Kool Kaleidoscope -- Ask Questions Here

[Judith V.]

I just watched class 2 and the only question that I have is in regard to the folding of the piece to get the angle that you want. Do I put the angle on one of the lines of the strata??

[James F.]

He send to make your fold Parallel to the seam on the Strata, doesn't have to be right on it.

[Nancy S.]

Can you use any one of the three wedges for the quilt? I think I heard Ricky say you can, but it didn’t see, clear to me. Thanks.

[Karen L.]

Yes. They are identical. He said he would save the ones he doesn't need in case he has trouble later. I think he was saying that because they are identical, he can hold up one of the unused wedges to a sewn wedge and see if it is "off"

[Karen L.]

Yes. They should be identical.

[Karen L.]

I have a suggestion rather than a question. I am terribly forgetful, especially when repeating a step many times. I'll do the step right 19 times and mess up on the 20th. I know that I WILL forget to add a 1/4" seam somewhere - most probably on my most important, irreplaceable piece of fabric. I needed a foolproof method to insure that I won't forget the seam allowance. So I plan to cut the shapes using my 12" Add a Quarter ruler (usually used for paper piecing). If you don't have a 12" Add A Quarter ruler, you can go with my original plan - iron the cut out freezer paper templates to another piece of freezer paper. Then, cut 1/4" all around each template. If you forget to add a seam allowance, it's only paper and easily replaced. Hope this helps someone! -Karen

[SueGee]

Good suggestion Karen.

[SueGee]

I have another suggestion. For those having trouble trying to figure where to place the next "fold". Make several copies of your strata on your printer then use the paper copy to find the best place for the next cut.

[Martha J.]

Excellent idea, wish I had it earlier today. I have struggled.

[Barbara B.]

[QUOTE=PaolaRB;n886401]I am puzzled. I listened to the first lesson twice and if I recall correctly, it was said that Kaffe fabric or even Tula Pink would work in a strata. Now I am seeing that it would not. Could someone please clarify this regarding fabric choice. Must the fabric have small designs and not large designs to it? Why?[/QUOTE]

Go look at all the photos that are posted so far on the Show Your Progress Here Topic. Click on each photo to enlarge it. Think about how the fabric you would like to use and imagine how it would look cut in strips.

A big floral like a Kaffe Brassica, would be various colors when cut up so the Kaleidoscope effect might not be as strong. I used a Kaffe stripe, at least one other person did too, and it worked fine. See prints others have used to picture yours there.

Ricky may have more to add, just my 2 cents.

[Ricky T.]

My 2 cents would be - use the bold crazy fabric sparingly - in just one or two strips in the entire quilt. There has to be calm - but some crazy if fine. In truth, again, everyone wants to overthink it. Just let it happen. Go with the flow.

[stiles_lib]

I believe Ricky mentioned in Class #2 that he would tell us how to make this quilt a different size. I don't think that he actually told us the details of how to do this (or I might have missed it!). If we want a smaller quilt, do we make a smaller freezer paper square; for example 16" rather than 18" and then continue with the instructions for the 18" sq?
Thanks, Carol

[Ricky T.]

It is in lesson 3 - be sure to watch - yes, I forgot.

[Helen W.]

[QUOTE=stiles_lib;n886443]I believe Ricky mentioned in Class #2 that he would tell us how to make this quilt a different size. I don't think that he actually told us the details of how to do this (or I might have missed it!). If we want a smaller quilt, do we make a smaller freezer paper square; for example 16" rather than 18" and then continue with the instructions for the 18" sq?
Thanks, Carol[/QUOTE]

Carol, You are correct that the size is based on the square. Ricky used an 18 inch square. If you wanted it half size you would use a 9 inch square. When you draw your 30 degree wedges, you put a mark at the size of the square on the two 30 degree lines.
Ricky put the mark at 18 inches on the the wedge line. For half size you put it at 9 inches. I made a practice pattern at 9 inches
but decided that there would we way too many seam allowances running into each other on the 5 templates. I am thinking
I might go with 12 inch square so the kaleidoscope will end up 24 by 24 before borders. I still have a couple strata to make before I make that decision. HelenW

[stiles_lib]

Thanks so much for the reply to my question about making a smaller size.
Cheers, Carol

[Helen W.]

