It turns out that this requirement is that of a Latin square, as studied by the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler.

Another example is my Eschereque cushion, which I didn’t end up quilting, but it’s still arranged using a Latin Square arrangement of four colours.

These two examples are quite simple in that there is only one variable, the colour of the block. Things could be made more complicated by having four colours and four designs of block, for example. In this case, I’d want to have each colour once and only once in each row and column, and each design once and only once in each row and column. I haven’t yet made a quilt that follows these requirements, but I think that’ll be another one for the list! Squares where there are two (or more) classes of variable, where the elements in each class are arranged in Latin squares (i.e. every row and every column contains each element only once) and each cell is unique are known as Graeco-Latin squares.

Euler spent some time on this problem, and worked out that it was impossible to create a 6×6 Graeco-Latin square. You might remember I was planning to make a 6×6 block quilt top for my brother’s quilt, and I wanted to arrange the blocks so that the outer colours were in a Latin square and the inner colours were in an orthogonal Latin square of their own – but as this is impossible, I’ve revised my plan and have gone for a 5×6 arrangement. This means that in each column, there is one instance of each of the six outer colours. I also relaxed the requirement on the inner colours to be in a Latin square of their own, so my brother’s quilt isn’t a Graeco-Latin square, let alone a Latin square – it’s not even a square, after all!

However, I’m pleased to have discovered the existence of Graeco-Latin squares. I won’t try to design any 6×6 Graeco-Latin quilt tops in the future either, but I’m really pleased to discover that a 5×5 Graeco-Latin square for four classes exists.

How else do other people arrange their quilt blocks? Would anyone be interested in a pdf download of Latin and Graeco-Latin squares for quilt arrangements?

I want the finished quilt to be a six-by-six grid using seven different colours. I’ve chosen a fairly muted palette of colours so far – blues, grey, red and cream. I think the last two colours will be yellow and orange, but I still haven’t completely decided. I’ve done the first fifteen blocks, three in each of five of the seven fabrics.

The blocks are quick to piece so I hope it won’t be too long before I have a completed quilt top!

You can read about it here, and can find my brief tutorial on concentric quilting here.

If you’ve used concentric quilting, please consider adding some images of your quilt to the Concentric Circle Quilting Flickr group!

These are my finished projects for 2011:

1. Tea cosy, 2. Screen printing: Cranes and a giraffe, 3. Train cake, 4. Finished wedding quilt for Rosie and John, 5. Finished quilt for Baby W, 6. Big sofa cushion, 7. Lone star cushion, 8. Quilt for Baby C, 9. Finished scarf

I’ve got a few things planned for 2012. There are a few projects that I’ve half-started, or have had in my mind for a few months. I’d like to make a quilt for my brother, based on the Puzzle Block quilt-along. I’ve lost my original pair of Fetching Fingerless Gloves and would like another pair. I’d also like to make some Stirrup Socks.

I’ve also been thinking about making a quilt for my parents. I had intended to make them a quilt for their anniversary in the autumn, but the fabric I want to use (the Kona Cotton FQ Pack in Poseidon) hasn’t been available.

And T’s mittens have disappeared (seems to be a theme here), then I shall be making him some more…

Happy New Year!

I’ve had some time off recently, and have been getting on with a bit of sewing. One of the projects I was working on was a baby quilt for Mel and Liam. I wanted to follow the Charm Squares Baby Quilt by Oh, Fransson. I had charm pack of ‘Arcadia’ by Sanae for Moda and a FQ of one of the fabrics in the Arcadia collection (‘Retreat’ in Ocean), and a weekend at home alone.

First up, I did the necessary cutting and laid out the pieces.

Then there was a trip to the fabric shop for sashing and backing fabric followed by zig-zagging some bits of batting together to make one large bit of batting, and then it was ready to sandwich.

I had just enough fabric for the binding. It’s now washed and ready to give to Mel and Liam! The weather’s been so bad that I’ve struggled to get any decent photos of this quilt, but hopefully this shot with some fairy lights will do until the weather improves…

The quilt pattern (Charm Squares Baby Quilt by Oh, Fransson) is fantastic free tutorial from Elizabeth Hartman. It’s quick and easy, as promised, and the final result is a lovely handmade present for any new baby.

I don’t think there is any more space on the sofa for cushions now!

I’ve got six balls of the (sadly discontinued) Rowan Bamboo Soft in a steel blue colour (“Cambria”), some of which is destined for this scarf by Veronik Avery (free from Knitty), but I’m also considering making another pair of these fingerless gloves by Cheryl Niamh (also free at Knitty) and potentially another pair of these stirrup socks (Purl Soho).

I’ve also got several balls of Rowan’s Kidsilk Aura in a similar colourway. I’ve got no idea what to do with it though. It’s a nightmare to unpick when I make a mistake, so nothing too hard! Any suggestions?