Tag Archives: One Block Wonders

OOPS, I made another OBW – #136

I was watching a video lecture on CTPub.com by Paula Nadlestern. Wow she is amazing, a true quilt artist! She inspired me to try some something. I whipped out my Star 60 Tool …

I dug through my OBW stash and found this fabric by Laura Heine called A Bird in Hand. It had already been cut into 18″ repeats.

I cut my strips 3.25″ to yield 5″ finished hexies. I always use my First Choice ruler to cut my triangles.

I am constantly looking to see what else I can make from my 3.25″ strips that can be added to my OBW’s. Did you know you can make a 10″ star if you cut your diamonds (using the Star 60 Tool) from a 3.25″ strip?

I wanted to make a 10″ hexies with a 5″ hexies in the center.

From the aligned 3.25″ strips I cut half hexagons following the instructions on page 10 of the Star 60 tool instructions. I am making 5″ finished hexies so I follow the chart for 2.5″ units. I needed a 3″ strip and place the 5.5″ line on the bottom of the strip and cut on both sides.

Because my strips are 3.25″, I turned my half hexie so I can trim 1/4″ off the short end. Now my half hexie is the correct size.

I choose an equilateral triangle to pair it with the half hexie and stitch them together.

This is a great way to create hexies with interesting, one-of-a-kind centers.

Front and back of the 10″ hexies.

Once I got going I was having so much fun I had to finish the top. I added five 10″ Star 60 units and six 10″ hexies with a 5″ hexie in the center. I need to come up with a name for that. I wanted to add something bold, so I made a 20″ hexie from the birds. I used the original fabric on the left side of the quilt. A Bird in Hand measures 70″ x 57″.

@CTPub @Studio180Design

Pollinators – OBW #135

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Pollinators by Robin Pickens for Moda Fabrics is absolutely beautiful and will be in shops in December 2026.

I cut my strips 3.25″ yielding a 5″ finished hexie. I love my Studio180 Design First Choice Rulers for cutting the equilateral triangles, it is fast and accurate. I cut diamonds for 5″ Star 60 units that make 10″ stars to add to my garden.

The bees are a buzzing in the garden created for them! I added 5″ and 10″ Hollow Cube 60’s made with my Star 60 Tool and Hollow Cube 60 Technique Sheet. I think they look like Bee Hives.

Pollinators measures 74″ x 73″. I used my Nine Acres Quilt Batting – Autumn Mid Weight for the first time and Really like it! I love how light it is and it didn’t stretch out of shape.

Be sure to check out Terri Butler as she creates the OBW Jacket from the same Pollinator fabric on our joint Facebook page Mama Said these Threads Could Talk .

and her web page Mama Said Sew

@Moda @Studio180Design @NineAcresQuiltBatting #Star60Tool #FirstChoiceRulers

Steampunk Menagerie – OBW #134

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Imagine a world where steam-powered technology remained the dominant form of advanced technology, set in the Victorian era.

In Steampunk Menagerie you see retro futuristic animals with distinctive style featuring brass, copper, gears, goggles and pocket watches. Combined with 60 degree angles, each hexagon tells its own story.

What might the future have looked like if it had been invented with steam engines and Victorian engineering instead of electronics and digital technology?

Thank you Jason Yenter & In the Beginning Fabrics for providing these fabulous fabrics from the Steampunk Menagerie fabric line.

I cut my strips 3.25″ wide to yield 5″ finished hexies. For fast and accurate equilateral triangles, I always use my First Choice rulers to cut my triangles.

Top and bottom sections are attached, then the right side. Finally the left side is attached.

The wise owl and the elephant are leading the giraffe and peacock out of the darkness.

I used my Star 60 tool to create 5″ finished Star 60 units to create the Serengeti for the turtle, hippo and zebra to enter. The Bear and the Monkey are just sitting back and observing.

I cut diamonds from my 3.25″ strips to create 10″ finished Star 60 units featuring each of the main characters from the menagerie.

Steampunk Menagerie measures 75″ x 65″. I love the story this OBW tells.

@JasonYenter @InTheBeginningFabrics @Studio180Design

#Star60Tool #FirstChoiceRulers #TaylorSevilleOriginals #MagicQuiltingSpray #QuiltersDreamBatting #AcornFabricGlue

Patchwork Power Virtual Event

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You are invited to participate in Creative Spark’s Online Learning Event – Patchwork Power!

Let’s Explore Making One Block Wonder Panels Together

If you love the idea of creating spectacular quilts from panels, I’d love to have you join me at Patchwork Power.

In One Block Wonder Kaleidoscope Panels, we’ll talk about strip sizes, feature-panel layouts, and how strategic cutting choices can create beautiful, swirling effects.

Receive 20% off coupon on Event Price of $59.00 when you Register with code PP26Jackie at:

Patchwork Power: Innovative Techniques, Dynamic Quilts

I’ll be teaching One Block Wonder Kaleidoscope Panels, a session all about transforming panels into dazzling quilts with movement, depth, and visual impact. We’ll talk about:

Choosing strip sizes for strong kaleidoscope results
Designing around a feature panel
Incorporating stars and cubes in multiple sizes
Using strategic cutting to create dramatic effects
Making layout choices that help the panel and piecing work beautifully together

This session is all about helping you see new possibilities in panel quilts and One Block Wonder design. I’ll share ways to make thoughtful cutting and layout decisions that create those striking, swirling effects while still feeling cohesive and balanced, so you can continue exploring these techniques with more confidence at home.

