Joseph's Coat - Drafting your block, creating a placement guide & template shape

Drafting the block...

Go make yourself a cup of tea or a glass of wine, get comfortable and take some deep calming breaths ... this part of the project is going to involve a little geometry .....

You are going to need a sheet of paper about 22" square ... join together some smaller sheets if you have to. I suggested using A3 sized paper ... for those of you who aren't familiar with A3 paper ... it is twice the size of an A4 sheet of paper ... does that help? ;) Which ever way you manage to come up with your big piece of paper to draft your pattern onto is really irrelevant .... providing you can some how protect it as you will need to refer to this sheet throughout the entire project.

Place your sheet of paper on a flat surface, collect your compass, ruler & eraser ... although I'm sure we wont make any mistakes so we wont need the eraser anyway!

Lock your compass at 5 1/2" which will ultimately give you an 11" block.

 
In the centre of your sheet of paper draw out a circle.

Place the point of your compass on any point around the circumference of the circle and draw another circle. This circle's cicircumference should intersect the centre of your original circle.

 
Now place the point of your compass on one of the points where the second circle intersects the original circle's circumference - draw out another circle. The circumference of this 3rd circle should intersect the centre points of the first and second circles.

Now place the point of your compass on the point where the 3rd circle intersects the first circle's circumference - draw out the 4th circle. The circumference of the fourth circle should intersect the centre points of the first and 3rd circles.

Continue in this manner until you have drawn out a total of 7 circles where circles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 all intersect at the centre point of the first circle.

 
 
You should now see the makings of the center of your block - being that of the 6 petal shapes that converge at the centre of the circle. We now need to draft a further 6 petal shapes to frame the block.

Place the point of the compass at the point where the circumferences of the 7th & the 2nd circles intersect. Draw an arc that intersects the centre points of the 2nd & 7th circles.

Place the point of the compass at the point where the circumferences of the 2nd & the 3rd circles intersect. Draw an arc that intersects the centre points of the 2nd & 3rd circles.

Continue in this manner until all of the 6 petal shapes have been drafted to frame the original circle block.

 
 
You now have a placement guide to help you with positioning your applique shapes on your block. You will need to refer to this placement guide throughout the project so it's a good idea to laminate it to preserve it's integrity because if you are anything like me it will be dragged all over the place with you!

 
Creating the petal template ...

At this point you will need to make yourself a template of a petal shape that you will use throughout the project to draft out all of the petal shapes in the quilt and trust me there a whole hell of a lot of them!!!

Use a little tape to secure your template plastic over one of the petals you have created. Locate the centre points of the two intersecting circles that have created this petal. Using your compass carefully re-draw the arcs to transpose the petal shape accurately onto your template plastic.

Using a small sharp pair of scissors cut out the petal shape on the line you have drawn .. if you cut out either side of the marked line of your template it's size will be either slightly smaller or slightly larger than what you ultimately want it to be.

 
Check the template for accuracy by positioning it over the original petal. It is important that this template is accurate as you will be using it to create all of the petals in the quilt and they all need to fit together snugly ... a bit like a jigsaw puzzle.

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That's it for today ... not very exciting so far is it? Setting up is always a little tedious ... but very important all the same to make sure the project comes together nicely.

I'll be back on Tuesday with the next steps which will be much more fun and a whole lot more colourful!!!

Great to see some of the blogless girls joining in with their newly created Flickr pages .... which reminds me .... I will establish a Flickr Group this week so that we can share our progress once we start putting together our blocks. I figure that this will be a great place to share our progress, be inspired by each others colours choices and chat.

I appreciate everyone's goodwill in relation to this project. Please do not use this pattern for profit in any way ... the pattern & directions are given in good faith and is intended for your personal use only and not to be reproduced in anyway. Lets keep it nice!

Kellie

Comments

[Lisa]

Can't wait to see the colour schemes that everyone uses!

[Melanie Pentecost]

Kellie, the list of folks participating is now gone. I was enjoying going to each person's blog to get to know them. Any chance of that list reappearing? Or am I looking in the wrong place?

