Twas the night before Christmas….no it’s more like a week and a half before Christmas and I just had to finish this One Block Wonder instead of doing what I’m supposed to be doing. I’m supposed to be working on my last quilt of the year for Island Batik.
I just love this panel by Timeless Treasures. My quilt measures 60″ x 62″. If you haven’t tried a One Block Wonder using a panel, here are my tips:
Happy Holidays!
The Unicorn is all about opening up to infinite possibilities and that the infinite possibilities surround you and are available to you at all times.
I made this One Block Wonder for my son Jason’s birthday in a few weeks. Spiritually the Unicorn symbolizes success. If you summon the power of the Unicorn, the Unicorn will give you the blessings to be a success in whatever you choose to pursue. I love you Jason, Happy Birthday!
Here are my tips for using panels to make a One Block Wonder:
The Artisan Spirit, Water Garden fabric in this post was given to me by Northcott Fabrics for the Creators Club.
This is my 63rd One Block Wonder, and I love it! It came out better than I had anticipated. This OBW started as a 28″ x 42″ panel.
When choosing fabric for a One Block Wonder (OBW) I look for a large repeat and a large design in colors that I like. OBW’s require 6 repeats of fabric plus more if you want to put the original fabric in the border. With a panel, the repeat is pre-determined. I bought 7 panels, one to integrate into the top of the quilt and 6 for the blocks.
The process starts with aligning your repeats, evening up one end and cutting them into 3 3/4″ WOF strips. With a 24″ repeat I get 6 strips, but this had a 28″ repeat. Bonus, I got 7 WOF strips. I was able to cut equilateral triangles for 127 .hexagon blocks
There are several 60 degree rulers out there. I prefer to cut my triangles using a 6″ x 12″ Olfa ruler with a 60 line.
Each stack of six triangles is a kaleidoscope giving you 3 choices on how to stitch your block together. I have free, detailed video tutorials available here on my site and on YouTube that guide you through the process of making a One Block Wonder. Plus you should check out Maxine Rosenthal’s books, One Block Wonder’s, One Block Wonders Encore, One Block Wonders Cubed and One Block Wonders of the World (2 of my OBW’s are included in that book).
Usually I wait till all my blocks are sewn before going to the design wall. I was so excited that every few blocks I had to start designing. When constructing OBW blocks, you stitch 3 triangles together, pressing all seams open and then sew the other 3 triangles together. DO NOT sew the center seam. Simply overlap the halves at the center and pin it. My goal with this panel was to design it so it seemed the colors were swirling right off the panel.
Once you have a design you like it’s time to sew the blocks into rows.
Un-pin the blocks one row at a time and sew into rows, press all seams open. I love my pressing stick. It makes it much easier to press all the seams open without disturbing what was previously pressed.
Stitch your rows together. I love my Clover Fork Pins. They are thin and grip and hold the fabric in place.
Did I tell you to press all seams open? That pressing stick really helps.
Putting together a One Block Wonder made using a panel in the quilt top is a little trickier than with just stitched rows. I divided rows into four sections to attach them to the panel. It is like making a log cabin block. I wanted the rows to attach in certain places so color seemed as though it continued right off the panel. I began by trimming the bottom section first and attaching it to the panel.
I could now attach the rows to the right to the panel, using a partial seam and leaving room to adjust the top section of triangles and then add the rows to left of the panel.
I trimmed the edges of the quilt to square it up. I love it, but still wanted to soften the panel edges.
I did not use all the blocks in the quilt top design. I sewed the left over blocks together and trimmed them to make smaller hexagons. I randomly placed them along the edges of the panel and appliqued them down.
The finished quilt measures 60″ x 68″. I did not feel it needed a border. Thank you to Northcott Fabrics and Water Garden designer Ira Kennedy. I really love this quilt.
For OBW inspiration check out the Facebook page “One Block Wonder Quilt Forum”. I am available to teach One Block Wonder Workshops.
#northcottfabrics # Northcottcreatorsclub #oneblockwonders #OBW #Watergarden
Enchantment Under the Sea, come learn to make a One Block Wonder (OBW) with me! I found this fabric last summer. I started to make my 61st OBW and once again was overcome by events. I just finished it the first week in January 2017. What a great way to start the year.
I got ahead of myself and aligned the repeats and cut them into strips when I realized I hadn’t taken a photo of the original fabric. But you get the idea. The fabric is by Robert Kaufman and is called Animal Spirit. I love the colors in it.
The blocks were fun to design.
The blocks are fabulous, but they were very challenging to sort by predominate color. I must have had 20 piles. I just started putting them up on my design wall and went at it!
Enchantment Under the Sea
It is pretty to look at though. It measures about 72″ by 82″.
I will be teaching a One Block Wonder workshop April 21st – April 23rd 2017 at Strong House Inn , 94 West Main Street, Vergennes, VT 05491, Local: (802) 877-3337, Email: StrongHouseInn@Gmail.com
Whether you like novelty, Asian or floral fabrics, choose a design that is at least 4.5″ or larger, with colors that you like and join me to learn how to make a One Block Wonder. You will learn the process of deconstructing and redistributing your fabric by color. I will teach you the One Block Wonder Process.
If you are interested please contact Strong House Inn soon by clicking on the link above.
It’s December 15, 2016. I haven’t blogged in 3 months as there was an illness in my family that took precedence. My family has received quilts from me for Christmas for many years. I hadn’t done that in a while, but this year I wanted to show my love for them. I made my son Josh a One Block Wonder (OBW). Josh is my very own Grizzly Adams. This is my 60th One Block Wonder and is named “Camping with Friends”. Camping with Friends was made with Alexander Henry Fabric with a 12″repeat .
