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Tuesday 10 February 2015

Kaleidoscopic...

On Sunday I exorcised a few demons when I made my February Stitch Tease blocks for Kari.

She asked for kaleidoscope blocks, paper-pieced, and to be honest, the whole idea filled me with dread.  I tried kaleidoscope blocks way back in the mists of time, and quite frankly completely buggered them up.  I've avoided them ever since!

My centre points were definitely not pointy, and the finished blocks probably didn't even get a mention on the blog as they were so shocking, they were also batik, so the less said the better!!

So fast forward about 4 years, and this weekend, big girl pants pulled right up, I set to it.

Pleasantly surprised doesn't even go there!


Lovely points, even if I do say myself!

It just goes to show how much my piecing has improved over the years, thankfully, it's not like I haven't had enough practise!  What I do need to practise though is paper-piecing without so much wastage - I have to cut big, as I don't have the time or will power to work out all the reverse angles and which bit will flap where and cover what.  Maybe I'll suss that in another 4 years!


So these will be winging over the pond to make what will be an awesome first Bee quilt for Kari.

And in case you are wondering about the lack of Brit Bee stitching around these parts; the quilt tops are playing catch up, and I am now only awaiting Sarah's to piece the final border.  We are going to wait until they are all finished before having them sent home and I for one am sooooooo impatient, longest 18 months, so far, EVER!

18 comments:

  1. psych - i've been daydreaming kaliedoscopes for weeks now! hope you get my medallion soon....... eeeek! xxx

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  2. Hooray for another demon conquered! It's amazing what four years will do. It's almost as though you learned something in the intervening time... ;). I too hate the wastage of paper piecing, particularly because it seems so unnecessary. But being off by just a tiny angle spells total disaster, so cutting big seems to be a requirement. Harrumph.

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  3. Awesome points indeed! This is probably testament to the skill you have gained! Go girl!

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  4. Great points. I loathe trying to match points, not my strong point. x

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  5. I'd comment on the blocks but I still reeling from your batik revelation!

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  6. my points yesterday were all over the place, like the great late Eric Morecambe used to to say I can play all the notes just not in the right order. Hopefully mine will get better too.

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  7. Loving these blocks and has it really been 18 months since Brit Bee started the round robin quilt?

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  8. Gorgeousness! I love paper-piecing, but always try to scrimp - I'm getting pretty good at it!

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  9. print out several extra paper foundations and cut out your "templates", add a snitch more to the seam allowance and you have very little waste. Label them A1, A2, A3, etc.

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  10. I forgot to say how darling your kaleidoscopes are! Love your bright, dense, happy colors with your low volumes. Very nice!

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  11. Gorgeous blocks! Have you tried cutting up a block template and adding 1/2" all round (rather than 1/4") to give you a little more wriggle room? Or try freezer paper piecing instead...Kerry Berry has lots of great tutorials.

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  12. Eeek, I still haven't done Di's blocks, whoops, must get caught up soon!! These look fab, and like Susan said, batiks, shiiiiiiiit! You'll be telling me they were brown batiks next, don't, my nerves couldn't stand it! ;o)

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  13. Beautiful! I cut big too, wastes fabric but saves swearing!!

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  14. Beautiful blocks, I love the colors and the low volume prints.

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  15. Bravo for your blocks. I'm feeling the same way about how much my piecing gas improved in 4 years. Kari's quilt Is going to be so pretty

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