Here are some kaleidoscopes I made several years ago. They were made into hotpads and trivets

These pictures were taken with a 35mm and then I scanned them so if they aren't real clear I apologize!

more K's

These are really pretty! Thanks for sharing. Isn't it funny, I have both of these fabrics.

More K's

More

Someone asked me about how to fill the center if you cut the sections short. Look at the centers of these and you will see that I fussy cut some pieces from the fabrics to match the theme of each K
I make a yoyo and applique it into the center. If you use a blind stitch it will blend with no seams or thread showing.

Sometimes I just sew them in with my machine. Just make sure you overlap the yoyo over all the ends of your K center.

That is funny! I bought some more of the green leaves to make some more because the first ones are long gone years ago and I love this fabic in K's. I have moved on to other fabrics and have three I am dying to see how they turn out.

Totally gorgeous!
:)

So pretty. I love kaleidoscopes.

Lovely!

Great job!

Your kaleidoscopes are awesome.

Gorgeous!!!!

Very pretty!

Thanks!

Rhonda, is there any clue for choosing out the right fabric? Like how fussy shoud it be? Or could you show me some of the sample of the fabrics you would choose? Please advise.

Youme I'll put together some pictures that may help. Yes there are things I look for but it is easier for me to show you than to try to explain in words only.

I have debated about doing a tutorial about this but most people seem to like the stack and whack which is ok because it is easy but I like to pick out my own designs. Stack and whack is somewhat accidental. You get whatever you get.

So I will post some pictures here soon.

First you need a fabric with some interesting design. Not too busy yet you want something that has an interesting shape. This one has a leaf then white then stems and then a leaf. The spaces between the leaves need to be enough to let the leaf stand out but you don't want so much space that all you will see when it is sewn is more white than green. You need a balance between colors and shapes and then you need some shape that will repeat into an interesting look.

I try to find something that will fall in the bottom third of the template. This will form the circle low around the center of your K. Then I want something that will repeat around the middle third of the template. Then I consider if the shape in the top of the third will disappear into the seam when this is sewn.

In the middle you will find a design that will either center in the middle of the template or set on the side of the middle of the template. When the shape sets on the side of the middle it will look like it is growing out of the side of the template when it is sewn together.

I don't know if this makes sense or not.

Fabrics I have bought lately for kaleidoscopes. I haven't used the black or the yellow one yet.

Stunning....love the colors and how different they all turn out....cool......:-)

Rhonda,
Thank you very much. I will try one more time with other fabric.

I'm sure you will do fine! Have any problems just ask!

Those are so cool. You do such awesome work

They are beautiful. Do you ever put them into a quilt or use them by themselves for potholders, etc?

Some of the ones you see here were made into hopads(potholders) with batting in them and the others were made into trivets with no batting. They were sold a long time ago I just thought I'd share the pictures I had of them.

I don't care to make big quilts so I haven't ever used them that way.

I have thought about a lap quilt maybe but I prefer the small stuff mostly.

Very nice work! Your instructions do make sense, thanks for sharing.

Beautiful blocks :D :D :D Thank you for the explanation, too!!!!!

Simply beautiful! Those are really great. Love each one.

Rhonda:
I love the Kaleidoscopes. I have the ruler and am waiting for the book. These are very pretty I can not wait to try this.
Penny

If you like the dresden look that I do you can go on my site and download a paper template that you can use to trace onto plastic and cut out the dresden shape. www.bitsnpiecesworkshop.com
Just click on the kaleidoscope link

Hope to see pictures!! :-o :-o

Rhonda:
Thank you the heads up! I did go there and found the area for Kaleidoscopes, nice site. I put it in my favorites so I can really look it over when I have more time. Thank you.
Penny

Sharing makes the quilting go round!!!

Rhonda:
A heads up, the link to the sun bonnet sue does not work.
Penny

Rhonda, did you take a class on the Kaleidoscope patterns or did you learn from a book? I did a one-day class on stack n' whack and it totally confused me, so I haven't done anything like it since. I love your pieces.

Sorry that is because I have been spending my time writing tutorials for the Newsletter! :mrgreen:

I have not found time yet to get the Sues or the Hearts written. I have them started but I need to finish them.

But I am working on an E-Book another tutorial an order for my local gift store due the middle of April / a fairly good size order from my site and another two orders I need to get into the mail / plus trying to stockpile stuff for a fall event close to home on Labor day.

I presently have a grandson trying to highjack my computer every few minutes asking if it is his turn yet? He likes to go on ebay and look at pictures of his favorite wiggles or blue's clues!

I also have grandkids every weekend and a handicapped husband! and a Mom who pops in 20 times a day to chat!

Just explaining!! :D Not complaining!! :D I love what I do and I love my family just never enough time to do all I have committed to do!!

I have it on my to do list and I do need to update my blog on both sites and add the rest of what I started to add to the Patchwork by Rhonda site and the Bits n Pieces site.~~

Oh well a quilter's and a grandmother's work is never done!!!! :lol: :lol:
I go to bed thinking about what I need to get done the next day!! And wake up still thinking about it!! Obsessed I know!! :roll:

No I'm self taught but I learned a lot from the Simply Quilts show that used to be on tv.

Take a look at my directions above somewhere I explained my way of doing Kaleidoscopes. If you'd like help just let me know! The K's are so satisfying to make.

The onlyl real trouble I ever had was in getting them to lay flat and that is in the template. I make my own and I do it by trial and error so sometimes mine are not exactly right.

You can use any template for making dresden plate design but you really need to use a clear plastic for your tempate so you can see through to the fabric below to fussy cut each piece.

It takes time but it is well worth it! I can never wait to see what each one will turn out to be ! It is always a happy surprise each time!

I just went to your site. You have amazing things. Thanks for the link!

You're welcome. Thanks for looking at my site and thanks for the compliment. :D

HI Rhonda, I just got my pansy fabric (!) and the kaleido ruler (it's for octogons then you have to make the squares to fill in the corners) and a book by Maxine Rosenthal called 'One Block Wonders'. It's basically stck n whack I think?! I know it's not your method but since I invested already, I'm going to give it a try. It LOOKS fairly straightforward but we'll see! Have you ever tried stack n whack or have you always used your template method? I'd like to make a largish piece - lap quilt size so stack n whack should go together faster, right? I guess I'm just looking for confirmation that I haven't just wasted my money!

K x

That is very pretty. I love the scalloped edges.