Kaleidoscope Quilt - Need Tips Please
 

I love some of the fantastical kaleidoscope quilts that have been on the scene over the last few years and I'm thinking of making one. Has anyone made one? Got any tips? Thanks.

~ C

Do you have a picture of what you have in mind or a link perhaps? I have found that there are many blocks that very similar names and a million interpretations 😀.

There are several blocks that go by the name Kaleidoscope, can you point us to a search term or page that is what you want?

Ditto to the need for clarity, Tropit ....
.... my crystal ball refuses to bring "your" kaleido into focus! :D

OK, OK...Here's one that I really like: http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/d....966.1288.jpeg

~ C

Ok, I'm going to watch and not participate :) I've done several of the Ruby McKim newspaper version
https://vintagecraftsandmore.com/201...quilt-pattern/

I think this is more the type of thing where you take 6 panels to make a one block wonder.

Thanks for the link ... now we know what you are wanting to do!
That is a OBW = One Block Wonder.
You stack six repeats of the fabric. Then cut triangles, to make your hexie blocks.

Similarly, there is a SAW = Stack And Whack with 8 repeats.
Another is the 4PP = Four Patch Posie. Yes, with 4 repeats.
Same process for all three ... different outcomes.

One spin-off that I quite like is where you use a panel print, seven repeats.
One is left uncut ... which becomes the focal point with the hexies placed around it.

Sooooooooooo ...... the real question .....
What do you really want to know about doing a OBW?

Fabric is key! And they are addicting and a lot of fun to make!

http://oneblockwonder.com/design-helper/

I did a hexagon and a octagon, each has their own merits, YouTube has a lot of videos and I highly recommend Jordan Fabrics for their 2 part tutorial. Theirs is for the octagon version but he really gives great tips for the fabric and it applies to either version.

I have not made one of these quilts yet, but will one day. First is finding the perfect fabric. https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...tail&FORM=VIRE

Edited to add: I love to see the original fabric as either a border or part of the backing so you know where the quilt started from.

A Pinterest site that has amazing examples of the OBW quilts https://www.pinterest.com/teribamert...-block-wonder/

Thanks everyone! You won't believe it. I went to town today and did the shopping. I treated myself to a couple of quilting magazines, (which I do about once every 3 or 4 years.) They were sealed in plastic, so I had no idea what was in them. The issue 62 of <I>Today's Quilter</I> has a big spread on these kinds of quilts! Oh lucky me! They are calling them, "Millefiori," quilts and Willyne Hammerstein is the designer. I love all of them. If any of you have that magazine, please look it up. I wanna make one of those. I'll have to look up her book.

Thanks for that video, Barb.

~ C

Thanks...yes!

~ C

Oh yes...one block wonder is on my bucket list of quilts i'd like to make. I like the idea that Barb suggested of having the original fabric as either a border or part of the backing so you know where the quilt started from.

I have an OBW all cut and the half hexi's sewn, I just need to arrange them, but can't quite get there.It was fun, but you really must have the right fabric because it is a lot of work if you don't. Mine was a bit too blended for my liking. I really liked it Here is the border to the original fabric. but there just wasn't enough contrast.
There is a program that you can enter your fabric into and it will give you all sorts of ideas on how it will look that is useful. OBW Design Helper

Have fun!

Watson

There is a lady that has a blog with great directions and suggestions for the One Block Wonder.
She has made them from panels and yardage. She has tutorials and a downloadable
instruction sheet. https://ifthesethreadscouldtalk.com/blog-posts/

Watson, that design helper is so cool!

QuiltBaer, that tutorial give a lot of great info...thanks. It almost makes me cry to see her cut up that Wizard of Oz print, because I love it.

So, I went on Ebay last night a bought some fabric panels (6 of each) and a few other fabrics that might work. I probably spent more money than I should have, but I like making scrappy quilts too, so I should be able to get a few quilts out of my purchases. I also bought a couple of the books. They were kind of expensive for my frugal lifestyle, but I'll have them for a long time and I can always pass them on to others later. I can rationalize just about anything if I put my mind to it.

I'm inspired by the turning leaves that I noticed yesterday on my drive to town. It's been a dry year around here and some of the oaks are already turning. I want to make a millefiori quilt that resembles the various colors of the leaves. They are so beautiful and delicate. I'm going to have to get out there soon and take some pix for reference.

