One Block Wonder - Wrong Fabric?
 

I picked a fabric that had a 12" repeat as instructed and then stacked and cut and laid out my kaleidoscopes on my design wall. It just doesn't look like I expected - the blocks look so similar to the original fabric that I may as well not have done a thing. Can someone tell me where I went wrong?
Here's the Original Fabric
[ATTACH=CONFIG]401569[/ATTACH]
Here's the cut-up result
[ATTACH=CONFIG]401571[/ATTACH]

Not enough different colors in the print and need a bigger background space between the print. A character print is nice for this pattern. You can use another fabric and mix with the blocks you have.

Looks good to me. You can play with the placement a bit. All dark blocks in one corner or whatever you like. I am very intimidated by OBW. Maybe I will find courage one of these days. Good luck!

It looks ok to me unless you wanted more contrast. I like the subtle change in value. If you wanted more contrast then a greated value in color probably was necessary. I find that using the hinged mirror helps see what the final block would be. However, it is too late for that test.

Very Pretty, but I see what you mean. I want to attempt a stack and whack - just not sure what fabric to purchase.

I did one out of a similarly designed fabric but in order to show off the individual kaleidoscopes I added triangles of a complimentary fabric to separate the designs. Really like the way it came out. Can't seem to get pictures to post from this phone though. I did use smaller triangles I think.

I also agree that you should play with the arrangement, the colors are lovely.
I think that another thing to consider is the size of the triangles you used. The standard is around 4" high, but if the triangle is about the same size as the motif, you don't get much variation, so in this case a smaller triangle would have isolated the colors more and given more variety.

All is not lost for this pretty fabric. It might not end up as a true OBW but if you put a sashing on these blocks I think it would bring out each block more like a kaleidoscope. I thing that would be really cool for this fabric. A medium green like in the leaves. Try laying a narrow strip between a few of the blocks and see if you like it. peace

You could try either sashing as ube quilting suggested for I had one I wasn't happy with and put extra triangles around each one
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...es-t85786.html

I also like to find a fabric with a bigger repeat, usually 24" as you would get more variety in your blocks, but that doesn't always work either.
I like your fabric and I'm sure you will end up with something you are happy with if you just play with it a little more :)

Woody - thanks so much for posting yours. I think that adding the solid triangles might be the fix for me. As Paper Princess and mom-6 said, I think that the problem probably started because I made my triangles too big to start with.

Its very beautiful, I love OBW quilts. I made one from outerspace fabric and just picked up some fabric for a blue/white/green one. I think sashing or triangles will fix your problem beautifully, please post a pic when you decide!

It's beautiful fabric!

Some good comments already ... as already mentioned, did you check with the mirrors first, to see what you thought?

I'm also wondering, what size of triangles you used? ... because your flowers are not cut up very much, I am thinking that you would have seen more kaleido effect with a smaller triangle. Are these just laid in place? If so, you will have a different look once all sewn together, and the 1/4" seams remove some of the design.

Also, I'm thinking you have only put together only a few of the kaleidos at this point, so have many more to go ... and more designs will show up.

When you look at the few you have done already, you have a different design in each one ... with more, you'll find more differences. Arranging them may allow for a nice flow in your quilt because of the subtlety ... rather than a blotchy mix.

Someone else posted her first OBW yesterday and included this link to a video on how to make an OBW. I thought it was very helpful. As others have said, it is still pretty, and you can probably still do some things to make it more to your liking.
http://www.connectingthreads.com/tut...rics__D19.html

May not really work as a OBW, but would make a stunning kaleidoscope quilt.

There is often a repeat going the width of the fabric as well as the length. For more variety you need a less of the same repeat going the width as well. Add some cubes to add interest to your OBW. It actually looks quite nice.

A small strip of color between the pattern would look lovely. A white or cream?

I love it as is. Message me for my address LOL!!!!

I like what you've done but I can see where more background would have accentuated the kaleidascopes more BUT all is not lost. You have severa wonderful selections. Please post pix when completed.

I love it as it is: it's subtle, soothing and not at all in-your-face the way some OBWs turn out to be. So pretty!

Your fabric is very pretty. Having additional designs within the repeat also gives you lots of block options for a OBW. Example:

I agree with most things said so far. Your blocks are lovely, just subtle. By picking fabric with limited color palette and design, that is usually the effect you will get. If you look closely you will see that you do have a lot of variety in your blocks, they just tend to blend into one another due to the limited colors.

In picking fabrics, I go for something with not so much background, but with more colors and design elements. Adding the corner triangles, as some mentioned, will change the way your blocks appear, and you might like it better. However, I love the subtle way they appear and make you really look to see each design.

It's going to be a lovely quilt, whichever way you decide to go.
Here is one I made a year or so ago: [ATTACH=CONFIG]402291[/ATTACH]

It's lovely and interesting, tho maybe not as much contrast as some other OBWs. I agree that it needs to have the units seperated by something-- sashing or triangles. Then they will look more individualized and different than they do when put all together.

Very pretty, love the colors. I think there was not enough difference in scale in your print. Meaning, all the flowers are the same size. I've made several S&W-type quilts, and the ingredients I look for when I choose fabric are: large enough repeat, multi-scale print, and about 1/4 of the print needs to be background. Hope this helps.