Thanks!

Melanie

[Jasmine]

This will keep me out of trouble while the kids are at school ;) I'm really looking forward to getting started! Call me crazy, but the pattern drafting stage looks fun to me...

[Janet]

Thanks Kellie, I love playing with the compass, this will be fun for me.

[rebecca bird]

so excited! been waiting all day for this to appear...man of the house ferreting around in his garage for a lockable compass........Rebecca NZ

[Vreni]

So far so good. I just like to share a little hint about the paper; I usually use the heavier Velum paper (I think it's also called architect's paper) for projects like this. It's strong, yet with smooth and translucent surface available in A3 size and can withstand a lot of dragging around without the need for laminating.

[Rachelle]

Fantastic Kellie! That's my Monday night sorted!

Rachelle x

[Danielle]

Thanks very much Kellie! My circles are drawn and look fabulous. Just one tip - an A3 page on its own is not big enough - maybe two taped together? I used a sheet of cardboard 20 x 25 inches and had to tape sheets of paper top and bottom (on the long sides) as it wasn't quite big enough. The 22 inch square measurement you give should work fine though.... Danielle

[Knitterbocker]

Wow Kellie, thanks for all of this. You are putting in so much time and effort and it's much appreciated. I think I have just linked with flickr too, another first for me.... now, where did I put that compass?

[Gina]

I like it already! Can't wait to draft my pattern today. Your instructions are clear and straightforward. This is going to be a great project!

[flossyblossy]

whooo hoooo! Can't wait to get my compass out!

[Sally]

Glad to be able to get started. Think I'm needing some "Do Not Disturb" signs posted while working on the draft. Thanks for the detailed instructions. Hope I don't have to pick up the eraser too often. Sally

[Sherrie Letzter]

I have my husband looking for the compass now, so I can get started! I am still debating my color choice at this time. Can't wait to see everyone elses pictures! Your instructions look very good Kellie.

[Chris H]

Super ce sont des explications très claires pour commencer... J'attends avec impatience la rentrée des classes (ce mercredi pour la france) pour débuter mon projet.

[KarrieLyne]

Oh my!! I feel like I get to make spirograph designs again.. Yay! However,the ONLY thing I forgot on my list was that silly compass!! Off to the store to grab it up to start drawing! I can't wait to see how everyone puts theirs together (color scheme and stuff). Thank you so much for putting this together!!

[Sally]

I did it! Hooray! Haven't used a compass since high school. I confused my kids; they wanted to know why I couldn't find North from my own house!

[Erica K]

Oh, I am excited! I love the first set of circles...it's very inspiring! Now to comb the house to find these things...

[Anna]

I'm using compass method to show my kids and my students at school that I still use math all the time, even for my pleasure and my art. I'm going to show them my drafting and then let them draft one too. Good going with the easy-to-follow directions.
~anna in md, right near DC
www.bohemiancotton.blogspot.com/

[KarrieLyne]

Kellie,
Okies, I got my pattern drafted and it was actually fun :) I was wondering though, before I get it laminated, do we only need the circle part or will we need the extra stuff outside of the actual pattern too? What I'd like to do is cut it out into a 12.5 x 12.5 square so it is more manageable. Would this be ok to do? Thanks again for doing this quilt along! I am so excited to see how this comes along :)
Karrie

[anina]

Wow! Scary.

[Elizabeth K.]

i had some issues trying to do this with a everyday compass, it kept moving and would not stay locked in one place. So i borrowed a Drafting Compass from my brother and it worked great! I am trying to work up something to put on my blog for tomorrow about my "fun" trying to get the old compass to work!

