So I have no Internet today. I am on my phone so please bare with me. Obviously I can't post pictures. But. For those that have fabric. Please post. And if you need help finding what the repeat is. And if posting please put some kind of measureing devise in so we can tell how big the print is.

I hope to be back and doing the next step next mon for those that are doing it. I will be calling it tiptoeing through the hexagons.

These are my choices to do my next OBW, I am leaning towards using the grapes with leaves.

love the grape with leaves!

I'm waiting for my book to arrive, so I'm really clueless about this....but can you give me an idea of what is meant by "repeats" and how to figure that?

It is how often the print is repeated, the caries from print to print, it will also help decide how big to cut your pieces, if all else fails, look at the writing on the side, for sure when they repeat that, it is for sure for sure a repeat, if you post some fabric, I can show you where it repeats itself if you need help,

Do you have a bi-fold mirror so you can audition your fabric? It really makes it easy to know whether or not you are going to like the results before you ever cut into it.

I have several pieces that are good for OBW quilts and I will post pics in the morning.

Those grapes and leaves are going to make a stunning quilt. :D:D:D
I am going for a different color scheme. I have (2) 2yard pieces with 6 inch repeat and a 8 inch, from the same collection. I am going to try to make mine out of both for a lap quilt. :wink:
I am thinking about saving some blocks from the original fabrics to scatter in the border or use as corner stones.

I don't, but I have a fair eye or imagination to what it will look like without it,

Love the fabric, I can't wait to see!

I love the one you have with the birds in clover. Will 30's fabric work? Most of that isn't in repeats, just an all over print I think. Or should there be a definite repeat pattern? Also, I want to thank you so much for taking the time to do this with us. I've been wanting to do this for a while, now I will have the umpf to go ahead. I really appreciate it! I did do a stack and whack. Isn't this close to that.

A distinct print works best, I will look through my stash for other examples and why I think that they will work or not work. the all over purple will have to be cut kind of small to get it to show like different blocks. Cut to big and they will look the same,

OK, I think I have one that is perfect. Probably more than one. I will dig them out tomorrow. How much will I need for a queen/king?

Probably 6 full repeats of it (printing on the side of the fabric) , and a bit more for boarders is you would like the fabric used in the boarders. That is what I used for this one or there abouts,
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-25853-1.htm

I just bought some fab to make another OBW this wknd.. I will try and post some pics tommorow :) I have one cut out in something very similar to your second print, I found I don't really like the blocks because there isn't much variation to focus on for the visual appeal. Your bird fab will look great in one though :)

Hi Cute - if it's OK I'd like to come a tiptoeing with you! ;)

I like all three of your fabric choices but would lean toward the grapes with leaves too. The bubbles would be a subtle effect I think, but good too! The birds would give some interesting headless bird effects! But the brown would split nicely apart from the flower colours; I guess I'm saying make them all!

Here's a pic of a fabric I have just cut and I've pieced half the blocks. It's coming up a bit subtle, not much contrast but that's OK - maybe it will need some hollow cubes to lift it, we'll see! :-D The repeat is 12" BTW.

I want to go out looking at fabric. But I'm wondering how much will I need, I'm thinking a wall hanging???

I know, all the answers are probably in the book but mine hasn't come yet, darn it!!! :)

If you are doing a wall hanging. You don't need much. Look for the repeat going sideways as well as down. To do the hexagons you need 6 repeats. So it wholey depends on how it is repeated.

K I can't wait to see yours and of course you are welcome to join in on the tiptoeing. The more the merries. And it will be nice to have you!

Can I tag along on this even if I'm not ready to cut new fabric? I just have to get back to my fall quilt for Dad before I start a new project but I just have to show you my newest fabric for an OBW! Keep in mind, I have 2 cut and ready to sew, and 2 other fabrics in the house for these already. :roll: I think I may have to find a support group soon because there just doesn't seem to be an end to this addiction.

Anyway, this is the largest print I have ever bought for these. What do you think CB, should I cut bigger triangles with this one?

And this shows how much the colors will be different...

K3n, I love the blue in yours. Looks like your print is almost as big as mine. I have a feeling this one is going to be very different from the ones I have done before. It will probably take me 3 weeks to study it before it gets a layout! lol

You can cut it bigger, though I still wouldn't cut to big and get carried away, you will get a better variety.

