Could it be the One Block Wonder that gets me back in the sewing room? I can only hope! Every morning I tell myself I am going to sew but then I don’t want to do it. I don’t mind being in there . . I sit in there and knit, once I wear down some of Boots’ energy. I just have had no desire to sew and I have a heck of a lot of fabric to be used up and I need to sew!!
In the last couple of weeks, a friend, Sue from Springfield, MO, posted a gorgeous picture of a One Block Wonder top that she finished. It is so gorgeous. I sat and looked at the picture for the longest time! Sue did an amazing job with the placement of the blocks and the use of color in the cube blocks. A couple of days later, I was in the kitchen and the thought occurred to me . . I have the same fabric Sue used, but I think it’s a different color, and it may not even be the same print, but it might be . . that I bought for a backing when a quilt shop was going out of business, and I have the One Block Wonders books! It One Block Wonders, One Block Wonders Encore! and One Block Wonders Cubed!
One Block Wonder Books
I haven’t found the fabric that I’m thinking might work . . I haven’t really looked for it. It’s probably still in the bag from the quilt shop . . in a closet somewhere. I remember when I bought it that I thought it was colors Nicole would love and would be a great backing for a top I might some day make for her. If I can find it and if it’s what I think it is, it will make a gorgeous top for her! I began pulling other fabrics that might work because I wanted to practice on something before using the fabric I’m looking for . . that I may never find . . that may not even be what I think it is! 🙂
Anyway . . here are the possibilities I pulled.
Sheep
I’m not sure how much of this fabric I have but I bought a lot, thinking I would make pajamas for all of us . . or something. I had an idea when I bought it. It may be too uniformly packed to work for the One Block Wonders type project but it surely is cute, isn’t it? Remember the sheep sweater patterns I got to make sweaters for Addie? I’m betting I could make a sweater with these colors and come up with something cute. I’d better hurry because she won’t wear sheep forever!
Frogs
This might work . . might have too much background. It’s pretty cute though!
Patriotic Fabric
Then I remembered this fabric! Years ago, I bought enough of this for a backing and I actually used it as a backing but I began looking for more and couldn’t find any more. When at Paducah one year, I found it either in Eleanor Burns’ tent or at Hancock’s of Paducah. I liked it so much that I bought two bolts and . . I still have two bolts!
To be quite honest, I didn’t read the One Block Wonders books. I skimmed and looked at the pictures. I’m going to read them . . really! I’ve made the other “stack and cut” type quilts so I had a general idea of how to choose fabric and how to cut the repeats. The repeat on this fabric is 11-3/4″ and I figured it should be a bit longer but it isn’t and I’m determined to use it. If this quilt works, it will be perfect for a friend!
Instead of cutting one repeat, I cut the fabric at 1-1/2 repeats and ended up with two different sets of repeats. That’s a good starting point.
Then I began putting together (not sewing yet) some of the hexagons on the design wall. Here are the first three.
OBW Hexagons
Here are the same three, each with a different end of their points facing inward.
OBW Hexagons
And here are six hexagons done before it was time to fix lunch and then take a nap and then it will be time to fix dinner! Oh well . . I have lights in the sewing room .. though I surely haven’t used them in a very long time!
I may wish the fabric had more light/dark contrast but it’s a good piece to start with.
OBW
If you want to see some really pretty One Block Wonders quilts, I hope this Pinterest link works!
I’m pretty excited about this quilt. I hope I will stick with it and actually enjoy sewing again.
Tina in NJ says
My guild did a One Block Wonder workshop a couple of years ago, including the cubes. The pattern called for a light, medium, and dark in three fabrics. My stash wasn’t/isn’t that organized and I didn’t want to buy six new fabrics, so I dyed the fabric. It’ one of my favorite pieces.
carol fun says
Your blocks look great – I LOVE one block wonders and have made several quilts with this technique. If you want a larger piece of fabric to work with and the fabric has a small repeat , cut the fabric using two repeats – ie. if you have a 8″repeat, cut your fabric 16″. Then pin them together to whack. It gives you more variety in you blocks. My favorite shape is the equilateral triangle because you get 3 possibilities for each block. Have fun!
Diana in RR,TX says
Maybe I should dig out my partial one and work on it! It has been sitting in a bag since i took the class!