Camping with Friends
Josh called me last night. He loves the quilt. It has grizzly bears on the back.
I finally completed a King size “Yellow Brick Road” or my oldest son Jason. He was thrilled. He waited a long time for this quilt.
Jason’s King Size Quilt.
Sam & Minnie’s Quilt
The “Minionettes” from right to left: Barb Hipsley, Connie Farland, Debbie Thomas, Diane Marvin, Donna Hanley, ending with myself.
This quilt measure 39″ by 49″. It is from Deb Tucker’s book Hidden Treasures. I made 5″ blocks using the Hunter Star Petite tool. This size hunter star makes a great baby quilt.
Curveball
Looks great on this old trunk.
Looks great on this coffee table.
Game Board
Tucker
I am very excited to invite you to join me for a quilting retreat at the Strong House Inn in Vermont learning to make a “One Block Wonder”.
The dates are April 21, 22 & 23, 2017. The cost per person for double occupancy is $395. Single occupancy is $470. This price is all-inclusive including food & the teachers fee.
Quilting in Vermont at the Strong House Inn offers the ultimate setting for quilters to reunite their creative passion and be spoiled in the process.
In this class you will learn to:
This will be a fun filled experience learning to make one of kind quilts in a beautiful setting.
Make your reservation today. Contact the Strong House Inn, 94 West Main Street, Vergennes, VT 05491 (802) 877-3337, Email stronghouseinn@gmail.com
I just finished my quilt donation to Quilter’s Dream Batting, Hopes & Dreams Challenge for ALS research. It is my hope that every quilter reading this will donate a quilt to help raise awareness and research money for ALS, Lou Gerhigs disease. 100% of money raised goes to ALS research.
All quilts donated are entered to receive fantastic prizes donated by wonderful sponsors.
Categories for prizes are:
Sew Lovely – 3 Quilters will win prizes valued at $500.
Sew Generous Individual – An Individual donating the most quilts will win $1,250 in great prizes.
Sew Generous Quilt Guild – The quilt guild donating the most quilts will win $1,250 in great prizes.
Sew Generous Professional – The professional quilter, longarmer or teacher who donates the most quilts will win $1,250 in prizes.
Sew Popular, 3 Winners – Top quilts are posted on the internet and voted on, 1st Place $1,250 in great prizes, 2nd Place $750 in great prizes and 3rd Place $50- in great prizes.
Sew Creative , 3 Winners – Fabric Postcards, wall hangings, handbags, accessories, miniature quilts, mug rugs, paintings, table runners, etc. which will be sold to raise funds for ALS Research. All entries will be entered into a drawing to win prizes valued at $500.
Sew Generous Quilt Shop – The quilt shop that donates the most quilts will win $1,250 in great prizes.
Donate one or more quilts by July 31st. Quilts postmarked after July 31st will be entered in next year’s Hopes & Dreams Challenge. For complete information go to Quilters Dream Batting and click on Hopes & Dreams Challenge for ALS.
Wild Flowers of Alder Creek
It is winter in Central NY, but there are flowers in my yard today!
I hope you take time to donate to ALS Research!
So, this is the Dining Room! Did I happen to mention “I love quilts”? Well I do, and I love them in the dining room. I make quilts for my dining room table. I have one Christmas and one for Summer but I needed one more. Last year I bought some Alexander Henry Fiesta fabric in 3 color ways. In case you didn’t know, Fiesta is dinnerware made by Homer Laughlin beginning in the 1930’s and is very collectible. I have some of the older pieces but my collection is mostly from 1995 to present.
I made some Fiesta fabric valances for the kitchen and Dining room.
Cream Background Fiesta Fabric
From the deep charcoal background I made a One Block Wonder (OBW) quilt for the table.
Fiesta Deep Charcoal Background
I used a repeat of the original fabric in the center of the quilt and surrounded it with OBW Hexagons. I’m not sure how I did it, but it came out pretty nice.
A Very Whimsical Dinning Room
Quilts & Fiesta
I made this quilt in 2006
This wall hanging was a gift from a friend.
My sister makes beautiful, but unusual counted cross stitch.
More of my sister’s work.
Somebody stop me! I need to be working on Studio 180 Design class samples. But I just had to make one more One Block Wonder. This great fabric is Brazilia by Alexander Henry. I wanted to try a different design approach.
I like the unevenness. Once I sewed the blocks together I bound the uneven edge with a burgundy fabric. I then laid the blocks over the original fabric and adjusted it until it was in a position I liked. I sewed the two together and then squared up the top.
It is a very subtle edge, but I like the way the original fabric flows into the blocks.
Here is a close up of where the original fabric meets the blocks.
I chose another tropical bird fabric for the backing.
You know, no quilt it complete without a label.
I finished up the design portion of a One Block Wonder class I taught at Sew Nice in Norwich, NY. It was a great class with 11 wonderful creative women. We had loads of fun!
I just want to dive into these blocks, looks like water to me.
Barb had fun with her Cowboy Hat fabric.
I Love how Bernie’s came out.
This does look like a big garden. Can you see the path?
Alice had a beautiful Asian fabric.
Next to Alice is are gorgeous blocks from a sunflower fabric.
Judy didn’t have all her blocks ready to design, but she had enough done to play.
I absolutely loved Krissy’s fabric. I love grey and this came out so beautiful.
Rebecca was not pleased with her fabric selection. I thought it was beautiful.
Tara was making this OBW for her brother. I’m sure he will love it. Her blocks were so much fun!
Do you see the twister?
If These Threads Could Talk 