Kaleidoscope Quilt Block

March 2007

First, select 6 different fabrics of your choice, with colors blending or contrasting for your desired pattern. cut strips at desired width, from selvage to selvage. We chose to work with 1 ½" strips, but you could vary as you like.

Seam strips together using scant ¼" seam allowances. Begin with your chosen center color, press seams to the ‘outer’ edge.

Now you have a piece of fabric, probably 36 to 45 inches in length, made of sewn strips.

Use an equal sided triangle cutting template to cut your wedges for the kaleidoscope. You will need 6, all pointed the same direction. This will leave you with triangles in the reverse for another kaleidoscope quilt block.

Pin two sections together, carefully matching and pinning at the edges of your strips. This is quite important, or your kaleidoscope will be faulty. Press the new seam open to reduce bulk.

Add one more triangle; matching, pinning, stitching and pressing. You will have finished one half of your complete unit. Do the remaining three as a separate unit, square up the edges to be joined, then stitch the two units together.

Don’t forget to press at each stage. At this point you may continue making kaleidoscope units which will sew together, or square it out with a contrasting fabric.

These are perfect for a pillow, embellishment, or for an heirloom quilt.