[Gloria J W]

Thanks Kellie....now I've downloaded that pages..ready to do tonight! Looks great...I'll need to push myself along to keep up..my dear friend Wendy is coming along with this one too...so we'll vie with each other and keep ourselves moving along nicely. Thank you so much for all your efforts. Rainbow smiles
Gloria

[NADINE]

THANKS, Kellie, for these clear explanations ! (and THANKS also to the tips I read in the comments above ;>)
Now, to draw those circles and make a nice, exact template...
However I'll have to wait until next Tuesday for a big sheet of paper, as tomorrow is legal holiday here.
Can't wait starting this wonderful project, and seeing all colors schemes ! As to mine, I thought it's now the perfect opportunity to use that beautiful Moda Jelly Roll I got last month...
Gratefully,
NADINE in Belgium

[Alison]

Great, now I can borrow teen's maths equipment (for a change).

Kellie, I made a button out of your Joseph's Coat pic and added it to my sidebar - I hope that's ok. I just copied the photo and added it as a gadget with a link to your page.

Now just have to wait (impatiently) for the camel to deliver the fusible stuff from distant shores,
Alison, singapore

[greetingarts]

Uh oh. My eyes are glazing over, and I'm starting to lose it... don't know if I'm up to getting past this first step (I know, I'm a wimp!) but I'm still excited to trot along with the rest of you and get inspiration and maybe a bit of courage. Thanks so much for these detailed and thorough instructions, I know they must have taken quite a bit of time to draft for us. Happy November!

[SandyN]

Thanks Kellie, What a lot of work... we all appreciate it...

Sandy N

[wendy]

Woohoo....how exciting to see it form before your eyes from a completely blank canvas!!!! Thanks Kellie...can't wait to get started
sugary hugs
Wendy B 'o)

[Alicia Key]

Great instructions, Kellie. Thanks so much for all your efforts! It's going to be an awesome quilt.

[Charlo]

Yay! All drafted. Thanks for the easy to follow instructions.

[Elizabeth K.]

Thanks much for all the work you have already, and will continue to put in this project!
Finally! I got the pattern drafted. I had issues with my own compass not staying at the correct measurement so i borrowed a drafting compass from my brother and it worked great. I got a little story posted on my blog about getting started on the project, can't wait to see the next step!

[Ingrid]

Really love this! On my blog I linked back to your blog Kellie and I've tried twice to put my name on the list. But it doesn't appear there. What am I doing wrong? Thanks for this Quilt-A-Long.

[Lois Grebowski]

yikes! geometry? lol

[kris]

Ah! The kind of maths I like!

[Edna]

Ok, so I got out the only compass I could find which is a leftover from when my kids were in school. My first problem is that it will not open to 5.5". It's max is a bit over 4.5 so I am just going to make mine slightly smaller. I figure my block will be about 9" finished. Hope this is right?? Now I have another questions:
-- I would like to make a smaller quilt - perhaps lap size. Any chance you could give background fabric requirements for other sizes?

[Rachel]

This may take me all year, but I am excited to try! yay! :D

[SİLLELİ72]

TASARIMLARINIZ ÇOK GÜZEL.BENİM diyen yapamaz Ü. MODELLERİ.GERÇEKTEN ÇOK Tebrik EDİYORUM.İNŞAALLAH BENDE YAPABİLİRİM.SİZE BAŞARILAR.ÇOK öpüyorum ... SEVGİLER ... TARAFINDAN ...

[Martine]

Oh my God !! what a beautiful work !!!! i am not a quilter i wish i were an aussie girl to make all these beautiful projects!! I didn't know that people wear gloves for quiilting !
all the best from France

[Leesa]

Does anyone know where I can buy Stitch and Wash in Queensland please?

[Holly]

So, kids. Cheap is, well, cheap. The $1.19 locking compass is really a "locking" compass. Note the quotes. "Invest" in a good compass for a whole whopping 5 to 10 bucks and you'll be much happier and will actually have success with your project. :-)

I love the tutorial and appreciate all the hard work you've done on it! Once I get a good compass later today, I'll be getting down to work on it! :-)

[Jordan Flipsyde]

Chance to read your blog, I really like your blog, let me learn a lot! I will focus on your blog, refuels!

[Ruth Ann]

Can I use this info and not join a group?