Thank you. Take care and God bless, Cory

34 Cecilia Young { 11.11.09 at 9:30 am }

I like the diagonal setting on white the best. It would look great in the 30’s fabrics.

35 dee { 11.11.09 at 9:43 am }

I like the black background, straight set. – Very pretty.

36 Lisa { 11.11.09 at 9:53 am }

I like the diagonal set on white.

37 Jan { 11.11.09 at 9:59 am }

I like the diagonal on white however I would prefer it with half squares filling in the large spaces of white.

38 Melissa C { 11.11.09 at 10:00 am }

I like the straight setting on black.

39 Michelle { 11.11.09 at 10:01 am }

I like the diagonal setting on black. It leaves room for fancy thread play.

40 gill { 11.11.09 at 10:11 am }

i prefer roundabout straightset on a white background

41 Sherri { 11.11.09 at 10:19 am }

Diagonal set…white background! And what a fun block!

42 Pokey { 11.11.09 at 10:34 am }

The diagonal set with black background looks like stained glass! That’s the one that caught my eye. Thanks!

43 Beth { 11.11.09 at 10:34 am }

I like the black background straight set the best. Thanks for the giveaway.

44 Sarah Vee { 11.11.09 at 10:37 am }

The white set on point would be great for 30s prints or brights, or batiks, or solids, or anything! It’s my favourite:)

45 DebbieKL { 11.11.09 at 10:44 am }

Funky! I really like the black background. Can’t decide if I like the straight or diagonal one better – maybe straight. Thanks!

46 DianeY { 11.11.09 at 11:06 am }

I really like it with the black background set staight. I thought I didn’t like a lot of black in quilts, so this was a real revelation to me!

47 quiltgranny { 11.11.09 at 11:17 am }

I like the black diagonal setting It is beautiful.

48 Mary Beth Porch { 11.11.09 at 11:20 am }

I love the straight version with the black background. The blocks just kind of jump out at you! Great idea!

49 Kris S { 11.11.09 at 11:37 am }

Definitely the black background – diagonal set. It really pops!

50 Surprise Winners! on 11/11 close to 11:11 am MST | Quilty Pleasures Blog { 11.11.09 at 11:44 am }

[...] Since today is 11/11, I’ve been watching for comments this morning and no comments came in at exactly 11:11 am, so I picked the comment before and after, both are on Carolyn’s 100 Blocks: Roundabout post. [...]

51 rachel { 11.11.09 at 11:57 am }

my fav is the roundabout straight set with the white background.
i’m a sucker for quilts with alot of white in them.

52 Doris { 11.11.09 at 1:16 pm }

I like the white straight set…lovely!

53 Susan { 11.11.09 at 1:58 pm }

I like the straight set white background!

54 becanne { 11.11.09 at 3:07 pm }

I love black backgrounds! The straight set has me itching to pull out some bright batik scraps and get stitching!
Love this idea, can’t wait to check out how the block is constructed.

55 JoAnne { 11.11.09 at 3:13 pm }

Wow, Carolyn! I think I like the diagonal set with the white background the best, it is so pretty!

56 Barbara { 11.11.09 at 3:20 pm }

I love the black straight set! I really pops!

57 Becky in Georgia { 11.11.09 at 3:30 pm }

I like the roundabout straight set in white. It has a vintage quilt feeling. Good luck in your decision.

58 Jaylene { 11.11.09 at 3:54 pm }

I like the round about straight set in the white. I love the pattern.

59 Cindy B { 11.11.09 at 4:08 pm }

Diagonal Set is my favorite. I would like to make this quilt in 30’s prints. The design reminds me of a farm with lots of fields surrounding the house and out buildings, including a hen house!

60 Maureen { 11.11.09 at 4:09 pm }

Wow..the black background on point is a stunning layout!! Nice job!!

61 Jean Kritenbrink { 11.11.09 at 4:12 pm }

I like the floating of that block! My favorite is the on-point with black background.

62 Sheila Carita { 11.11.09 at 4:14 pm }

I like the diagonal set on the black background!! Very dramatic!

Sheila

63 Kerry { 11.11.09 at 4:54 pm }

I like the straight set with the black background! The black just pronounces those colours beautifully!

64 Sheila Bayley { 11.11.09 at 5:16 pm }

I like the straight set on black background. Really stands out!

65 eleanor seltzer { 11.11.09 at 5:49 pm }

My vote is for the straight set with the black background. The black makes those bright colors really shine.

66 Karen in Breezy Point { 11.11.09 at 7:39 pm }

The straight set on black is very cool–my fav for sure!

67 Frou { 11.11.09 at 7:53 pm }

I like the white background straight up, as I’m imagining making this quilt using my copious 1930s stash!

68 Virginia Hendricks { 11.11.09 at 8:37 pm }

the black with a diagonal set. neat!

69 Loy { 11.11.09 at 9:00 pm }

I like the straight set on the black background. I reminds me of thousands of city lights sparkling in the darkness. I also like the optical illusion quality where the squares seem to be moving back and forth.

70 bingobonnie { 11.11.09 at 9:33 pm }

ooough I think you saved the best for last – my favorite is the Diagonal set with black background

Thanks for all the fun chances to win during the celebration of the 100 best blocks!

Love from Texas! ~bonnie

71 Holly Elder { 11.11.09 at 10:50 pm }

I like the black straight setting. It makes my eyes buzz! THanks for the chance…..
Holly

72 Renee from Billings, MT { 11.12.09 at 12:29 am }

Wow! what a difference in each, and either color they look like floating blocks. Great idea, plus I am thinking it would work with any color so to make one for the guest bedroom would be great to match the color scheme in there. Thanks for the show and tell.

73 Trisha { 11.12.09 at 2:06 am }

I love the straight with black. Very cool!!!

74 Janelle { 11.12.09 at 2:32 am }

I love the straight set on the black! It looks fantastic!

75 Helen in the UK { 11.12.09 at 4:00 am }

What a great block for using scraps!! I think the straight set with the black background is my favourite – very dramatic

76 cabesh { 11.12.09 at 6:07 am }

I think I like the straight set on white….but I’d probably like to try the diagonal too. They’re all fantastic.

77 sheila { 11.12.09 at 6:33 am }

The Diagonal black just really sets off all the wonderful colors used. It just plain pops No doubt that is my favorite.

78 Darlene B { 11.12.09 at 6:57 am }

I like the black background with the diagonal setting. It’s gorgeous!

79 Nancy { 11.12.09 at 7:23 am }

I really like the straight set in a diagonal. I think it would be very pretty to see this with the colors used as triangles to finish the border of the quilt in the zig zag. I’m new to quilting and have not yet tried anything other than a straight egde border, but I really think this would look terrific! and I’d be willing to give it a try for sure!

80 Laura Tawney { 11.12.09 at 9:53 am }

I like the diagonal set on the white background!
Laura T

81 Susan G { 11.12.09 at 10:04 am }

I like the straight setting on the black background.
Susan in NC

82 Pam Gilmore { 11.12.09 at 12:10 pm }

The BLACK BACKGROUND!!! What more can I say?

83 Surprise Winners! Secret Word of the Day | Quilty Pleasures Blog { 11.12.09 at 4:18 pm }

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