One Block Wonder Event with Jackie O'Brien - Lexington
This two-day class is for quilters and sewers who want to experience the transformative design of making a one block wonder quilt. Discover how to take ordinary layers of fabric and turn them into breathtakingly beautiful kaleidoscopes and then into a piece of quilting artwork!
During this workshop, Jackie O'Brien of If These Threads Could Talk will guide you through everything from fabric selection, alignment, creating kaleidoscopes, and then arranging them into a beautiful design. She will also teach you how to confidently make and work with hexagons, hot to incorporate panels into your design, and how to master the skills of creating hollow cubes for added interest. And for that extra "WOW" factor, she will show you how to "blow out" your design into the borders of your quilt for an extra dramatic effect to ensure your final quilt will create a memorable impression.
You do not have to be an advanced quilter or have an art background to master this technique, but attendees should have machine sewing skills. So, bring your sewing machine, your choice of seven panels & coordinating fabric, and be willing to experiment with design and new techniques.
Fabric Required: The Formula for the amount of fabric required is 6 repeats of fabric for the blocks. If you have a 24” repeat you would multiply 6 X 24’ which = 144”, divided by 36” = 4 yards for the blocks (but buy at least 4 ¼ yards to be safe & verify that you have 6 complete repeats). If you are going to use the original fabric in the borders buy additional yardage. (I always buy 6 yards for a OBW). To find the repeat, lay the fabric in front of you with the fold line near you. Find a design element which is easily identifiable near the fold, when it comes up again you have found the repeat.
Fabric Option 2: You may choose to use a panel. When using panels buy 7 panels, six are for the 6 repeats needed. The 7th panel can be placed somewhere on the front with hexagons designed around the panel. Fabric Considerations: The best fabrics for this process are large prints with little background. A 24” repeat cut into 3 ¾” strips will yield approximately 112 - 6” finished hexagons (if cut with a pointed tip ruler) and make a generous lap size quilt. The first thing I do when choosing OBW fabric is check the size of the repeat. Then I decide what size to cut the strips based on the size of the design elements. If you cut strips 3 ¾” wide then you want the design in the fabric to be larger than 4″ or I will not be taking the fabric apart. If you choose a smaller print you will be making smaller hexagons. Take time to decide what size strips you will cut & what size quilt you want to make before class.
Are you adding Stars or cubes? If you are buying yardage you may want to buy an extra yard for the side triangles for your stars. Using the same fabric as the hexies for your side triangles will make your stars float better. If you are using panels you will need to choose a background fabric for the side triangles that will blend with the hexies. If you add cubes you want to choose 3 fabrics in a light, medium and dark values that work well with your hexies.
**Do Not Pre-Wash the Fabric!**
Required Tools:
Sewing machine with 1/4 inch foot
Star 60 Ruler by Studio 180
6x24 inch ruler
Large Rotary Cutting Mat & Rotary Cutter
Pins - preferably flower head pins that lay flat
Small Safety pins - approximately 120 small light weight safety pins
Approximately 300 straight pins for pinning rows together
Travel Iron & Ironing Board (3 irons will be set up at Thomas Sewing Center, so please plan to share if you need to use ours)
You do not have to be an advanced quilter or have an art background to master this technique, but attendees should have machine sewing skills. So, bring your sewing machine, your choice of seven panels & coordinating fabric, and be willing to experiment with design and new techniques.
Key Points:
-Working with hexagons
-Making hollow cubes
-Incorporating panels
-Creating fabric kaleidoscopes
-Leaning design and color placement
-Adding interest in border designs
-Piecing with precision
-Basic machine sewing skills required
Lunch breaks will be taken but lunch will not be provided.
Fabric Required: The Formula for the amount of fabric required is 6 repeats of fabric for the blocks. If you have a 24” repeat you would multiply 6 X 24’ which = 144”, divided by 36” = 4 yards for the blocks (but buy at least 4 ¼ yards to be safe & verify that you have 6 complete repeats). If you are going to use the original fabric in the borders buy additional yardage. (I always buy 6 yards for a OBW). To find the repeat, lay the fabric in front of you with the fold line near you. Find a design element which is easily identifiable near the fold, when it comes up again you have found the repeat.
Fabric Option 2: You may choose to use a panel. When using panels buy 7 panels, six are for the 6 repeats needed. The 7th panel can be placed somewhere on the front with hexagons designed around the panel. Fabric Considerations: The best fabrics for this process are large prints with little background. A 24” repeat cut into 3 ¾” strips will yield approximately 112 - 6” finished hexagons (if cut with a pointed tip ruler) and make a generous lap size quilt. The first thing I do when choosing OBW fabric is check the size of the repeat. Then I decide what size to cut the strips based on the size of the design elements. If you cut strips 3 ¾” wide then you want the design in the fabric to be larger than 4″ or I will not be taking the fabric apart. If you choose a smaller print you will be making smaller hexagons. Take time to decide what size strips you will cut & what size quilt you want to make before class.
Are you adding Stars or cubes? If you are buying yardage you may want to buy an extra yard for the side triangles for your stars. Using the same fabric as the hexies for your side triangles will make your stars float better. If you are using panels you will need to choose a background fabric for the side triangles that will blend with the hexies. If you add cubes you want to choose 3 fabrics in a light, medium and dark values that work well with your hexies.
**Do Not Pre-Wash the Fabric!**
Required Tools:
Sewing machine with 1/4 inch foot
Star 60 Ruler by Studio 180
6x24 inch ruler
Large Rotary Cutting Mat & Rotary Cutter
Pins - preferably flower head pins that lay flat
Small Safety pins - approximately 120 small light weight safety pins
Approximately 300 straight pins for pinning rows together
Travel Iron & Ironing Board (3 irons will be set up at Thomas Sewing Center, so please plan to share if you need to use ours)
Class Policies
- We ask that all attendees be respectful towards the instructor, staff, and fellow students. Sewing is fun, and we hope to create an environment where everyone can enjoy themselves and their craft!
- Unless otherwise noted, classes are open to anyone age 14 and up. Ages 10 through 13 welcome as a student if a parent or guardian is also attending the class.
- Regretfully, out of respect to our instructors and their schedules, class fees cannot be refunded or credited unless we are given greater than 48 hours notice. If you are unable to attend class, but there is an associated kit, please contact the store to arrange pickup.
- Most classes require the use of your own machine, unless otherwise noted. Please refer to each individual class description for more information on class requirements. Machines may be available to rent for the class, please ask the staff at TSC about machine rental.
- If there is a technique or project you would like to learn, please let us know! We want to help you learn and grow, and always welcome new ideas and suggestions!
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
| Skill Details: | |
| Requirements: | Sewing machine with 1/4 inch foot Star 60 Ruler by Studio 180 6x24 inch ruler Large Rotary Cutting Mat & Rotary Cutter Pins - preferably flower head pins that lay flat Small safety pins - approximately 120 small light weight safety pins Approximately 300 Straight Pins for pinning rows together Travel Iron & Ironing board (irons will be set up at Thomas Sewing Center as well) 6x24 inch ruler |
| Instructor: | Jackie O'Brien of If These Threads Could Talk |
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This class cannot be purchased online. Please contact the store for more information.