Several people have asked on another thread what these are and noone has explained them. I have never made any. I probably could explain if I researched it but I know there are folks on here who could explain it a lot better. Thank you so much with your help.

I'll be watching this post :)

You stack up a number of repeats of the same fabric and using pins match the repeats exactly. Then you cut squares for a 4 patch posie or 60° triangles for a OBW or another triangle shape for the Stack and Whack.

what is OBW?

One block wonder

Below are some links to tutorials done here on the board by Cutebuns. One block wonder is sometimes called a hexagon quilt as well. That, stack n whack and 4 patch posy are similar in that they all use repeats of the fabric. Look at the pictures in the tutorials for a better explanation. :D Cutie's tutorials will walk you through the entire process, but I put some pictures below for a quick reference.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-34937-1.htm
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-35685-1.htm
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-36316-1.htm
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-36954-1.htm

Ooooh, that fabric is beautiful! I can't wait to see this one finished!!

Thanks. I saw several ladies ask these questions and I was not sure how to explain them as I have never done any.

I am addicted to Stack n Whack....... just love that technique

Connecting threads have a good video tutorial showing how to do this. You have to be very precise in the cutting, so watch the video and go for it. It's really fun, you never know what you are going to get

that is pretty fabric

The big difference I have noticed is that stack and whack are with 8 triangles and have a background and binding between. The OBW are six triangles and can all be connected to each other.

S&W's that I have seen, can have from 4 to 12 pieces (and sets of repeats in them,) and there are many different block choices, where OBW's only have 6 are are hexagons only (or cube shapes) :D:D:D

These blocks/quilts are defined by the technique of stacking your fabrics in the manner shown above, and cutting out shapes so each piece is identical in shape, and also the placement of the fabrics details on each piece, to make a Kaleidoscope effect. :D:D:D

I have a OBW planned that will use several colorways of the same fabric... it isn't a hard and fast rule to use only one fabric, it is up to the quilter :wink:

One S&W quilt was made of blocks with 12 fanblades (12 repeats) it was gorgeous :D:D:D

Stack n Whack are made with 4, 6 or 8 or more identical stacked repeats and can be squares (4), hexagons or half square triangles (6), octagons (8) or more (like dresden plates) and are usually made into blocks with sashings or other fabric between the actual stack n whack blocks. Stack n Whacks can be made with one or more different fabrics in the same quilt.

One Block Wonders (OBW) on the other hand are hexagons using identical stacked repeats of the one fabric all joined together without sashing or other fabric between the blocks.

I hope that makes sense :?

Thanks Quilter7X for sharing your photos that makes it much clearer

I bought some of that same gorgeous fabric!

Look for videos by Bethany Reynolds, she also has published books.

Thanks for posting this--I was feeling kinda dumb, as I've made the stack and whack & the stack & slash, and took a long break from quilting (for health reasons) and when I looked at these OBW's, I thought before I buy another book, I need to figure this out! The only difference I could see on "everybody's beautiful OBW's (and they are BEAUTIFUL, by the way) was there was no sashing needed. I even talked this over with my kids, cuz I was trying to figure it out! I guess I'm a little slow at times, but thanks for the clarification. Thanks for the videos too!

How many yards is a good amount to buy for the fabric?

Good explaination! What is the name of your fabric line? It's beautiful!

I hate to be a dissenter but, a OBW is any quilt design that uses the same block repeatedly. The block may be a tumbler, apple core, triangle or any other shape as long as it is the only shape used without any sashing. I don't know when the term OBW came into use. (Maybe someone who couldn't spell hexagon or thought it was a cute term?)

In years past they were called "charm quilts" and the shape was repeated but no fabric was used a second time. A great way to use scraps and a reason to exchange fabrics.

Longtime quilter

The OBW with the cubes added are fascinating. I am awaiting the arrival of the 60 triangle now so I can try it.

Very interesting. I really learned from these posts. Thanks to all of you.