Patchwork Power: A One-Day Virtual Quilting Intensive is a live virtual retreat designed to help quilters sharpen their skills, refine their process, and build more confidence at every stage of quilting. The day includes expert-led sessions on precision piecing, ruler work, digital design, jelly rolls, curves, wool applique, One Block Wonder quilts, and more, plus a keynote from Karen Montgomery.

I hope to see you there.

#PatchworkPower #CreativeSparkOnlineLearning

The Gothic Raven – OBW #133

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The Gothic Raven panel is by Rubin Design Studio exclusively for eQuilter.com. It measures 29″ x 44″.

I absolutely love this panel.

I was so surprised by how much color i got out of this panel. I thought it would be much darker. But it is brilliant with color.

The Gothic Raven measures 80″ x 70″ unquilted. I cut my strips 3.25″ wide to yield 5″ finished hexies and 10″ finished Star 60 units made with First Choice rulers and the Star 60 Tool by Studio 180 Design.

The Gothic Raven watches over the Night Garden along with the Garden Gnome (Mushroom Man). All 3 of the panels are by the Rubin Design Studio.

@RubinDesignStudio @Equilter @Studio180Design #GothicRaven #FirstChoiceRulers #Star60Tool

Fairy Boutique – OBW #132

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Fairy Boutique by White Owl Textiles for Lumin Fabrics is such a beautiful panel.

The entire Fairy Boutique collection is fabulous. Estimated Ship Date is July 2026.

I had so much fun cutting out my equilateral triangles and diamonds for my 10″ stars using my First Choice Rulers and Star 60 Tool by Studio 180 Design. I cut 3.25″ strips that yielded 5″ finished hexies. From the same 3.25″ strips I cut diamonds to make 10″ finished Stars using my Star 60 Tool.

It always amazes me how much creating a One Block Wonder with hexies from the panel enhances the story. This panel is full of whimsey and magic. I created a Fairy Circle using Studio 180 Design’s Hollow Cube 60 Technique Sheet. There is so much great detail in this panel. fairies abound everywhere. Fairy Boutique measures 90″ x 70″.

Follow Terri Butler as she creates her Fairy Boutique OBW Jacket:

Mama Said Sew-Terri Butler

Mama Said These Threads Could Talk Facebook page: (6) Facebook

@LuminFabrics @WhiteOwlTextiles @Studio180Design #FairyBoutique #Star60Tool #FirstChoiceRulers

April Roadtrip

Next OBW – Fairy Boutique

Everyone Needs Magic Pins!

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I have the Extra Long & Quilting Magic Pins, which I use. I did not know Taylor Seville also had Applique, Silk and Patchwork Magic Pins.

They offer 2 fabulous “Try Me” packs. These packs give you a chance to see the variety Taylor Seville offers.

When I design a OBW, I number each column across the top of the quilt and across the bottom section. I have been cutting up scrap paper and numbering them for the number of columns I have. A tedious little job.

Magic pins have these great Flathead pins in Applique, Patchwork, Quilting, Alphabet and Extra Long. My OBW’s vary in size. On average, I have about 30 columns across the quilt with another 15 on the bottom section under the panel.

The Flathead Magic Pins come in a 50 pack. That makes them PERFECT to number each pin and use them to identify each column. It’s wonderful to not need to have to number little pieces of paper every time I design a OBW.

Follow Taylor Seville Products:

Night Garden – OBW #131

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Night Garden panel by Rubin Design Studio, exclusively for eQuilter.com , measures 29″ x 44″.

I cut my strips 3.25″ to yield 5″ finished hexies. Night Garden produced 182 hexies. I could place 5.5 hexies or 11 columns across the top and bottom sections.

If you use a pointed tip Star 60 tool or First Choice ruler to cut your equilateral triangles, the same strip can be used to cut Star 60 diamonds. The 3.75″ strip above yielded a 6″ finished hexies and a diamond for a 6″ Star 60 Unit (12″ star), (Blunt tip ruler changes the hexies size.)

2.75” Strip = 4” finished hexie and a diamond for a 8” finished Star 60
3.25” Strip = 5” finished hexie and a diamond for a 10” finished Star 60
3.75” Strip = 6” finished hexie and a diamond for a 12” finished Star 60

When making Star 60 units from these diamonds, follow the Star 60 tool instructions Steps 2 – 12.

Once you have the top and bottom sections together, you remove stitches in the valleys from the edge that will be attached to the panel and turn under 1/4″. I have my favorite seam rippers, but this time I tried the Taylor Seville Originals Magic Seam Ripper. I felt the difference right away. it felt light, and it fit well in my hand. it was very sharp and made quick work of removing the stitches without distorting the fabric. I think I have a new favorite seam ripper!