Well I'm trying OBW with this fabric, but I don't think its working? I found my repeat every 6" and cut on this. So I have 6 stips at 6" wide all matched up ok I know thats right but is it too much. What am I doing wrong can anyone PLRASE help? Thanks

I love OBW's, but I'm not seeing enough variation across the fabric to make this one work ... might have to repurpose the triangles or hexes.

You didnt ruin a yard of fabric. I personally would use the triangles for another pattern. Look how far ahead you are on cutting for your next quilt if you decide to go that route! :)So many things you could do with this pattern.

ooh, I just picked up some of that print for a NICU quilt ~ yes, I think you maybe need a little more contrast for the OBW... but those would be darling with a blue or green for the quilt that is all that shape triangles (name eludes me right now)

I agree on both counts

Yes, I see too much of the fabric looks the same. You need to choose a fabric that has more differences. This one is just too similar all the way through. You can use this for something else though.

The fabric is too similar. Maybe make it a quilt with triangles.

Usually for a OBW the repeat should be in the range of 12 - 24". Less than that, like the fabric you have, there is not enough variation. Look for big, large scale prints with more variation like these:

Not enough contrast in the fabric as others have said. You might try to use your triangles as star points for another try at the technique. Here's what I did with my first try at Kaleidoscope blocks. I used the same size triangle for the all of the quilt except the border and a floating strip across the top and bottom. I whacked off the triangles on the sides to make it straight.

the quilt that annaquilts posted is the pattern I was think of :)

Agree! the OP's repeat is too small, and so, it doesn't give much variation and why you are seeing it looking so much alike.

The fabrics posted here are great examples.

Although, I'd be hesitant that the black one may have too much black in the background .... though it may be very interesting. Love the yellow one!

Use two mirrors, to help predict whether a fabric will work for OBW.

Thank you everyone so far for your help, I guess I'll have to dig up another fabric, like that will be hard.lol Keep the samples coming in re: to what I can now do with all of the triangles I now have and any other samples of fabric that I might use. I'll post later tomorrow what I have in my stash and maybe make a decision that way for OBW with everyones help. Talk about UFO's stacking up. I guess thats what happens when you live a couple 100 miles from Roswell, NM. lol

I also like the one that BKrenning posted it uses the triangles to great advantage and you could still use them as the centres or outside the star.

I plan on making one of these triangle quilts. How did you make the white border? Love your quilt!!

Yup.

What you *could* do is alternate them with a coordinating fabric that is more bold, that way it is still OBW but it "slows down" the quilt some...

Looks like you did a great job. I think (MO) that putting a plain fabric around the blocks would make them stand out better.

Ok here are some of the fabrics that I have in my stash which 1 will work better as a OBW.

The first would be awesome ... so much happening there, and so many colours!!!

If you want to see how they'd look, take two mirrors and stand them together, move them in closer til you see the six reflections. Or of considering 4PP, stand them at right angles to get 4 reflections.

Do you have atleast six repeats?
And are the repeats at least 12" apart?

#1 or #3 are my vote, if you have enough "repeats" of the design...

#1 is my choice.

#3 might give a lot of white space blocks ... hard to tell here, without knowing the "size" of the print. I'd sure be checking it out with the mirrors.

The other two might be OK, but you will have less variation, certainly more varied though, than the original turquoise one you started with.

Not enough contrast in the fabric for a OBW.....However you can add what you have to other coordinating colors and prints.......would make a nice crazy quilt......

Of your new fabrics, I choose all of them, as long as you have enough repeats. For your initial attempt, I might try to alternate the triangles with a solid yellow or white. And if nothing else, there's always the next project. NO, you did not ruin a yard of fabric. The only way to do that is to have thrown it away before asking for opinions. :-)

Of your new fabrics, #1 would be spectacular! Then #3, although there might be a lot of white space. #2 is going to be too much like your first attempt with not enough variation. #4 is hard to say without knowing the actual size of the motifs/repeats.

she and I are emailing... I'm helping her see the repeats...
this is the visual I just gave her (visual aids for anyone else struggling with OBW's) ~ that's what we're all here for! These are quickies from fabric #3, it just happened to be the first pic on the email she sent me.

Now how did you do that?
I'm thinking a specific program?

yes, I am a graphic designer, so have extra toys you guys won't have... 27 years of working with all sorts of logo design and layout programs... I created these between PhotoShop & FreeHand (a vector-based program, kinda like CAD)

This is one of my ways that I can recreate darn near any pattern out there, and design my own... working on a 4-foot tall Betty Boop applique :) :) :)

This type of ability makes teaching super easy!

You're going to now have everyone wanting you to do this for them in the future! :)

ROFL ~ shoulda keep my mouth shut? LOL I am thinking of making a tute, the problem is, I know the mechanics of an OBW, its simple geometry to me... but I have not made one yet LOL. I have a very analytical mind... I get teased, most people can either create, or do math... Ok, spilling the beans here... I am 51% left-brained and 49% right brained... very few like me out there... so I am blessed with both, and loving every minute of it!

Exactly where I went .... she's going to regret this!

I solved the problem the other day and bought two mirrors at the $ $tore ... $2 and I've got my high tech method in tact!!!! :)

I thought that fabric would be terrific ... was just hesitant on the white open space. Instead it's going to give the quilt a beautiful crisp look. The other colours are gorgeous!

Here is an explanation I just emailed, and I think it will answer a lot of questions for many... sorry, its a little technical, as I have designed deli papers with logos, and wrapping papers... same basic process as fabric design...

When the printing plates are made to print on something like this (wrapping paper, fabrics, deli paper with logos) the art is done at precise measurements to wrap the plate around a specific printing press. There are hundreds of cylinder sizes... But the art is repeating along the length of the fabric, not the width, hence the need to find your repeat along the selvedge, ensuring that the "purple flower" your looking for a repeat of is the exact same measure UP from your selvedge on both. If the fabric is run thru the printingpress crooked, trying to cut a repeat via the WOF will shift nearly every time.

too tired to finish this will wait for morning

ok, this is working with fabric #1 ~ that is a 12" repeat... so thinking of 4" triangles (finished size)... so this is the visual:

HINT! ... for a 12" repeat, the math says 4" strips for the hex pieces. Use 11-3/4", to give you a wee bit of "fudge-factor". Otherwise if you fall off a wee bit, you lose a lot of fabric.

Fabulous!! I love it, if I had that program I would spend ALL of my time at the computer!!

Exactly - I have 4 fabrics that I layed out and tried for OBWs and all 4 were printed slightly off and could not be used. The only other one I had was a dark, muted fabric and it was chosen due to the fact that I had no other. I'm in the process of sewing it together now......great explanation, thanks!

OK what is a OBW..looks like a kalidoscope to me..which I am familiar with..thanks.Kathleen

Kathy-it is called a One Block Wonder. :)

Thanks Angie...why couldn`t I figure that out..lol