Discovery Block

by Carole Lyles Shaw

The Discovery block takes a different approach from traditional block design. This block on its own may appear incomplete, but when combined into a 4 x 4 layout, its true beauty comes to life. Create a wide range of secondary designs in the quilt depending on how the blocks are oriented and the use of color within the individual blocks. 

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I love simple geometric shapes. This block is part of my ongoing design series using rectangles and half-square triangles. I love to create secondary patterns that look improvisational by shifting colors and values.
Carole Lyles Shaw
Designer

Carole Lyles Shaw is a modern quilt designer, author and highly sought after workshop teacher. Carole started quilting over 20 years ago when she decided to make quilts for her nieces and nephews. She is largely self-taught but was generously mentored by the heirloom quilters in her first guild, the African American Quilters of Baltimore.

Carole is well known for her bold, maximalist use of rich colors and improvisational piecing techniques that make her quilts lively and exciting. She also loves using simple shapes to create quilt blocks that can be combined in ways that result in complex looking quilts.

Carole co-founded the Sarasota Modern Quilt Guild and served on the Board of Directors of The Modern Quilt Guild from 2015-2017. She is the author of two books and numerous quilt patterns.

www.carolelylesshaw.com
Instagram @carole_lylesshaw

Photos by Laura Loewen

This pattern is available only to members of The Modern Quilt Guild. Not a member? Learn more about joining here.