OBW Tutorials

1. Cutting the Repeats:

2. Aligning the Repeats:  

3. Cutting the Strips:   

4. Cutting the Triangles: 

5. Constructing the Blocks: 

6. Sort and Design: 

7. Number and Pin the rows: 

8. Joining the Rows: 

9. Even Up the Ends: 

10. Top Finished: 

101 thoughts on “OBW Tutorials”

  1. Pat

    I saw my first OBW and I can’t wait to get started on one. I’ve watched a lot of videos but yours is by far the best. Thank you so much!
    Pat in Minneapolis

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  2. Harriet Simons

    I have just found this tutorial, and it’s the best for the OBW that I have watched. I do have a question. Is there any reason that you cur the top and bottom points off instead of filling them in like you did on the sides?

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  3. Chelane Priller

    I would like to play this series of videos for our quilt guild, but the wi-fi at our meeting site can get slow sometimes. Is there a way to buy a DVD to use and have in our guild library?

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      1. Chelane Priller

        Then could you email the video files? We could work out a price as if they were on a DVD, since I would put all the files on a DVD myself for the guild.

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  4. Burton Margaret

    Beautiful OBW Tutorials…I am learning so much from you and very excited…love your pin cushion…did you make it or buy it! Thanks

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  5. Pat Key

    Thank you so much for posting this. My question is,when you cut panels, do you always cut WOF, or do you every cut the narrower width? If your panel has a border, do you trim it off before you cut the strips, or do that when you cut the triangles. Thank you

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    1. ifthesethreadscouldtalk Post author

      Hi Pat, I let the size of the design determine the width of strips. Your goal,is to take the design apart, so if you have 3” flowers you need to cut the strips less than 3”. With panels, they generalize a large print so I tend to cut them 3 3/4” width strips. As you suggested, I don’t trim the panels. We always even up one edge to create our baseline to measure our strips, then I despise where to start cutting the equilateral triangles. I hope this answers your question. Thanks for writing.

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      1. Cindy

        Does the document “Using Panels in OBW’s” still exist? (You referenced in a 2021 reply.) I could not find it on your website. I am very impressed your OBWs with panels!

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      1. Pat Key

        After asking you questions, life got in the way. I’m working on a panel OBW, actually the one you had shown (moose and the northern lights). So how do you attach the small hexagons to cover the added fabric? Hand stitch them down, or fuse? Also do you turn under the seam allowance so as to not have it fray. Thanks.

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      2. ifthesethreadscouldtalk Post author

        Pat, if you go to my main blog page there are tabs, one is S180 Tools OBW Stuff. There is a doc you can download called Using Panels in OBW’s. I show you what I do if I need to add extra fabric.

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      3. Linda Blasen

        Your OBW Gallery is wonderful! I am trying to locate the PDF about using panels, which you had mentioned was located there. Has it been moved or am I just not seeing it? Thank you

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  6. Rebecca Moore

    I’m new to OBW, and I just discovered these amazing tutorials! Thank you so much for your work! I’d like to insert a panel into my quilt and I have two questions. First, for six repeats, do you just buy six copies of the panel, plus one for the middle for a total of seven panels? Second, how do you insert the panel into the design?

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    1. ifthesethreadscouldtalk Post author

      Thank you! Yes, buy 7 panels. On my blog, click on the tab for OBW Gallery or the Class Schedule there is down-loadable document that explains how I place the hexies around the panel. Also, if you belong to the Facebook group “One Block Wonder Quilt Forum” they have more info to help you!

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  7. Robyn Shipley

    Hi! Three of us have been using your videos to get us started on a OBW. I’ can’t tell from the pictures….how did you quit yours?

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  8. Gina

    Jackie, Thank you so much for these tutorials!!! This might sound stupid, but you do square up your fabric before you start cutting, right?

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    1. ifthesethreadscouldtalk Post author

      Gina, once you have aligned the 6 repeats with the Flower pins, you even up one of the long WOF edges. One that edge is even, you start to measure and cut your 3 3/4” strips. You will have a little strip left over once all your strips are cut.

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      1. Gina

        Thanks Jackie! In other words I am cutting across WOF; in the #1 video at the very beginning before you have aligned the fabric and before you make your first cut, I notice that you only cut off a starting point reference to begin the repeat. I guess I’m a bit confused because normally when quilting you have to square your fabric before you do anything else, I guess I am actually asking if your fabric is already squared up before you start your reference point and your first cut is made like when you make a regular quilt. LOL hope I’m making sense

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      2. ifthesethreadscouldtalk Post author

        If I understand your question, when I make my first cut…..I have identified my design element. At that point I place my ruler edge on the design element while I place a line on my ruler on the manufacturer’s fold. That squares it up for the purpose of cutting the repeats. Every time I cut a repeat I repeat the process of placing the ruler edge of the design element while placing the ruler line on the fold. I hope this helps.

