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| Kaleidoscope Patchwork Block |
I stumbled upon pictures of Kerri's Kaleidoscope Pillow late last week and was immediately inspired to create my own Kaleidoscope patchwork pillow. Having previously worked with a Kaleidoscope block I was able to quickly draft my own foundation paper-piecing pattern (using EQ7) for a 4 inch finished block.*
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| A and B Foundation Papers for a 4 inch Kaleidoscope Block |
*my pattern is slightly different to Kerri's Kaleidoscope Pillow pattern - with the darker (corner wedges) being just a little wider. If you'd prefer to hand-draw your foundation papers you can find a tutorial here (it is for Kerri's version of the Kaleidoscope block).
I have made the Foundation Papers for this block available as a PDF file (ready to download and print) from my Online Pattern Store. The pattern costs $2.00. The download is ONLY for the 4 Inch Foundation Paper Piecing Pattern and does NOT including any paper piecing or assembly instructions.
However these basic instructions will assist you in successfully completing this project:
- Each Kaleidoscope block is made using an A Foundation Paper and a B Foundation Paper.
- The Kaleidoscope effect is created by alternating a dark and light (white background) fabric. Start both the A and the B Foundation papers with a dark fabric and at number 1.
- Cut fabric pieces larger than required. I cut each of my fabric pieces 2.5 inches x 4 inches.
- Reduce the length of your stitches. This will make removal of the foundation paper a breeze and keeps your seams intact after the paper has been removed. I go as short as 1.0 on my Bernina sewing machine.
- Don't stitch into the seam allowances that run around the edge of the foundation paper.
- Don't remove your papers until after you have joined segment A and B together.
Once you have paper pieced both an A and a B segment you can sew the two segments together to make a Kaleidoscope block. If you have not sewn into your seam allowances the seams that come together in the center will slide and lock together. As you can see from the back of my block if you have started both the A and B foundation papers at number 1 and have not sewn into your foundation paper your center seam will fold open and sit flat against the fabric.
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| Kaleidoscope Block Patchwork - the back showing seam allowances. |
I may have mentioned this before (several times) but I absolutely love paper piecing and there is no other method - that comes to mind - that is as accurate and easy for intricate patchwork piecing. If you need help mastering the Foundation Paper Piecing technique there's an online Craftsy Class that I can recommend by Carol Doak: (no longer available).
Don't be intimated by this technique, it really is very easy - sometimes you just need to actually see a technique in action rather than try and visualize it from words and a limited number of images. We all learn differently. Once you get that light-bulb moment you'll wonder why you waited so long ...
The Foundation Papers for the 4 Inch Kaleidoscope Block (pdf file) is available for purchase and ready to download from Store: Red Pepper Quilts Pattern Store.
Please note:
The foundation pattern does NOT come with paper piecing instructions but the above basic instructions will help in completing this project successfully.
Please print ACTUAL SIZE. Do not reduce or scale to fit.
I printed my foundation papers on standard A4 copy paper without any difficulty removing the papers.
Happy Stitching!
