Workshop Facilitator:
Valorie Rule
[email protected]
DO NOT CUT YOUR FABRIC BEFORE YOU COME TO THE
WORKSHOP - DO NOT WASH IT - JUST SPRAY STARCH AND IRON IT
- BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU FOLD IT SO IT STAY'S UNWRINKLED..
ONE BLOCK WONDER SUPPLY LIST:
* check items off as you pack so make sure you have everything you need !
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Rotary cutting mat (there will be mats set up in the workshop room)
Rotary cutter (an extra blade is always a good idea)
RULERS - one long (at least 4” x 24”), one shorter, and one 60
degree ruler (or a long ruler with 60 degree markings) The 60
degree ruler should have a 3/4 mark for each inch - The Clear
View brand is a good choice
FLOWER PINS or flat-headed pins. These pins should lay flat
Painter’s tape - 1″ wide roll (the blue one is great)
Thread - neutral colour for piecing the hexagons or matching thread if you like
Sewing machine in GOOD WORKING ORDER with a new needle (bring extra
needles)
Sewing machine manual
Design wall - an inexpensive flannel backed tablecloth from the
dollar store works really well and is good for transporting your
deconstructed quilt blocks - a pool doodle, long cardboard tube,
or light weight abs pipe is good for wrapping the design wall (with
quilt blocks taped to it) around
Bobbins - wind a bunch of bobbins before you come to the workshop to save
time when sewing
Iron and ironing surface (there will ironing tables set up in the workshop room)
but you may want to have a smaller one for working on the hexagons as you sew
Extension cord – A NECESSITY
Day Light Lamp – A NECESSITY
The book One Block Wonders by Maxine Rosenthal
IF YOU’VE EVER COME TO A QUILT WORKSHOP THAT VAL FACILITATED – YOU
KNOW THE MOST IMPORTANT SUPPLY IS CHOCOLATE !
FABRIC REQUIREMENTS :
Marti Michell – Magic Mirror
* see below for examples of fabric and finished hexagons
DO NOT WASH YOUR FABRIC - IRON AND SPRAY STARCH IT
HINT - When shopping for fabric or auditioning fabric from your stash – use
mirrors to see how the hexagons will look.. you can purchase the mirrors online or make
your own -- Look for "locker mirrors" at Staples, or better still at the $ $tore. They will be
nicely framed up with some plastic to protect against the dangerous cut edge. Then duct
tape them together so they stand on end. Open it up so you see the reflections.
WHAT IS A FABRIC REPEAT ?
The repeat of a fabric refers to the number of inches it takes before the pattern starts all over again.
The distance between the starting point of a particular pattern point, where that pattern starts over
again is referred to as “one repeat.”
To measure the repeat, look at the selvage for a distinctive design in the fabric print that is on that
printed edge. Now move your eyes down the selvage until you see that same distinctive design
again, located in the same place on the edge of the printing. Measure the distance between the
designs, and that is the repeat!
The repeat of this fabric is 13.75″
from left to right (horizontal repeat),
and 22″ from top down (vertical repeat).
Another example
of a vertical repeat
– see the design in
the red box at the
top and scan down
until you see the
same design
further down the
length of the fabric
– that is 1 repeat.
Repeats (vertical) run from 8” to 24”. Use a 12” to 24” repeat for a full size One Block Wonder quilt.
An 8” repeat will only produce a small wall hanging. The larger the repeat, the more blocks you will
cut, therefore the larger your quilt will be.
After you cut 6 repeat pieces of fabric, you will be cutting them each into 3 3/4" strips. So, if your print
is too small (like a flower that is 3" across) when the repeat is cut into the 3 ¾” strips, it won't change
the flower much as the whole 3” wide flower will be "inside" the 3 3/4" strip. But if the flower is 6"
wide, it will be split in the 3 ¾” strip and will work better.
Example…
First repeat
First repeat
Second repeat
Second repeat
Third repeat
Third repeat
Fourth repeat
Fourth repeat
Fifth repeat
Fifth repeat
Sixth repeat
Sixth repeat
How much fabric to buy?
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You need to have at least 6 repeats to make a lap, twin, or queen size quilt top.
If you have a 24″ repeat, this would mean you would buy 24” (repeat) x 6 (repeats) = 144” ÷
39 “ in a meter = 3.7 meters.
So 4 ½ to 5 meters will give you enough for a good size quilt, and borders.
Always buy at least 1 repeat "extra" just in case.
Remember - the smaller the repeat, the smaller the quilt will be. If you want a bigger quilt and
the repeats are small, double the amount to 12 repeats instead of 6 (this is a lot more sewing).
Border and backing fabric are not needed for the workshop - It's often best to
wait until you are finished the quilt top before choosing the backing and
especially the border fabric.
Length of 1 Fabric Repeat
Total Length of
6 Fabric Repeats
8”
12”
16”
24”
48”
72”
96”
144”
Meters Needed for
6 Fabric Repeats
1.37
1.82
2.43
3.65
meters
meters
meters
meters
Number of Hexagons 6”
from the Total Meters of
Fabric
36 – 38
54 – 57
72 – 76
108 - 114
IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO BUY EXTRA FABRIC - JUST IN CASE !!!!
Looking for fabric:
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Look for an all over swirl (movement) without large solid coloured backgrounds.
Avoid stripes and obvious straight lines.
Do not choose batiks as these are hand printed and not perfectly repeated.
Your fabric should have some background showing but not too much for the best
effect.
SAMPLES OF FABRIC PATTERNS AND RESULTING HEXAGONS