Does any one have a hint as to how to keep the bulk down where the points meet (especially on the Stack and Whacks?

Is there a pic of the finished quilt?

Thanks for clarifying so effectively. It helped me so much.

fabulous fabric!

love the fabric too!

Thank you, me too. :lol:

There will be when it's finished. Guess I need to get it out and start working on it again. :oops:

I actually didn't get the concept of it at all until after reading Cutie's tutorial on it. After her explanation and pictures, I was not only able to do it, but I showed my quilt group how to do it this way as well. Cutie's method leaves so little unused fabric, which is great compared to a traditional stack n whack where you fussy cut designs out.

The fabric came from Joanne's last year and it's Legacy Polynesian Medallion. I have all the collection and have been looking at patterns as to what to do with it.

The answer to that is different for each fabric. You have to look at the repeat on the fabric. On the one I showed, there was an 8" repeat, so I needed to make sure I could cut six 8" strips, so I needed a minimimun of 48" of fabric. If your repeat is bigger, you need more fabric. Likewise, if your repeat is smaller, you need less fabric. The size of your finished quilt is determined by how many blocks you make and how much fabric you use.

Clear as mud? :lol: If it's not clear, please go see Cutie's tutorials as she does an excellent job of explaining it.

Yes, my fabric came from JoAnn's. It is a perfect fabric for this style quilt! :thumbup:

Those are still called charm quilts. There are one block quilts but they're not One Block Wonders.

One Block Wonder is the name of a specific pattern. The operative word being Wonder.

Thank you for the enlightening discussion on my newest passion - the OBW. I learned so much just reading this thread, not to mention the beautiful pictures that make the process so easy to see. I just wish I would have know what a "repeat" was (yes I had never heard that term before) before buying my material. I bought some beautiful material not knowing that it was a 24" repeat and I didn't buy enough. I'm making 4-patch posies, something I didn't know existed either until I read about it here. But I sure wish I had bought just one more yard... Oh well its all about learning and having fun and I am doing both!!

When I was a fairly new quilter I did a few stack and wacks. So much fun it was.

Thanks for posting this review for me. BTW, I need some of your fabric. Who's is it?

Thanks, I did not know what OBW meant

Absolutely right! Maxine Rosenthal appropriated the name to apply to her one of a kind quilts that use one fabric and one block design for the main body of the quilt. But it isn't trademarked by her as it has been in use for a loooong time as stated. :-D I've often googled 'one block wonder quilts' and though you mostly get what we all know as OBWs, you sometimes get what are also called one block or charm quilts. BUt what's in a name, right? The most important thing is that we all know what we mean! :mrgreen:

I would differentiate by saying that 'stack n whack' applies to the technique of layering and cutting the fabric. This phrase is trademarked by Bethany Reynolds by the way but is so descriptive that it's hard to find a better way of describing the process.

The One Block Wonder uses the same layering, cutting and piecing technique but is defined by it's layout - ie without sashing as an earlier poster stated. Ms Rosenthal's books explain how to make both hexagon and octagon versions - the hexes are more popular as they don't require the setting triangles that the octagons do to join them together. :-D

Stack & Wack is so much fun!!! Here is one of mine!

Thanks for the clarification, I really appreciate knowing that!

I have only done the Stack-n-Whack method. I hope I can attach three completed quilts with very different results! These are from Bethany Reynolds' "Stack-n-Whack*apedia" book.

Abbreviations for Stack n Whacks, One Block Wonders, and about 10 other abbreviations that I have no idea what they are -- for new people, would you guys like type it out a few times so we'll know what you're referring to or someone POST A LIST of THESE ABBREVIATIONS YOU ALL SEEM TO USE. Some of us are reading along and then at an unexpected moment, we lose the meaning because we don't know what SW, OBW, some husband term of endearment abbreviation, and I don't know what else pops up in the sentence and we might as well quit reading the post.