Introducing Dance of the Dryads.
What’s in a name? The shape of the octagonal flowers initially inspired the name of this quilt block. A member of the rose family, the Mountain Dryad (Dryas octopetala), also known as the Alpine Rose or Alpine Avens, is a small flower with 8 petals.
However, in Greek mythology dryads were nymphs or nature spirits who lived in trees and took the form of beautiful young women. Although dryads were originally the spirits of oak trees (drys: “oak”), the name was later applied to all tree nymphs.
Whether seen as flowers of nymphs the result is the same, the pattern in the quilt block is reminiscent of a brace or bunch of dryads spinning and dancing around a central tree or dryad.
Dance of the Dryads is an English Paper Pieced octagonal quilt block that finishes at 20″ wide/high. I had intended it to be a cushion top but now I am undecided if that is what I want to do with it. If it is to be a cushion it will be boxed edged and for that I will need an equally decorative back (and sides). If it is not a cushion it will be part of a quilt, and it will need companion blocks. Either way I am heading back to the drawing board to play with shapes and designs.
If you would like to make a Dance of the Dryads block for your next mini quilt, cushion of quilt project you will find the pattern over on my payhip store.
Happy Sewing!