[QUOTE=QuiltInPiece;n886371]I have a suggestion rather than a question. I am terribly forgetful, especially when repeating a step many times. I'll do the step right 19 times and mess up on the 20th. I know that I WILL forget to add a 1/4" seam somewhere - most probably on my most important, irreplaceable piece of fabric. I needed a foolproof method to insure that I won't forget the seam allowance. So I plan to cut the shapes using my 12" Add a Quarter ruler (usually used for paper piecing). If you don't have a 12" Add A Quarter ruler, you can go with my original plan - iron the cut out freezer paper templates to another piece of freezer paper. Then, cut 1/4" all around each template. If you forget to add a seam allowance, it's only paper and easily replaced. Hope this helps someone! -Karen[/QUOTE]

Karen, I am like you. I was thinking it will be hard for me to not accidentally forget the seam allowance on a template or two.
My plan was to make the pattern as explained. After cutting the 5 pieces apart from the wedge, use double stick tape to tape
the template piece to another piece of paper. Cut the quarter inch all around the shape and now when I cut each template
the seam allowance is already there and I don't have to think about it. HelenW

[evelynspaulding]

I just want to say that I thoroughly enjoyed having Ricky as a guest, private teacher when making my templates. I had the computer right next to me. I would play a section then hit pause to follow one step at a time. I did do one thing differently--I attached my template to a sheet of paper then cut it out showing the 1/4". This will, hopefully, prevent my forgetting to do that at any time.

[Helen W.]

Adding the quarter inch seam allowance so you don't accidentally forget. Working great so far. Karen I used your
idea of using the add a quarter ruler and that worked great. After cutting the template pieces apart from the wedge.
I used double stick tape on back of each one. Tape it to a piece of pink construction paper, used the add a quarter
to add the seam allowance. HelenW

I used 12 inch graph paper so my kaleidoscope will end up 24 inches.

[Linda L.]

Nice! Love your colors.

[Paulette w.]

Would like to know your pressing technique. I'm having trouble with bowing in my strata. I have sewn the sets of two and put them together in opposite directions as suggested. Wondering if you press the seams in the pairs before they are sewn to the second set, or do you wait till the strata is complete and press the seams all at the same time. Do you press from the top or the backside of the strata. Do you every use starch?

[Barbara B.]

When sewing long strata I press as each pair is sewn--I find this easiest to get the seams flat.
It is really important to alternate the direction of sewing when going pairs of fabrics, as Ricky explained. Sew all pairs together, from top to bottom, then sew from bottom to top when joining the pairs to each other.

[Helen W.]

[QUOTE=Paulettewashburn;n886556]Would like to know your pressing technique. I'm having trouble with bowing in my strata. I have sewn the sets of two and put them together in opposite directions as suggested. Wondering if you press the seams in the pairs before they are sewn to the second set, or do you wait till the strata is complete and press the seams all at the same time. Do you press from the top or the backside of the strata. Do you every use starch?[/QUOTE]

Paulette, Did you do as Ricky suggested to sew top to bottom on the pairs and then bottom to top when you put the pairs together?
That is often a cause of bowing. I too was wondering if you press after all strips are together or as you go. The first one I tried to
wait til all assembled but it was a real pain to keep my seam allowance even, so from then on I pressed as I went. From the back I
fingernail pressed in the direction I wanted the seam to go, then from the front side I used the iron. Iron the width of the strata, not the length, because that also causes bowing. Hope this helps until someone else gives you ideas. HelenW

[sewskeel]

Is 3 inch piece in a strata too big?

[Denise S.]

Ricky suggested at one point that larger pieces be placed on the outsides of the strata, so that you don't end up with teeny triangles at the ends. I have one piece that's probably about 2 or 2 1/2 that I'm planning to redo before I sew them all together. I would post a photo but I can't figure out how to post from my phone

[dn184ems]

Has anyone used a jelly roll to make the stratas. Since they are 43-44" long and usually there are two per fabric, and at least 12 to 15 different fabric; would this work? Of course I would need something to match for the 'butt' and 'wedgie'.

[Barbara B.]

Ricky discussed this in Lesson 1. Having all the strips the same size will be less interesting than having a variety of widths. Use some of the jelly roll strips, add some others, narrow for dark, wider for medium or light.

[Louise G.]

I have an idea for this. When I was assembling my strata two strips were almost identical in width. So, I altered the seam allowance (on both pairs of course!).
It makes for some differences in the width and it doesn't interfere with the construction.
Depending on your memory

[Barbara B.]

[QUOTE=sewskeel;n886576]Is 3 inch piece in a strata too big?[/QUOTE]

In Lesson 1 Ricky talked about widths of strips. If I remember correctly, he said 3" cut would be the widest he would use.

Look at some of the photos being posted on the Forum under Kool Kaleidoscope -- Show Your Progress Here. Try to imagine what a 3" finished shape would look like in the fabric you are considering using that large.

The entire circle is only 36" across and there are lots of pieces, so 3" finished can be overpowering, depending on your fabric choices.

[Karen L.]

The widest strip in the center is 1.5" I think I'm not placing the template exactly right when I cut. Also, trying to get the very center to be perfect, and even Ricky didn't accomplish that.