Yarn-or-Fabric
Ricky Timm's Kool Kaleidoscope Quilt
I took a class last year about making the Kool Kaleidoscope quilt and I really despised my quilt. It was hectic and chaotic. I pretty much took one of each color family for every strip set and when I put it together it really looked like a box of crayons vomited on my fabric. I learned quickly what I already knew but forgotten - I don't like chaos. I like organized chaos but not all over chaos.
So I loved the technique and knew that I would need to make another one again. Well that someday came this past weekend. I'll be running a workshop on making this quilt in November so I wanted to get my demo item done. I have to admit that I rushed it which doesn't make me happy. I know better than to do that but I did anyway. There is one spot that doesn't match up at all in the strips. I'm pretty sure that I must have miswhacked. I will probably cut that one section out and fix it since it does bother me - or move to plan b... which is to cut apart the kaleidoscope and use it as 4 corners of a quilt. I have a vision in my mind and I think that will be ultimately easier than fixing the miswhacked spot...
But anyway... Here are my tips on making the quilt...
When you are about to cut out your pieces.. lay the fabric right sides together and then fold the top piece back about 6" or so and then slowly put the fabric back down by running your other hand along the folded up piece and nestling it together as you go. Not sure if that makes sense or not. I might make a video on that if anyone wants me to.
When sewing the pieces together to form your pie wedges, only sew about an 1" at the beginning... take if off your machine and fold the pieces back to make sure you have a straight line along the side. This will make sure you are sewing it in the correct spot. Since you have a lot of weird angles you will find that you will need to figure out where the sweet spot is for each piece..
Make sure you use a design wall and lay it all out before you start sewing. If you don't have a design wall, make a design floor or bed or whatever. I put a piece of white flannel down and used that.
I did chain piece sections together which Ricky Timms says to not do under any circumstance. What I did was lay out 4 sections on a desk next to me and I did sew one piece on, put it back where it belongs and then do the next one then when I had 4 done I would take it to my machine... It can be done if you stay organized.
So I loved the technique and knew that I would need to make another one again. Well that someday came this past weekend. I'll be running a workshop on making this quilt in November so I wanted to get my demo item done. I have to admit that I rushed it which doesn't make me happy. I know better than to do that but I did anyway. There is one spot that doesn't match up at all in the strips. I'm pretty sure that I must have miswhacked. I will probably cut that one section out and fix it since it does bother me - or move to plan b... which is to cut apart the kaleidoscope and use it as 4 corners of a quilt. I have a vision in my mind and I think that will be ultimately easier than fixing the miswhacked spot...
But anyway... Here are my tips on making the quilt...
When you are about to cut out your pieces.. lay the fabric right sides together and then fold the top piece back about 6" or so and then slowly put the fabric back down by running your other hand along the folded up piece and nestling it together as you go. Not sure if that makes sense or not. I might make a video on that if anyone wants me to.
When sewing the pieces together to form your pie wedges, only sew about an 1" at the beginning... take if off your machine and fold the pieces back to make sure you have a straight line along the side. This will make sure you are sewing it in the correct spot. Since you have a lot of weird angles you will find that you will need to figure out where the sweet spot is for each piece..
Make sure you use a design wall and lay it all out before you start sewing. If you don't have a design wall, make a design floor or bed or whatever. I put a piece of white flannel down and used that.
I did chain piece sections together which Ricky Timms says to not do under any circumstance. What I did was lay out 4 sections on a desk next to me and I did sew one piece on, put it back where it belongs and then do the next one then when I had 4 done I would take it to my machine... It can be done if you stay organized.
Watching a Kool Kaleidoscope Come Together....