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  9. Sarah Bohannon

    I just cut out my repeats and realized I messed up. My repeats are every 12 inches and that is how I cut them instead of skipping 1 and then cutting the next. Will it now come out wrong?

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  10. Robyn Shipley

    HI, I was wondering if you could tell me what size strips you would cut with a very short repeat and small ish objects. Thanks

    PS your videos are such a breath of fresh air to a newbie OBWer

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  12. Jeannie Cottage

    I’ve watched the tutorials, which are great, and I’m ready to choose some fabric that I think will work. I shall measure the repeat at the quilt shop to work out how much I need. Really looking forward to it.
    I have a question! What is the difference between OBWs and Stack n Whack?

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    1. ifthesethreadscouldtalk Post author

      Stack & Wack came first. It is the same process, except Bethany Reynolds usually fussy cuts her pieces. I love the OBW because it use the entire strip of fabric except for a tiny bit on either end.

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  13. Debbie

    Hi Jackie…thank you so so much for the excellent, easy to follow, precise tutorials! You have an awesome, simple style about you, excellent for beginners! I have the top of my quilt completed, ready now for the frame & border. Enjoyed sewing all the hexagons & rows together, patience & accuracy are the key! Such a fun quilt to make, will definitely make another, just got to look out for those fabric sales! 🙂

    I have previously made those tote bags from your tutorials as well, you are an excellent teacher, Jackie! My projects always turn out the best with your guidance! Can’t thank you enough! 😀

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  16. Jeremy Shoop

    You are an amazing teacher. Thank you for your videos. My friend brought me back some beautiful batiks from Singapore that will work really well with this style of quilt.

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  17. Nancy Herd

    Thank you so much for these videos. I bought the One Block Wonder book, but am a visual learner. I read the book and have watched the videos and everything seems much clearer to me. I cannot wait to get started.

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  18. Patricia Baker

    What a fabulous set of tutorials – I have made a OBW – I wish I had found your instructions before I started, I now know thaat I did it all wrong. It looks nice enough butt now I need to do another the “correct” way and know it will look so much better. Many thanks.
    Pat in the U.K.

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  19. Faye Marton

    I have a question, my fabric has an 18″ repeat, I know you said on a 12″ to skip one and cut 2 repeats, but what about the 18″? What do I do, go with the 18″ or cut it for 36″? So confused!

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    1. ifthesethreadscouldtalk Post author

      This happened to me once. I had an 18″ repeat and skipped one to make make it a 36″ repeat. The problem was designing it. I would have had to use a ladder to be able to reach it all. So I ended up just making it as large as I could reach with a lot of blocks left over. You could design half at a time and then join them or just make a smaller quilt buy cutting the repeat every 18″. Good luck.

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  20. Ann Pierson

    OH MY GOODNESS!! What a wonderful tutorial! I only have been quilting for about 3 yrs and had no earthly idea how these blocks were made and then combined to a quilt. THANK YOU so much for your effort and time..absolutely awesome!! Can’t wait to get started!

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  22. Marianne

    Dear Jackie,

    Thank you very much for going to the trouble of making these great tutorials. I am new to quilting and you have inspired me to have a go!

    Would you be able to advise where I might be able to buy a cutting table topper like yours that is so huge and I can use the rotary cutter on? I am having trouble finding a really big one like yours (and I love the obvious grid). At the moment I have 3 A1 mats taped together and as you can imagine the joins are annoying.

    Thanks again,

    Marianne

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  23. Beverley Brawn

    Thank you for all of these videos, they made the process suddenly seem less scary, I keep going back to them after each stage and your style is so calming.

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  24. Cathy

    Can you do the 24 inch repeat and then cut 12 in repeats if you do not have enough fabric for the 24 inch and you want to make your quilt a little bigger?

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    1. ifthesethreadscouldtalk Post author

      You must have 6 repeats regardless of the size of the repeat because the hexagon requires 6 equilateral triangles. If I wanted a 24″ repeat but the fabric had a 12″ repeat, I would skip one repeat and cut on next, then I would have a 24″ repeat.

      I’m not I understand the question. Does this help?

