... does it change forever the way you look at fabrics?

We had some fun today - five of us from the shop hired one of our favorite customers to teach us how to do a stack-and-whack block and also a four-patch posie.

So much fun... the weather was wonderful so we took a break to eat lunch out on the deck (Joanne hosted us at her home)... and then went in to sew some more.

And now, I have visions of fabric swirling through my mind, and every one I see I'm wondering how would it look as a stack-and-whack or a posie!

Is this just what happens after your first experience with this technique?

Is it permanent???

I've never tried one, well maybe someday. Too many in line to add another. Never say never.

Stack & whack? Never heard of, got a picture to share?
I'd love to see it. Oh and the posie too.
thanks

That's why OBW's are addictive too
Yes I think it is permanent. LOL

Just finished my first which I posted and yes it's permanent and you do see each fabric in that way. You know by looking at a fabric it will or won't work. Already have my second fabric for my next one.

Yes on all counts. I started doing stack n whacks which are a way of doing OBW (one block wonders) and it does change the way you look at fabric. SNW is what got me into teaching. Every class I have done I have taken pictures of peoples starting fabrics and then some of their blocks against different backgrounds. I have a wonderful libary of fabrics and results which continues to inspire me.

I learned a lot about colour from my students doing stack and whack. The same fabric block pieces with different backgrounds can look amazingly different.

I bought a lot of fabrics and then was able to sell the half width pieces to students who graciously them made them up so I was able to see what the fabrics did without having to make them myself!

Sadly these days the large scale prints have repeats of 24" or more so you need 5yards plus to get your 8 repeats. Definately need to split that with a friend as that size stack is hard to pin. I split one such print into four down the length which made it more attractive and easier.

What I love about SNW:
you never know quite what you will get.
it is far more effiencent in fabric than other "hunt the motif" methods.
If you find the holy grail of fabrics.... ie one very hevily printed so the reverse side looks very similar to the front, the reflective symetry possibilities ( especially butterflies)are amazing.
I will try and attach the picture of the cover of my book of pictures.

Have fun, enjoy and take pictures and keep them.

I also love the hinged mirrors which give you an idea if a fabrci will work.

Try lower contrast prints too. I have some lovely monoand achromatic ones.

Batiks and hand printed fabrics do not work.

I pin form the bottom layer upwards so the head is on the bottom and then stick bits of foam board over the end of the pins when pinning the stack to stop them catching on me. Rubber ear ring backs will work too.

Becks

yep they sure are!
working on my first and can`t wait to buy more fabric for another!
Gale

I even caught myself looking at a printed carpet wondering about OBW can't wait to try another

Yes this will FOREVER change the way you look at fabrics. I love the Whack 'n Stack quilts.
D

If you do 6 repeats and cut triangles it takes less fabric and the second fabric you choose (one that looks like solid) makes your focal fabric go further. I like the look of the large stars.

Can't wait to do the first one!

Can you show a picture of that.... sounds interesting.. thanks

Definitely!! I wanted to just try 1, ended up doing 5 more, while going through some of my fabrics, I'll say, oh this would be pretty as a stack n whack, so would this one, etc., but have to tell myself NO MORE until I get the 15+ quilts done that are already planned with the already gathered fabric for such.

Wow, just what I need is another addiction in the quilting world. I already have an addiction to collecting fabric and patterns. Sometimes I even think of sewing in the middle of the night. Anybody else do that?

I don't do S&W, but I am an OBW addict, and yes, it does change how you look at fabric forever!! LOL

It definately does change the way you look at fabric. I was not much for big floral fabrics , but now... I go looking for that perfect fabric .. one with all the colors I want. I knwo I am not the only one affected as most shops are selling more big florals. They are the first to go from the sale rack.
I recently assisted a shop owner with a one day sale.. guess which fabrics sold the most continous yardage... yep those big florals that typically would have not been too popular.

I had only heard of OBWs on this board. What is the difference between an OBW and Stack n Whack? how do you do an OBW that is different? I found a tut on this board ( but just lost the link) and it is just a stack n whack technique... The only difference is with SNW you specifically load up the layers onto pins though the key points and then put in the stabilising pins ( usually flat flower headed pins so a rotary rular will lie on top)

Stack N Whack is a trademarked technique of bethany S reynolds, but it looks like what you guys call an OBW to me.

becks

Here is a picture of a four-patch posie. I found it with a google image search... cannot take credit for this beautiful quilt. It looks like the same pattern some of us worked with yesterday using 3" squares, the narrow sashing was cut 1" wide and the wider was 1.5". So this one will work with a smaller scale pattern.

The stack-and-whack uses 8 identically cut pieces. The OBWs I've seen use 6, all are equilateral triangles.

My two quilting friends and I discovered the 4-patch posy on one of our quilting vacations and it did change the way we looked at fabric. While on that vacation every quilt shop we went into, we were looking at big prints to make these! I've made about 10 of them and kinda got tired of them, so my fabric hunting for large prints eased up a bit. But now, I'm teaching another class for a 4pp so I went through my stash and found a great fabric for one - now I'm kinda anxious for that class, which probably won't be till June.

Yes, It's adicting! You really know you are hooked on stack and whack when you carry 2 mirrors in your purse when you go fabric shopping.

Stack n whack doesn't just use 8 layers there are quilt patterns for 6 layers ( the hexagons and six point stars) as well as attic window boxes and other things using four. Most of the designs do use 8 but it's not exclusively so.

Stack N Whack also uses fan wedge shapes 9 18 degree wedges ( 5 bladed dresden plates) and 15 degree 6 bladed fans too, requiring 5 and six layers respectively.

I have not seen the very basic four patch posy ( which I think I will be trying for it's simplicity and low repeat requirment) If you look at my sampler that is most of the patterns covered in Bethany's books.

Most poepl do this not by stacking repaets but by playing hunt the motif with a template. Needs less fabric to start with but much more wasteful I was wondering if everyone does thierh OBW by stacking or hunting motifs?
becks