Quilting is an old craft form that requires quilter's to come out with highly free flowing creative ideas. The imagination and creativity of quilters is seen most prominently in the patchwork quilts, which can be made with the help of different shapes, and designs.

Patchwork shapes:

Though patchwork quilts can be drafted in a number of designs and shapes, there are a few prominent designs that are usually found in such quilts. These shapes include the squares, rectangles and bars. The triangles, rectangles and bars are basically used as starting points for cutting and drafting many other patchwork shapes. Beginners also typically begin with these shapes before moving up in their ladder of expertise. Square shapes are made up of four equal sides, with four 90-degree angles. Same is the case for rectangles, which have four right angles. They differ from squares only because they have twice as much length as their height. Bars on the other hand are more cylindrical and look like stretched versions of the rectangles. The magic of these shapes lies in the way they are actually formatted on the quilts. Odd geometric figures like half triangles, odd shaped boxes and circles can also serve as very effective patchwork shapes.

Innovative ideas:

Many beginners try and look beyond the basic shapes for adding uniqueness to their designs. However, with a few innovative ideas, even the basic shapes can be given a character that sets your quilt apart form others. Different types of patch shapes for instance can be assembled in alluring ways. Various colours can be added to give a mesmerizing feel to your quilt. Triangles, squares and bars can also be placed uniquely to create different designs. Contrast can also be used to give the effect of lightness and darkness to your quilt. You can also set your patterns in a symmetrical format or else place the shapes randomly. Thus, with your creative ides, you can add new charm to your quit with the help of different types of patch shapes and designs.