kaleidoscope plus |
Designed, pieced, and quilted by Cheryl Brickey |
This interlocking ring design is formed using traditional Kaleidoscope blocks in combination with plus signs. Kaleidoscope Plus is made using a combination of paper-pieced blocks and traditionally pieced blocks.
Materials
Yardages are based on fabric that is 40˝ wide.
Dark gray: 1⅝ yards
Light gray: 3¾ yards
White: 1¼ yards
Dark blue: ⅝ yard
Blue print: ⅝ yard
Binding: ⅝ yard
Batting: 72˝ × 72˝
Backing: 4 yards
Foundation paper: 34 sheets 8½˝ × 11˝
Cutting
DARK GRAY
Cut 11 strips 4¾˝ × width of fabric (WOF).
Subcut into 64 rectangles 4¾˝ × 6˝; each strip yields 6 rectangles.
LIGHT GRAY
Cut 1 strip 6½˝ × WOF.
Subcut into 4 squares 6½˝ × 6½˝.
Cut 7 strips 6˝ × WOF.
Subcut 6 strips into 52 rectangles 6˝ × 4˝; each strip yields 10 rectangles.
Subcut 1 strip into 16 rectangles 6˝ × 2½˝.
Cut 9 strips 5˝ × WOF.
Subcut 1 strip into 2 rectangles 5˝ × 20˝.
Subcut 1 strip into 6 rectangles 5˝ × 6½˝.
Subcut 1 strip into 2 rectangles 5˝ × 6½˝ and 4 squares 5˝ × 5˝.
Cut 4 strips 4˝ × WOF.
Subcut into 32 squares 4˝ × 4˝; each strip yields 10 squares.
Cut 3 strips 3½˝ × WOF.
Subcut 1 strip into 4 rectangles 3½˝ × 5˝.
Subcut 1 strip into 16 rectangles 3½˝ × 2˝.
Subcut 1 strip into 24 rectangles 3½˝ × 1½˝.
Cut 3 strips 1½˝ × WOF.
WHITE
Cut 6 strips 5¾˝ × WOF.
Subcut into 64 rectangles 5¾˝ × 3¼˝; each strip yields 12 rectangles.
DARK BLUE
Cut 4 strips 4˝ × WOF.
Subcut into 32 squares 4˝ × 4˝; each strip yields 10 squares.
BLUE PRINT
Cut 3 strips 3½˝ × WOF.
Subcut into 12 rectangles 3½˝ × 7½˝; each strip yields 5 rectangles.
Cut 3 strips 2½˝ × WOF.
BINDING
Cut 7 strips 2½˝ × WOF.
Fabric: Blueberry Park by Karen Lewis Textiles for Robert Kaufman Fabrics
instructions
Seam allowances are a scant ¼˝ unless otherwise noted. Press all seams open unless otherwise noted. Use the foundation paper-piecing directions to sew the paper-pieced blocks.
Kaleidoscope Blocks
1. Trace or photocopy the Kaleidoscope Plus foundation patterns A, B, and C onto foundation paper the number of times indicated.
2. Paper piece each foundation using the following precut pieces.
Kaleidoscope Plus Foundation A
Use Foundation A; make 22.
Kaleidoscope Plus Foundation B
Use Foundation B; make 4.
Kaleidoscope Plus Foundation C
Use Foundation C; make 8.
3. Trim each unit along the foundation’s outer seamlines.
Full Kaleidoscope block
4. Sew 2 foundations A together to make a full Kaleidoscope block measuring 9½˝ × 9½˝. Repeat to make 9 full Kaleidoscope blocks.
5. Sew foundations A and B together to make a three-quarter Kaleidoscope block measuring 9½˝ × 9½˝. Repeat to make 4 three-quarter Kaleidoscope blocks.
Three-quarter Kaleidoscope block
6. The 8 foundations C are the half-Kaleidoscope blocks measuring 5˝ × 9½˝.
Half-Kaleidoscope block
Plus Blocks
1. Sew 32 dark blue and 32 light gray 4˝ squares into 64 half-square triangles measuring 3½˝ × 3½˝ using the directions in Making Half-Square Triangles. Set 16 aside for use in the Outer blocks.
2. Sew 1 blue print strip and 1 light gray 1½˝ × WOF strip together. Repeat to make 3 strip sets. Cut the strip sets into 24 units 3½˝ × 3½˝.
3. Sew 1 blue print rectangle and 2 light gray 1½˝ × 3½˝ rectangles together to make a unit measuring 3½˝ × 9½˝. Repeat to make 12 units.
4. Sew 2 half-square triangles and 1 unit from Step 2 together to make a unit measuring 3½˝ × 9½˝. Repeat to make 24 units.
5. Sew 1 unit from Step 3 and 2 units from Step 4 together to make a Plus block measuring 9½˝ × 9½˝. Repeat to make 12 Plus blocks.
Plus block
Outer Blocks
1. Sew 1 half-square triangle, 1 light gray 2˝ × 3½˝ rectangle, and 1 light gray 5˝ × 6½˝ rectangle together to make a first Outer block measuring 5˝ × 9½˝. Repeat to make 4 first Outer blocks.
First Outer block
2. Sew 1 half-square triangle, 1 light gray 2˝ × 3½˝ rectangle, and 1 light gray 5˝ × 6½˝ rectangle together to make a second Outer block measuring 5˝ × 9½˝. Repeat to make 4 second Outer blocks.
Second Outer block
Note that the first and second outer blocks are mirror images of each other. Be sure to double-check placement and the orientation of the half-square triangles within each block.
3. Sew 2 half-square triangles, 2 light gray 2˝ × 3½˝ rectangles, and 1 light gray 3½˝ × 5˝ rectangle together to make a third Outer block measuring 5˝ × 9½˝. Repeat to make 4 third Outer blocks.
Third Outer block
Quilt Top Assembly
1. Arrange and rotate the following according to the quilt top assembly diagram.
9 full Kaleidoscope blocks
4 three-quarter Kaleidoscope blocks
8 half-Kaleidoscope blocks
12 Plus blocks
4 first Outer blocks
4 second Outer blocks
4 third Outer blocks
4 light gray 5˝ squares
2. Sew the blocks into rows. Sew the rows together to make the quilt top, which should measure 54½˝ × 54½˝ before the borders are added.
Borders
1. Sew 1 light gray 5˝ × WOF strip and 1 light gray 5˝ × 20˝ rectangle together end to end. Repeat to make a total of 2 pieced side strips.
2. Measure the average height of the quilt top, and trim the 2 pieced side strips to fit (approximately 54½˝). Attach the side borders to the quilt top.
3. Sew 2 light gray 5˝ × WOF strips together end to end. Repeat to make a total of 2 pieced top/bottom strips.
4. Measure the average width of the quilt top, and trim the 2 top/bottom strips to fit (approximately 63½˝). Attach the top and bottom borders to the quilt top.
Finishing
Refer to Finishing Your Quilt as needed.
1. To make the quilt back, cut the backing fabric into 2 pieces each 72 × WOF, trim off the selvage edges, and sew the pieces together along the trimmed selvage edges. Trim to approximately 72˝ × 72˝.
2. Layer the quilt top, batting, and backing. Baste and quilt as desired. Bind and enjoy! This version of Kaleidoscope Plus was quilted in a meandering pattern.
Quilt top assembly