Octagonal OBW question/help
 

I decided to take some really ugly fabric I found in my stash (I have no idea what I was thinking when I bought it 10 years ago) and try my hand at making a OBW quilt. Found a YouTube video and went to town making blocks without thinking about the setting triangles needed to make them square. For those that have made these using a 45 degree ruler, what method did you use for your setting triangles? I really don’t want to use half square triangles as I want to avoid the bias on the outside. My preferred method would be to use quarter square triangles and then spend the time matching and blending as best as I can to each corner of the block. The blocks are all 9.5 unfinished and I have just enough fabric with very careful cutting to make the setting triangles. Does anyone have any tips for blending to achieve the best results? As always, I appreciate everyone’s feedback and help, I’m sure I’m clear as mud!

There's a few different possibilities ... could you show us your block(s)?

Oh how I love OBWs, and all their cousins!

QuiltE here are the photos, I have exactly 43 inches x WOF left uncut for the setting triangles, if I cut each one at 5 inches and cut into quarter square triangles I will just squeak by with 64 squares for 64 blocks. I still have blocks to sew, I just put them on the design wall as I finish, this is not anywhere near the final layout.

I saw a layout that included sashing of a solid color between the squares and the octos, making it a stack and wack instead of a obw but it was stunning. It isn't my pic so I can't show you what I'm talking about.

Did you read the first One Block Wonder book? She tells how to do it, and it works great. I've made 2 of the 45 degree OBWs by making 4 layers of the fabric for the corner pieces. The trick is to put all your kaleidoscope blocks (I used my kaleido ruler to cut both the blocks and the corners) up on the wall, and stick the corner squares in different places until they blend.
Then your need to pin the corners to the surrounding blocks, sew them on, and replace the 4 blocks on the wall. If it's a small enough piece, you can use a portable "wall" of batting, and lay it flat on a folding table near your machine.

TallChick ... Love them!
Thanks for showing us the "virgin" fabric.
Totally amazing the variety of blocks you have.

I'll be anxiously waiting to see how you finish it off ... what colours for the corner triangles? with or without sashings? cornerstones? borders? etc.!

As for the fabric you "just" have enough .... I've learned to not count on it all working out, and would sooner purchase more, to be safe rather than sorry!

Good Luck ... You really do have a winner here!

While not a OBW, mine was a kaleidoscope so assembled the same way only without the fussy cutting. I just sewed a HST to each corner of the octagon to make a square block. The bias edge was what was sewn to the block corner leaving the the corners of the block not on the bias, which IMHO is more desirable and also the way a quilt set on point handles the 4 corners. I had no issues, but I wasn't trying to blend anything either, I used a solid for the corners. Below is a picture of a couple of the blocks.

I actually like your original fabric but really love it as OBW blocks and I think a solid that compliments them in a green or terracotta or deep maroon could be quite striking but would want to audition it before committing to it.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]613175[/ATTACH]

I was also thinking maybe a solid or reads-as-solid.

Kassaundra you can't post someone else's picture, but you can post a link to it. :thumbup:

great blocks

I love your blocks! Isn't it interesting to see how they turn out when you get to sewing? It becomes addicting to add more--and more--and more until the fabric runs out. I'd use a coordinating fabric cut into 1/2 square triangles to create a square block for finishing. This would set your blocks apart a bit and let each one "shine" on its own. Be sure to make the triangles a bit bigger than necessary so you can accurately square up the block though! Beautiful work

It's amazing what can come out of so called "ugly" fabric. Great job!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I always appreciate everyone’s input!

Lisa, that's really pretty! I don't know anything about OBW's but I have also found fabrics that made me wonder what I was thinking......... :D
You did a great job!

Please be patient with me and excuse my ignorance, but what is OBW? I am assuming you fussy cut your fabrics but then that's all I am assuming. Good job doing it too.

You're on the right track Toogie! ... Rather than traditional fussy cutting, layers of fabric are stacked up, so that the exact same points of the print line up through the layers. Then you cut all of the layers at once. Presto, perfect "fussy cuts" for all in the stack. You cut across the fabric, with no direct choices as to what you are cutting. Very little fabric wastage!

4PP = Four Patch Posie, 4 layers, cut in squares
OBW = One Block Wonder, normally 6 layers stacked, triangles
SAW = Stack and Whack, 8 layers stacked, triangles

While the original terms are as above, the OBW/SAW terminology often gets intermixed.

Google around or look at other quilts here on QB and you'll see some pretty amazing quilts! Or take a look at some of mine ....

My OBW in progress ....
https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f...l-t116964.html

My Finished OBW ....
https://www.quiltingboard.com/pictur...i-t141548.html

My 4PP in progress ....
https://www.quiltingboard.com/pictur...y-t114907.html

The pic is in a closed FB group

ilove the blocks and the original fabric.

Look at the back of the OBW book. She tells how to cut squares, in the 8 layers, and then cut them diagonally in half, 4 in one direction, 4 in another. It really works. I did one. See my post on the cutting:
https://artinsearch.blogspot.com/201...ing-along.html

Very nice though I kinda like the fabric!!