Tutorial – Reaction or Night and Day Quilt
As part of a 30 blocks in 30 days challenge, I stumbled on today’s tutorial last year. It is called Reaction and it comes from Carla at Creatin in the Sticks. I have heard the block or quilt also referred to as Night and Day. In her tutorial for the block, Carla shared two different ways of constructing the block. I chose one of the methods to share with you today, but please check out the second method in the link above. The difference between the two methods is basically when the pieces are cut to size. Either before or after sewing the fabrics together.
Reaction Block:

Reaction or Night and Day block
I just love the fabric Carla used in her Reaction block. It looks like Moda Grunge to me with a nice crisp white. Here is how I would construct the block which is her second method.
Reaction Ingredients:
For each block in 2 contrasting colors:
1 – 3″ x 11″ fabric
1 – 5.5″ x 6″ fabric
First you cut each of your fabrics in the sizes listed above. Then you will sew a seam along the 11″ side of the rectangle and along the 6″ side of the nearly-square piece. Next, you will cut them in half as pictured on the right above. You will then rearrange the pieces into the final arrangement for Reaction:
Sew all the seams together and you will have your first Reaction block complete in all its glory. Isn’t she beautiful?!
Reaction Layouts:
Carla shared two different layouts, and one of them she also made into a model. Here are just two of the possible layouts you could choose:
I am of course drawn to the rainbow version. I also love the sashing and cornerstones used to separate and highlight each block. Here is Carla’s finished quilt top for inspiration and temptation.
You can easily see that not all solids were used for all of the blocks or the cornerstones. There surely will be some leftover fabrics from the Regatta quilt in many different shades of blues and greens. Nineteen if I recall correctly, and this quilt has twenty blocks. Hmm. Perhaps this might be a good use for that leftover fabric? It would almost be a freebie when sashed with leftover fabric from John’s Pinwheel Rail Fence quilt, and cornerstones pulled from stash.
What do you think? Have I tempted you into adding another quilt to your make-soon list? If you do make one, I would LOVE to see it. Our other Linky Parties can be found by clicking the link for more quilting fun – check out what our friends are up to. Like/follow us on our Facebook page and you can share your photos of what you’re working on. We would love to see them!
Hi Roseanne, I thought that the quilt looked familiar….I made a quilt a couple of years ago called the Bali Back Flip (Jan 2016). It was done without sashing and with beige and browns. Very different but easy to do. I do like that very colourful version though. Lots more fun.
Hi Andree,
I’ll have to check out your version! That color combination of beige and brown is one of my favorites but we don’t use it often. Thanks for commenting and visiting – I appreciate it and hope you come again! ~smile~ Roseanne
Maybe tempted – when you said the Regatta leftovers. I’ve been wondering what I would do with those! We’ll see. Definitely with the sashings and cornerstones, as I don’t care for it set solid. Thanks for the idea. I was running out. LOL
Hi Susan,
I’ll just bet you were running out of ideas! HAHA! NOT! I think I have another idea for the Regatta leftovers . . . doll quilts. I’ll post about it next week. ~smile~ Roseanne
Roseanne, I think it would be a great place to use some of your leftovers. I’m drawn to the second quilt. I like the simplicity of the two colors. I’ll be watching for your version. 😊
Hi Cindy,
Don’t hold your breathe though – I cannot start another quilt now. Sue is pulling fabrics for an I Spy quilt for D . . . and I am up to my eyeballs in Postcard and quilting the Regatta. ~smile~ Roseanne
Ok! I won’t. 😁
Oh no!!! Your tutorial looks very tempting! And it is very close to what I am planning on doing with left-over fabric from a quilt I made my husband. When I first saw it, I was dreading being tempted … Oh dear … now I have another decision to make! 🙂 I think I’ll bookmark the page and visit it later! Perhaps, resisting temptation! Ha! Thanks, Roseanne!
Hi Gail,
I am a little sorry about tempting you, but it can just kind of stick in the back of your mind. At some point you’ll have the perfect application for this pattern and then BAMM! You’ll say hey – I need to make that one pattern . . . with this fabric. This is definitely one of my favorites – in either multi-colors or just two. I would have a hard time deciding. ~smile~ Roseanne