Quilt Notes: QUEEN'S FAVORITE has all sorts of unique qualities. It uses an odd 22 x 22 grid, and it is symmetrical only diagonally in one direction, similar to various layouts for trees, flower or basket blocks, but here upside down. And though rather unimportant, but still very few quilt block names begin with the letter, Q. This illustration also aims for a unique rounding of the corners within the diamonds by way of a fabric design (see left), whilst alternating with solids sharing the same background color. The block is fairly recent in origin, dating to ca. 1970, and illustrated in Jinny Beyer's exquisite QUILTER'S ALBUM (#3257-12), where it is attributed to Quilt Book 130: Keepsake Quilts. The design can be beautifully simplistic in solid colors. Adding fabrics, however, veers it rather toward the absurd, everything seems out of whack, as here, but that very non-conformity actually makes it seem rather endearing. The QUEEN'S FAVORITE is quite modern. For another design drafted on a 11 x 11 base grid, see TRUE LOVERS KNOT. For a whole set of 11-patch designs, see at Google Books, from Maggie Malone's 5,500 QUILT BLOCK DESIGNS (scroll down the Contents link there). Other blocks at this site with unusual characteristics, include: BOX KITE, WHIRLING SQUARE, MIGRATION and Z AND CROSS.