Alas, I don't have room for a design wall. I'll just have to use the bed to do my layouts, provided that the cat doesn't mind. :) I'm going to start working on it just as soon as my fabric arrives. I'll post pix on the next Quilt Along.

~ C

Kaleidoscope is my absolute favorite quilt to make. I designed my own pattern from seeing a picture on a magazine cover.
https://www.quiltingboard.com/attach...8-blue-kq2.jpg
https://www.quiltingboard.com/pictur...t-t307889.html

I don't know where to start with tips. I've been making them for years.

I guess I'll start with fabric selection. It is the most important. The images have to be the right size. Too big will cause you to lose the effect. Too small causes too busy. I make an eight pieced circle kaleidoscope block as shown in 2nd link above. I form a "triangle" with my hands to visualize! At first, I uses several different pieces of fabric for one quilt, but I found that I prefer quilts that use one fabric selection for all 20 blocks. I buy 4 yards of whatever I think will be used for a kaleidoscope quilt.
I don't understand "stack and whack". I cut each "slice" individually. I think it's called "fussy cut". I use two clear plastic templates: one for the "pie" and one for the "crust". Hint: Retired teacher-I use Xerox sheets for overhead transparencies.
I position the pie piece on the fabric, I pay attention to the tip (past the SA) It makes a more interesting block if the pattern is angled across the point rather than straight across. After I trace around the template with a permanent marker, I trace part of the fabric pattern with a thin permanent marker on the template to help position it for the next 7 pieces. Top, middle, and bottom areas- doesn't need to be too detailed at all.
When I have all 8 pie pieces, I pin them together and clean my template with rubbing alcohol to find next block pattern.
Each block needs 8 crust pieces for which I have developed a system. I chose 7 shades of a background color and cut a stack of outside "crust" pieces from each.( Each block will have 1 color repeated). Keeping in mind that 4 pieces mirror the other 4 pieces-make sure they fit correctly to form the circle's frame.

Sewing curves:

• I clip on the crust side- once in the middle and then 2 more.
• I fold my pie piece to find middle to line it up with middle clip in the crust piece and pin.
• Then I pin each outer edge
• Then I ease the rest into place and pin.
• When I stitch, the piece isn't flat, but more curved up and lifted and fed into the machine slowly-practice helps find your groove.

I'd be happy to share my pattern and templates if interested.
Good luck with your project and look forward to pictures.

If you can - take pictures of your layouts so you can remember them - and before the cat rearranges them.

Sometimes things "show up" more when looking at a picture than when looking at the "real thing."

Agree with Jordan Fabrics tutorials - they were very helpful. I made one using 8 pieces and had trouble with the center of the block not being flat. I had success when I started stitching the pieces together 2x2 at a time if I started from the center about 1 thread deeper than 1/4” and tapered to edge about 1 thread less than 1/4”. I also had better luck pressing the seams open, which I typically never do.

OMG...those quilts are just beautiful! I love them. Thank you for all of your input and instructions. I have templates already, so I'm good there.

~ C

Thanks...I need those kinds of tips. I have a hard time getting my hexi centers to lie flat sometimes.

~ C

The really nice thing about using hexes instead of octagons is you can line them up into rows easier. You keep them in half until you lay them out. I'll see if I can find a thread we had here before where I really grasped the concept!

With octagons you have to set in, or put triangles into the corners which can be a design element.

edit: it wasn't the thread I was thinking of, this older one has some great pictures, diagrams, and hints!
https://www.quiltingboard.com/2973339-post57.html

Hi tropit. I noticed in a couple of posts that you mentioned the Millefiori quilts. Just so you know these are very different than OBW's. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but a millefiori is usually a english paper piecing project. They do have the kaleidoscope look, which I do like, but it's all hand piecing (maybe I'll save this for retirement!)

If you are on Facebook, there is a group for one block wonder quilts only. Not only lots of pictures posted, but they also have tips and techniques in PDF format.

Good luck!

SuziSew...I was wondering about that. That magazine that I picked up has a pattern and instructions for one of the quilts and it is hand pieced. However, I think that I can machine piece it, because it is in rows. It has one piece in the block that is supposed to be inset, but there are ways around that.