For those that are wondering, since all the pieces are cut the same size, all the blocks will be the same size, and it is almost double the size you cut your pieces, I am not recommending cutting them under 2" unless youare doing a wall hanging, but you don't want to go too big either as you will loose the effect of having them all look different. when we go along, you will see what I am talking about, but also remember when you are looking at the pieces to take off the seam allowance as well, that won't show,

Wow Jenell, I am loving that!!! I agree with CB - I'd stick to the 3 3/4" strips. :-D I can still hear your voice in my head 'ya gotta get yourself some mirrors, girl'!!! :-D

Regarding the cutting of strips - in general with a large print, 3 3/4" is a good size I think because most pattern repeats are an increment of 4" (ie 8", 12", 16" etc) and this gives you a 1/4" fudge factor to play with.

If your repeat is 12", for example, you'll get 3 width of fabric stacks of strips. I find I get about 18 or 19 stacks of triangles, therefore hexagon blocks per strip. So with a 12" repeat like the one I just cut, I got a total of 57 blocks. Like CB said, these are about 6" each way so if I place them 7 by 8 blocks, for a total of 56 blocks, I get a top around 42" x 48" without borders. So when working out the size of finished quilt you'd like, you might want to get 12 repeats and cut two of each if it's less than a 12" repeat.

Hope that is clearer than mud! :-D

It will get clearer as we go along, it is easier to "see" if you are looking at the fabric in front of you. I will be sure to take lots of pictures as well and hope to see lots and lots of pictures, and anywhere along the line if you have any questions at all, feel free to ask, I can't guarentee an answer but sure can try.

This is the fabric that I am making my current kaleidoscope quilt with. It is a gift for my niece for her college graduation in May. I have 1/2 the blocks already made. I need to get busy finishing it up

Marcia, that's just cool!

I don't know how you ladies see kaliediscopes in the fabric. When you show pieces of fabric, my brain can't translate it into a kaliediscope. I'm always shocked at what they look like.

Here is another fabric that I found that I thought would make an interesting OBW. I have used my mirrors to show some of the blocks I could get with it. Just goes to show you that you do not have to pick a floral....

Bill's wife---I love your fabric!! You will get some gorgeous blocks out of it.

Wowzers Marcia! The pink with the black is beautiful but those Mexican angels will be fantastic! :-D

CB-I'm looking forward to trying this and following along. I have some fall leave fabric that I believe will work. Thanks for sharing your talents :).
Sharon

Ok ~ I'm thinking I MIGHT want to be in on this tut as long as I can keep up with everyone! I'm going to go through my stash, see what I've got and see if it will be a good choice. Will we need a "special" ruler?

PS ~ SharonC ~ LOVE your fabric!!

billswife99:
what are those mirrosrs on the fabric? Can you buy that tool?

I am going to hopefully do each step every Mon leaving a week to do what you need to just like a class, and I will be available unlike your teacher while you are working away.

The fabric I am seeing is awesome!

Not a lot of background which is great. and yes, it doesn't have to be floral, It can be abstract as well, though the one place I volunteer I am doing one with fruit.

I will look in my stash, I won't be using them as I don't have the yardage for it but will see what I can find that can also be used.

That will work perfect!! Thanks so much for doing this for all of us!! One question ~ what kind of ruler will we need for cutting?

you can buy the mirrors, or you can just tape two together and hold them about the 60 degrees. that will give you possible blocks.

Most rulers have the 60 degree mark on them

Those are kaleidoscope mirrors on her fabric. Yes, you can buy that tool. Here is a link to one site that has them

http://www.softexpressions.com/softw...chKKrazy.htm#m

or you can make your own by using duct tape and two mirrors.....

This is the one that I use, I have another around here somewhere I bought a while ago before an accident happened and it hasn't shown itself since though I know I rescued it, so there is more than just this one, I like it as it also has other angles on it but I also have used just my regular ruler as well, like when I am out and I forget this one,

Thanks...I thought this would be a someday OBW. :lol: :lol:

Sharon, I almost bought that fabric when I was looking for Dad's fall fabric. And Marcia! That pink and black really pops the colors!

I love my mirrors but I wish they were about half that size so I could keep them in my purse all the time. I always forget to take them with me unless I am specifically going for obw fabric.

Now Cute, I am having trouble staying out of here. I haven't even looked at the other topics since you started this. :roll: