Author Archives: ifthesethreadscouldtalk

Unknown's avatar

About ifthesethreadscouldtalk

I made my first quilt in 2004 and it was LOVE at first stitch! Im referred to as the Queen of One Block Wonder Quilt (OBW)? I have made 59 of these quilts and have been teaching the process since 2006. Check out my OBW Gallery and the free tutorials I offer. I am proud to say that I am a Studio 180 Design Certified Instructor. I am trained to teach you to use all the Fundamental and Rapid Fire Tools. If you have not yet discovered Deb Tucker and Studio 180 Design tools you do not know what you are missing. You will be amazed at how much your quilting skills can be improved by using these tools.

Hollow Cube 60 & January 2023 Zoom Classes

I’m so excited, the Hollow Cube 60 Technique Sheet has been released by Studio 180 Design. The Hollow Cube 60 can be made in 16 sizes using the Star 60 tool and is a great addition to your One Block Wonder’s (OBW’s). These cubes are easy and fun to make.

January 2023 Zoom Classes:

January 7thStar 60:  3 hour class.  Difficulty 2 Stars. This class is an introduction into making the Star 60, which can be made in 17 sizes.  As with all the Star 60 Stars they can be incorporated into your OBW’s.  We will be using the free pattern included with the Star 60 instructions, “Hexstravaganza”

January 14th – Tucker Twinkle:  3 Hour class.  Difficulty 4 Stars.  Learn 3 Star 60 techniques in one class.  This 18: finished block is a combination of 3 Framed 60 units, 3 Checkerboard 60 units, 6 Star 60 units and 12 Half Hexagons. 

January 21st – Hollow Cube 60:  3 hour class.  Difficulty 3 Stars.  Add the illusion that light is shining on your quilt from the direction you choose by adding Hollow Cube 60’s.  These cubes can be made in 16 sizes.  I will help you stay organized.

January 28th – One Block Wonder 1: By the end of class you will feel confident about the OBW process, including:

  • Identifying and cutting your repeats.
  • Aligning repeats including difficult fabrics.
  • Choosing a ruler and understanding the difference between pointed & blunt tip rulers.
  • Deciding what strip widths to cut
  • And, of course cutting all your triangles.

Reserve your spot now: OBW & Star 60 Zoom Classes for 2023 | If These Threads Could Talk !

I have added them to 5 OBW’s so far.

She Who Sewa
Moving Forward
Fkowers in the Mist
Call of the Sea
Cardinals in Winter

Cardinals in Winter – OBW #99

I have just completed my 99th OBW.

Theis panel is Call of the Wild, 2017 by Hoffman Fabrics. This top meaures 56″ x 100″. It is not quilted yet. I made this quilt in Memory of my Grandmother, Bessie Armstrong McCorduck, who alway fed the Cardianls in Winter.

This quilt features Checkerboard 60 blocks as my snowflakes and Hollow Cube 60’s as my water’s edge and black ice.

#star60tool #studio180design #debtucker #checkerboard60 #hollowcube60

Night Shade – OBW #98

I love this fabric, it’s Coleus by Philip Jacobs, for the Kaffe Fasset Collective. I thought it was meant to be a One Block Wonder.

The fabric is darker than what is shown. I had to lighten it to get a photo.

It made some beautiful hexagons. I decided to call it Night Shade. I added one 12″ Quad 60 Star and nine 6″ Quad 60 Stars, made using the Star 60 tool and Quad 60 Techniques Sheet. I always use Island Batik fabrics to make my stars and cubes. Night Shade measures 62″ x 69″.

#studio180design #star60 #Quad60 #islandbatik #kaffefassett

The Quilt that Screamed to be Tuckerized

I was looking through my quilt books and saw this quilt that just screamed to be Tuckerized. What does that mean you ask? To Tuckerize a block/quilt is to identify the units that make up the block/quilt and apply Studio 180 Design techniques to the construction, to streamline and make the process more efficient without losing the points, and to have the ability to make it in many sizes. For instance, Deb Tucker’s V Block can be made in 11 sizes.

This is the Bethlehem Star. It can be easily Tuckerized using the V Block tool by Deb Tucker.

The block consists of 2 of each V Blocks units shown above, plus a center rectangle & 4 corner squares.

