Need help with name of a notion
 

I'm hoping you wonderful ladies can help me with something. My mom used to have a little notion - it was wooden, kind of like a kaleidoscope, but one would use it to multiply or rotate quilt blocks. One would look through it with one eye at a single quilt block, and then turn it to see how quilts looked on point, or multiplied, etc. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Thanks so much,
Julie

Wow! I'd love that! The closest thing I have is, a pair of mirrors that you can position to show repeats of a pattern--very useful for auditioning fabric for OBW's.

I have a plastic sheet that you can look through so things are kaleidoscoped. It's called a "butterfly eye". Got it at the quilting store years ago.

It sounds like you are describing this gadget

https://www.softexpressions.com/soft...ons/EZView.php

I have something similar, but it's called fly's eye......in my collection of kaleidoscopes...you might try eBay or amazon

Actually, I just went to amazon and searched fly eye kaliedescope and there is one at top for $8.....

I have one of those somewhere. My granddaughter use to play with it more then I used it.

This is a very cool tool. You can make and view one block and it multiplies it so you can see what a whole quilt will look like and I am lucky to own one. I talked about this a while back on along ago thread, and when I did a search for someone to find it, The info said no longer available at several locations. so if you can get your hands on one, do it, if you really want it. Mine came from a local quilt store many years ago.

Maybe it is available again. That would be great.
peace

Does anyone know where this might be available? I'd love to find one.

Sounds like that would be something every quilter would love to have. Hope someone knows what it is and where to get one.

Found it under fly eye in amazon UK made by think it was Tobor . Small kaliedoscope about 3-4 cm tall.
not suitable for under 3year olds, think most of you will pass. Keep going as first few pages showing a fly mesh for the car.

Amazon search fly eye kaliedescope ...it's there

I have one of those pee holes for a door. It works like a you are explaining. Found it in the hardware store.

Strangely, I bought mine at a stationery store in Georgetown, VA, many, many years ago. I have used it many times to get an overview of a quilt.

Sounds like a great tool?

Hmm, thought I saw one of these at JoAnn's. Will have to check!

I don't make quilts with the same block so I donate the one someone had given me to charity passing it on to someone else who could use it. I thought I saw them in JAF??

I'm pretty sure I got mine in a dollar type store in the toy section. It's a clear plastic thing about 2-3" long, narrow at the peeping eye and about 2" wide at the base. When I got it I wasn't into quilting yet so it was a toy for my sons. Amazing how we find ways to repurpose items for our hobbies.

.....that's it exactly!!!!!?

I've never seen this before. I would love to have one.

It is not like a door hole peep at all. The door hole peep doesn't multiply the squares.

I have one, I think I got it when I was in US at either Joanne's or Hobby Lobby it's quite a cool wee gadget x

I remember that gadget from years ago. For some reason I seem to remember that some of the gals found something at a large toy store much cheaper than the quilt shop, maybe from the magic tricks, play detective,
I spy,something like that. Hope you can find something.

I just checked and found exactly what you are seeking. Go to "orientaltradingcompany.com" they sell them in units of 48 for $6.99. They call them "kaliedoscope party favors". This makes them about $ .15 apiece. One of us should get a gross or two and share them. At that price, I could afford a new quilting tool! Lol! Years ago, I bought some of these at Walmart in aluminum colors, that had little handles and were shaped like a megaphone, we used them on the Christmas tree. I think I got 6 of them for a couple dollars.

another find on Amazon
 

here is another link for a different, but similar product on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If you have a party store in your area, you'll find it in the aisle with all the stuff to put into goodie bags. Most of those things are packaged 6 to a package.

i looked at it at soft expressions they only cost 2.35 so they have it

I've looked there and can't find it. What is it called there?

The old one I have is very well made. The quality of the lens makes the difference. The fabric isn't distorted, very sharp images. Nothing like the toy ones I've seen.