Thanks Lorchen, I loved your quilts, especially the kaleidoscope, I think that's is the way to go, now all I have to do is make it.!!

Thanks for the compliment!

Yes, I was born and grew up in Germany, then moved to England when 25 (in 1977), and I'm still here.

Lorchen

Some good tips from everyone - I love your quilts Lorchen - are you a German lady by any chance? Just wondered, I am in UK also, but had a German mother -

It's me again! I have just played around with my profile so you can see some simple quilts there that only use one block, but in different ways.

1st quilt from the left: It's the same block, consisting of three strips. Four of these blocks are sewn together at right angles and so form a new pattern.

2nd from the left: That one uses the same block throughout, but different colours, so you get a strippy diagonal effect.

4th from the left: The same kaleidoscope block was used, and the same fabric. But a different part of the fabric was cut for each block, so they all look a little different. With something like that the pattern repeat of the fabric becomes very important. It works best when there is plenty of colour contrast in the print.

Maybe this helps you a little. I'm off to bed. It's getting on for midnight here, and I don't want to turn into a pumpkin.

Lorchen

I haven't seen the rules for Sundown, but normally when you can only use one block that's exactly what it means: You quilt (except for a simple border) must consist of the same block. So you could do simple 9-patches but assemble them in an interesting way. Loghouse cabin would be another possiblity, and you can get stunningly different results, depending how you put the blocks together. Look for quilts in books and magazines that have only used one block to get some ideas.

And be very careful with the KF prints. They are very dominant, and it's easy to end up with something that looks very confusing. Make sure that you (and everybody elses) eyes have something to rest on, rather than being overwhelmed.

Good luck!

Lorchen (also in the UK)

Thanks again everyone, I've certainly a lot of food for thought, and Lady Rags, I love your quilts, I'm very taken with your one quilt wonders, perhaps that's the way to go, then I can use the large bold pattern material I already have.

When doing a challenge be sure to READ AND FOLLOW THE RULES.... I have been disqualified in the past for not getting the sizes correct to start with... ANY other rules should also be adhered too. Our challenges often involve buy a kit and using a specific fabric.

Here in the states THERE are several books that are called ONE BLOCK WONDERS... one is by KAYE NICHOLS from Mid Michigan... there are also several books by Maxine Rosenthal ( I Googled their names to take a look at the quilts)

Both use the kaleidoscope technique of preparing fabrics and cutting out the pattern pieces...

This technique and quilts made from them is really HOT right now here in Mid Michigan... I always see two or three of them at each quilt show I attend .


Here is one link that had good picture of the blocks



http://softexpressions.com/software/books/OneBlkWonder.php


I hope I am helping and not confusing you more....

http://community.webshots.com/user/elainequilty

WebShots .... try the main link... look for the album for WEB MOMMA.... it is slow to load if you have a dial up connection.

Well, I am struggling to understand what they are wanting as well. Is there any more information, ie in the rules - do you know anybody else who is entering, is there maybe a website that you could look at which is linked with this competition? Jacky x

I'd do two things that I've seen that would be a challenge and give some serious skills right off the bat.
1) see if you can find any of Kaffes patterns, he has several books out there and from the pattern break down they're not terribly difficult.

2) Valori Wells has a New York Beauty book that the front cover is Kaffes stripes and plaids. This technique involves paper piecing and would be a great way to keep the points sharp and learn some serious skill right off the bat.

3) find a "sampler" style of book or a book with a lot of different block types and find three or four that would tickle your fancy.

4) be open to adding a couple of fabrics that you didn't have in mind when purchasing these, reason being sometimes the fabrics for some unknown just won't play well together and you have to pull them apart

5) don't expect the plaids (if you have these, it's kind of a presumption on my part here) to cut exactly straight on the lines, the grain of the fabric just doesn't do that

Okay, I realize now that's more than two, have fun though. Take your time with each part of the process from choosing patterns to quilting and you should do great!

Happy Quilting!
Teri

Thank you all so much, for your wonderful help, I wasn't expecting to get any replies, let alone so quickly.

Sewdreamy, Thanks for the help, but don't hold your breath waiting for me to "Blog" only found out what it meant the other day.

Lady rags, your link thing is no longer there, and I'd really love to see you quilt.

Glousterlady, I have done a couple of classes in Salisbury, and Wimbourne Minster, at the mill there, the competition I want to enter, is the one at Sandown, and the Theme is "one block wonders", it says that competitors are invited to enter a quilt based on their own interpretation of the theme. So does that mean I could just do one block, like a Jane Sassaman, quilt, or do I have to make a whole quilt using only one block, or both.

Hi Dawn - good to see another UK lady on here! I am in Lechlade, so not a million miles from you - where did you do your classes? x

Can you post the picture of the fabric? That might help...

I have never work with or seen kaffee fabric except on line. With really big bold prints especially florals I like kaleidoscope type patterns..(ONE BLOCK WONDER, Stack and Whack by Reynolds, or 4 Patch Posy) My favorite being the 4 patch posie.

4 patch posy:
You layer the repeat of 4 fabrics and cut several strips depending on the size of the repeat you have. You then subcut your strips into patches the same with ie 3x3, 4x4, 5x5.

Then the fun begins sewing the patches into blocks... You spin your fabric corner to corner until you have a patch pattern visually pleasing then stitch up a block. I usually get about 30 blocks from one set of repeats.

Then you get to decide on interesting settings.... diagonal, lightening strikes, multiple strips.. such fun planning and dreaming.

[url]
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2082227870077289777XFUkVs

This is a picture of my 4 patch quilt, the original fabric was used on the border.


Hopes this helps or gives you ideas....

I love your attitude---one I share (Why walk when you can run). I think big bold prints are so fantastic, but I agree they are hard to design with. My personal opinion is that such prints require real simple designs that show off the fabric and also that coupling them with relatively plain fabrics helps to tame them. Good luck. Please post your results (or even run a blog journaling your adventure with photos). Cheers.