This entire quilt including the sashing stars can be made with Studio 180 Design V Block Tool. Just follow the directions for the V Block tool. BethIehem Star quilt Measures 69″ x 85″. I created a supply list so you can make it too.

The original quilt is from the book “TIS Amazing” by Janna Thomas.

Call of the Sea – OBW #97

My favorite panels to make OBW’s with are by Josephine Wall.

Call of the Sea

Call of the Sea panel measured 35″ x 43″. I cut 3.25″ strips which yielded 5″ finished hexies.

I created a barrier reef for my mermaid using Studio 180 Design’s Star 60 tool, along with Quad 60, Framed 60, Capped 60, Checkerboard 60 & Hollow Cube 60 (not yet released) Technique sheets. My Island Batik stash is like having the BIG box of crayons. They are my go-to batiks to add color and interest to my OBW’s and all my quilts.

Call of the sea measures 98″ x 72″.

Converging Geese Zoom Class

Join me for a Converging Geese Zoom class September 15th at 11:00 AM. Sign up and download the supply list here (pattern is included with the class fee):

Register for Converging Geese Zoom Class

Converging Geese Block

I created this pattern November 2018 for an Island Batik Log Cabin Challenge. It has been a popular pattern in my Etsy Shop ever since. This is a variation on the Log Cabin block and is a fun way to use your Square/Squared, Tucker Trimmer I & Wing Clipper I tools.

I named my original design “Converging Geese” because each block has Flying Geese & Geese on the Edge units, along with Square/Squared units.

Each 16″ block contains 12 – 2″ x 4″ finished flying geese, 4 – 6″ finished geese on the edge & 1 square/squared unit. 

Converging Geese – Measures 60″ x 60″

2023 OBW Retreat

I’m planning for Spring 2023 when Summer 2022 is not even over yet! Join me for a creative journey learning to making a One Block Wonder (OBW) – Wednesday March 29, 2023 through Sunday April 2, 2023 at the Strong House Inn, Vergennes, Vermont

Class Description:

  • Identifying and cutting your repeats.
  • Aligning repeats including difficult fabrics.
  • Choosing a ruler and understanding the difference between pointed & blunt tip rulers.
  • Deciding what size to cut your strips.
  • Cutting your equilateral triangles.
  • Designing with the hexagons.
  • Integrating stars & cubes.
  • Designing around a panel.

Click here to register for One Block Wonder with Jackie O’Brien

Download the OBW Class Supply List here:

Strong House Inn, 94 West Main Street, Vergennes, VT 05491 – Phone (802) 877-3337

Flowers in the Mist – OBW #96

Flowers in the Mist measures 67″ x 69″

Double Checkerboard 60 Star and Cubes were made with the Star 60 Tool.

Original fabric is Brassica by Kaffe Fassett.

3rd Quarter 2022 Zoom Classes

It’s already coming up on the 3rd quarter for 2022. Below are scheduled zoom classes I will be teaching. To sign up for classes and download the supply lists click here: https://ifthesethreadscouldtalk.com/obw-zoom-classes/

Striped 60:

  • July 2nd – 1:00 PM
  • September 13th – 11:00 AM
  • September 17 – 1:00 PM

Chrysanthemum:

  • July 12th 11:00 AM
  • July 16th 1:00 PM
  • September 24th – 1:00 PM

Tucker Twinkle:

  • July 19th – 11:00 AM
  • July 23rd – 1:00 PM
  • September – 27th – 11:00 AM

Checkerboard 60:

  • August 2nd – 11:00 AM

OBW 1: Cut, cut, cut.

  • August 6th – 1:00 PM

Framed 60:

  • August 16th – 11:00 AM

Hexstravaganza:

  • August 20 – 1:00 PM

Capped 60:

  • August 23rd – 11:00 AM

Quad 60:

  • August 30th 11:00 AM

OBW 2 – Design:

  • September 3rd – 1:00 PM

To sign up for classes and download the supply lists click here: https://ifthesethreadscouldtalk.com/obw-zoom-classes/

A World of Wonders, OBW #95

I just completed my 95th One Block Wonder! I guess I need to shoot for making at least 100 OBW’s!

A World of Wonders

“A World of Wonders” is made from a panel by Josephine Wall and measures 72″ x 97″. I integrated Star 60 and Quad 60 Stars and Island Batik fabrics to enhance my quilt’s story.