Karen says
those are pretty – I was thinking back to when you were posting quilting things and maybe it was trying to work with scraps that got you where you were not wanting to sew? I haven’t gone back in your blog to check for sure but wondered? Some have no interest or loose interest when trying to work with scraps I like those hexies
CindyM says
I like one block wonders — I have blocks made from an African animal print that is just so much fun, but I need to put them together (I think I might even know where they are.? I have just 1 yard of that sheep fabric you showed — I think I was going to make reusable grocery bags from it.. of course that hasn’t been done, either, but the fabric is still really cute. I hope this gets you excited! I miss your quilting posts.
kathy j says
Never in a million years would I have guessed that those beautiful blocks started with that fabric. Hope to see that become a finished quilt.
Dottie N. says
Looks great! I have the One Block Wonders book, too and LOTS of fabric to play with. Fortunately/unfortunately it’s all packed away for a move this year.
One of the things I definitely want to do on the “other end”.
Elle says
My two year old started to scream “Shaun the Sheep!!” when she saw the sheep fabric, so I have a feeling that your granddaughter will love it.
Brenda says
These are gorgeous.
Regina says
LOVE IT!!!
Julie in WA says
WOW! Those blocks are amazing; the fabric is transformed into something all together different! I have a OBW that is unfinished, and your post has reminded me that it needs to see the light of day once again. BTW–I am thrilled to see a quilting post again! Your life is so fascinating that every post is informative, but I have been missing the quilt side of Judy….
Sue K says
Glad to hear you are getting back to quilting. I think either the sheep or the patriotic fabric would be great for a OBW. Here’s a link to mine – lots of little fish going around in circles! The cubes really make it. I embroidered little fish swimming through them: http://sues-stitchin.blogspot.com/2012/04/somethings-fishy.html
Diane says
I bought the same patriotic fabric to make a stack and whack. It will make a gorgeous obw because of the great variety of colors and shapes
Vicki W says
Yay! You’re sewing!
Denise ~ justquiltin says
It must be Stack and Whack week. As I was cleaning the sewing room I came across a baggie of S&W flamingos that are set as boxes that needs to be put into rows and another S&W of dogs wearing slickers and rainboots with umbrellas that needs to be quilted. I sort of OD”d on S&W for a while but maybe its time to get back at them. I love how the OBW give so many different looks by switching the corners around – so many possibilities. Looking forward to seeing more.
Peg H says
Aaaarrrggghhh!!! Doggone it Judy! I have too much to do to be tempted with these gorgeous quilts. I had to chastise you for this. Now I have to go wipe all the drool off my keyboard. 😉 (LOVE the “samples” you’ve done so far!)
Annette says
http://ifthesethreadscouldtalk.com/one-block-wonder-gallery/one-block-wonder-tutorial-links/
Have you see these videos? Great for understanding and sewing a OBW quilt.
Sherrill says
That’s what I was gonna say–sure looks like the Stack N Whack. I made two or three of those but don’t think I wanna revisit that again. They are pretty though!
Anita says
Love your blocks so fa!
Linda B in MI now TX says
Oh it will be great to have you back quilting…
I don’t knit, I crochet
I don’t garden, live in a 5th wheel trailer
I don’t can, no room for anything else!
I don’t see my kids, my grandkids, and great grand kids,
because my DH don’t like snow so we are in Texas most of the year…..BUT
I am a faithful reader and have enjoyed all your adventures with Vince, your son and family, your knitting is beautiful, and everything else you do…. SO
Let’s get sewing, please
Diane Steele says
I’ve taught this class about 40 times and it never gets old! It’s so fun to ‘unveil’ each block (I call it the abra-cadabra moment) to see what you’ve got. Before you start playing around with them on your design wall, put them in stacks of ‘like’ colors. Take the largest stack and group it in the middle of the wall then place the smaller stacks at the corners and sides. Take a photo, take them down, and start again. You’ll be HOOKED!
Dawn says
sometimes we need a new project to refresh us. Love the blocks you made . yay for you to get back to sewing…..
Jo says
Thanks for the link.
I am going to do this quilt with my local group. Now I have a good idea of what fabric to look for
kathie L says
Sounds like you are getting out of your quilting funk. I am in one also, just don’t want to piece so instead picking out and making a couple of backings, making binding etc. Still getting projects a little more done.
Nancy G. says
I have projects in my sewing room, I also go in there and just sit and stare some days, I would rather read a good novel, work in the garden, or do about anything else lately… So if you find the secret to getting inspired, just let me know…
thanks
Nancy G.
Vicki C says
Good to see the sewing bug is looking for you. The blocks are looking beautiful. With your fabric looking like it is stamps a possible name might be “Stamps do Wonder”. In the world english dictionary it shows “do wonder – to achieve spectacularly fine results”. And I would agree that the One Block Wonder pattern achieves spectacular results with that fabric.