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  25. Shelley Gardner

    What cutter are you using? I like that it closes when you set it down- SAFETY FIRST! Great video series- I always wondered how these worked!

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  26. Minna

    Thank you I found your video REALLY easy to understand. I am almost finished with the quilt top and now thinking of my border. I would really love to make my hexagons ‘jump’ out on the border – making it more 3 dimensional (if that makes sense!). How would you suggest to do this (freezer paper applique of the blocks??

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    1. ifthesethreadscouldtalk Post author

      Thank you Minna. You can do two things. I have appliquéd them by sewing the two half hexagons blocks together, then cut a piece of fusible knit interfacing he size of the block (can be purchased at JoAnns etc.) place the fusible knit interfacing bumpy side together with the right side of your hexagon. Sew around the hexagon edge using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Trim the interfacing to match the hexie. Clip a whole in the center of the interfacing and turn the hexie right side out. Finger press the edges then place where you want it and iron. Them choose a stitch and sew it down.

      The other way is to cut equilateral triangles out of the border fabric to surround the blocks giving you a straight edge to attach the rest of the border fabric. I hope this is helpful.

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  30. Kim Winston

    I think so!! I’m finishing up my first one by putting on the borders (took me a year if you can believe that!! Lol) and I’m excited to start another. I’ll see what the difference is!

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  31. Kim Winston

    Hi! I am SO goad to see you found a way around that ridiculous request. I was, thankfully, able to view the original videos. I can’t believe they can claim a right to them!!

    Anyhow, I have a question as I watch these new ones. When cutting out the strips why are we cutting in the long direction instead of cutting in the short direction?

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    1. ifthesethreadscouldtalk Post author

      I just taught a class where someone asked that question.mi don’t really have an answer. I’m know when doing stack & Wack they split the fabric lengthwise, so you may be able to cut the triangles from that direction. If I’m going to test a theory I find some inexpensive fabric and give it try!

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    1. ifthesethreadscouldtalk Post author

      Hi, I’m at the Mid Atlantic Quilt Festival this week. I asked to remove my previous tutorials by CT Publishing, there are some new one up that are not detailed. They are on my blog , I call them Kaleidocally Hexed!

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      1. Zee

        I think these videos have similar content, but you’re right the older videos were more detailed and it really did help me learn by seeing it done rather than reading a book on how it’s done 🙂 Plus, I think your old videos were the first ever quilting videos I watched which were cataclysmic in me becoming so mad about quilting lol. The videos on how to do it from start to finish is an inspiration and made quilting less daunting 🙂

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  34. Anne Eisenman

    These videos were just what I needed to give me the confidence to try this type of quilt design! Thank you for your clear explanations.

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  35. Elaine Randall

    Thanks for sharing your experience. I’ve only cut one strip into triangles so far, I’ll try adding some extra pins to the other strips prior to cutting and hope that helps. I think it will be fine regardless. But i do like to strive for perfection.

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  36. Elaine Randall

    I finally started cutting out this quilt using your excellent tutorial. I watched each step several times before attempting each step. This particular fabric was difficult to line up accurately due to the nature of the design. I also noticed on the selvedge edge with the fabric design that it was unevenly aligned; there was less of a design feature as you loked down the yardage. Have you ever experienced this and how do you compensate? I paid under $2.00 a yard and bought it knowing it would be a practice piece. In laying out the triangles some features do not have the spaces around them.

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    1. ifthesethreadscouldtalk Post author

      Yes I have had fabric like that. To compensate I used more pins to align it. At the bottom quarter of the repeat was grass. I was determined, so I just aligned wherever I felt I had two design elements that crossed giving me a point.

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  38. Terry Devine

    I enjoyed your video. But in video #1, why did you skip the 2nd repeat print and cut at the 3rd print. You didn’t say why.?

    I kind of thinking cause if you cut it longer you can get more triangles. Am I right?

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    1. ifthesethreadscouldtalk Post author

      The fabric I was using had a 12″ repeat. I could have cut it there but I wanted a bigger quilt so I skipped the 2nd repeat and cut on the 3rd repeat. The hexagon block requires 6 repeats regardless of the size of the repeat.

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  41. Carol Stearns

    Enjoyed your detailed videos! I have the books and am scheduled for a class end of Feb. The instructors quilt is not pretty and I love the look of yours. Will be referring back to you I’m sure. Thank you!

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  42. Anita T.

    Thank you so much for these videos! I have chosen fabric for at least three of these quilts and have been nervous about getting started. Your videos will be a great help! Anita in Wisconsin

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