Thanks for that FB tip. I don't do FB anymore, but my dau does. I'll see if she can look it up for me.

~ C

I have only made one kaleidoscope quilt, and don't know if I'll ever make another one. But I used a tool that I haven't seen anyone else mention. I went to a local quilt shop and found a mirror that was a HUGE help! It actually is 2 mirrors connected in the middle with a strip of plastic to form sort of a hinge. When you place the mirror on your fabric, the multiple reflections show you exactly what the block will look like once it's finished. 🙂

Donna

Here's a link for a free SAW (aka 8 piece) pattern ....
http://www.bethanyreynolds.com/downloads/SpinCycle.pdf

Mirrors .... yes, very helpful to help you get a prediction of your outcome.
You don't need to buy the quilt-store version ... Just go to a $ $tore and get two mirrors. I found school locker mirrors, about 6"x8" with a plastic edging/backing, to make them safer and easier to handle. Then added duct tape to hold them together. That way, they will stand up, so you can admire without needing to hold them in place. Fan then in/out in different angles to see how a 4-repeat would look, or 6 or 8 .... or more!

There are so many "rules" that are said about the fabrics designs to use or not use. However, many here on the board have proven those wrong!!! ..... look for some of the old threads. What I discovered is that the smaller the print, the smaller your triangle/square size needs to be to make it work.

Four Patch Posey ... Sorry, I don't have a finished picture. I didn't have a lot of virgin fabric, so I cut four squares the size of the 4-P blocks, and put them into the corners as references to the original fabric.
https://www.quiltingboard.com/pictur...y-t114907.html

My first OBW ... Lots of virgin fabric this time, so I used it for the backing for the quilt, matching it where I seamed it.
https://www.quiltingboard.com/pictur...i-t141548.html

Warning ... these are addictive and once you start into it, you don't want to stop, as you want to keep doing another and another to see the surprise that each group of triangles hold for you!

Have Fun!!
(now you have me thinking of making another!)

I found a nice panel on clearance a few days ago that i think will be perfect for a OBW...just have to put it in the queue of quilts to make!

Thanks QuiltE!

So, I got my Millefiori quilt book yesterday, (<I>Millefiori Quilts 4</I> by Willyne Hammerstein,) and oh...my...Gawd! These quilts are all fabulous! They are also all hand-pieced and hand-quilted...sigh. I don't know if I'm ever going to to a hand-pieced quilt, not to mention a hand-quilted quilt, but the book is still a wonderful inspiration. Her color choices are so lovely. I have a deep fondness for quilts that use tan, or khaki as one of the main colors and she has both in her book. I did notice that many of her patterns could be adapted to machine piecing and quilting. Not the same as that soft, hand-worked look, but still, a machine-made quilt could be very nice.

I started cutting fabrics for my One Block Wonder quilt and I'm having fun with that. The fabrics I'm cutting now are what I would call my, "blender blocks." They aren't as dramatic as some that I've seen, but I'll need them for my design. I'm still waiting for my fabric panels to come in. They will make blocks that have a lot more movement and color to them. I'll be sure to share pix on the next Virtual Quilting Weekend, coming up soon.

~ C

Just remember, you'll need 6, or 8 of them so that you have enough layers. I was going crazy on EBay, trying to find stores that had enough of the same panel.

~ C

............ or 7 or 9 ... if you want the original panel in the centre with the OBW/SAW blocks surrounding.

Anxious to see what you make Tropit!!
... Post pics please as you go, as I love seeing these kaleidos come together!

I came across Bruce Seeds today. He makes hexi-kaleidoscope, art quilts that are just beautiful. He sells them for a pretty penny too. https://bruceseeds.com/ We were talking about borders on another thread and he does some interesting things.

~ C

Wow! That photo gallery is something. Makes me want to send my poor grocery bag full of pieces to him to see what he'd do with it!

Watson

Did you see his prices? Now, I would love to quilt all day and earn that kind of living for doing what I love.

~ C

Millefiori are hand pieced. Similar to English Paper piecing. One Block Wonder “blocks” are rotary cut 6 layer strips matching the design on each strip then cut into triangles using an equilateral triangle ruler.. I am making a. OBW as we speak. I love the Facebook page for ObW. Buy the book.

agree.....no thanks for me..technique wise. Beautiful tho.

EXCELLENT answer.