Kaleidoscope Churn

Two traditional blocks and creative color placement produces the illusion of intersecting circles. The bright contrasting solids give this quilt a modern look.

SKILL LEVEL

Intermediate

FINISHED SIZES

Quilt Size: 60" x 80" Block Size: 10" x 10" Number of Blocks: 46

PROJECT NOTES

Read all instructions before beginning this project.

Stitch right sides together using a 1/4" seam allowance unless otherwise specified.

Materials and cutting lists assume 40" of usable fabric width for yardage. WOF – width of fabric

HST – half-square triangle

QST – quarter-square triangle

MATERIALS

• 41/2 yards white*

• 11/ 8 yards dark blue*

• 1/2 yard medium blue*

• 1/2 yard dark orange*

• 1/2 yard medium orange* • Backing to size*

• Batting to size

• 45- degree kaleidoscope triangle ruler, such as the Creative Grids Kaleidoscope or Dresden Plate Triangle Quilt Ruler (optional) • Template material (optional) • Basic sewing tools and supplies *Fabrics from Kona Cotton and Widescreen by Carolyn Friedlander collections from Robert Kaufman Fabrics used to make sample.

CUTTING

To cut kaleidoscope triangles: If not using triangle ruler, prepare template using pattern provided. On a 51/2" x WOF strip, place the kaleidoscope ruler or the prepared template at one end of the strip and cut along the outer edge. Turn the strip around and start cutting kaleidoscope triangles, inverting the template/ruler after each cut as shown in Figure 1. Yield is 14 triangles per strip.

“Blues and oranges remind me of clear summer skies and vacations at the seaside. The illusion of intersecting circles in this design adds movement and interest to the quilt. With just two color families and a contrasting background, this design is ideal to use up your scraps in two colors. It would work as a graduation gift using school colors and for many other occasions.” —Vasudha Govindan

From white cut:

• 7 (51/2" x WOF) A strips, then

cut 88 A kaleidoscope triangles

• 44 (41/2") C squares then cut once

diagonally

• 34 (4") B squares

• 30 (31/2" x 41/2") D rectangles

• 6 (31/2" x 71/2") G rectangles

• 5 (101/2" x WOF) strips, then subcut into: 2 (101/2") P squares

12 (41/2" x 101/2") E rectangles

12 (71/2" x 101/2") F rectangles

From dark blue cut:

• 2 (51/2" x WOF) H strips,

then cut 22 H kaleidoscope triangles • 8 (21/2" x WOF) binding strips

• 10 (4") L squares

From medium blue cut:

• 2 (51/2" x WOF) J strips,

then cut 22 J kaleidoscope triangles • 7 (4") M squares

From dark orange cut:

• 2 (51/2" x WOF) I strips,

then cut 22 I kaleidoscope triangles • 10 (4") N squares

From medium orange cut:

• 2 (51/2" x WOF) K strips, then

cut 22 K kaleidoscope triangles • 7 (4") O squares

COMPLETING THE BLOCKS

1. Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of all B squares.

2. Referring to Figure 2, place a B square on an L square right sides together. Sew 1/4" from marked line on both sides. Cut on the line to yield two B-L units. Press away from B and trim unit to 31/2" x 31/2", keeping seam centered. Make 20 B-L units (one will be extra).

3. Referring to Figure 3, repeat step 2 to make 20 B-N units (one will be extra) and 14 each B-M and B-O units.

4. Referring to Figure 4, arrange four A and two each H and K kaleidoscope triangles.

5. Referring to Figure 5, sew each A triangle to an adjacent triangle. Press seams open.

6. Referring to Figure 6, sew the triangle pairs together. Press seams open.

7. Referring to Figure 7, sew the block sections from step 6 together, matching the seam intersections at the center. Press seams open. Then sew a C triangle, centered, to the end of each A triangle to complete the block.

8. Repeat steps 4–7 to make a total of six H/K Kaleidoscope blocks; in the same manner, make six J/I Kaleidoscope blocks referring to Figure 8.

9. Referring to Figure 9, trim the Kaleidoscope blocks to 101/2" square, aligning the cuts with the short ends of the blue and orange triangles.

10. Referring to Figure 10, arrange two each B-L and B-M units with two D and one E rectangle in three columns. Sew the outer units together into columns, then join to E to complete a blue Churn Dash block, pressing after each seam. Make six blue Churn Dash blocks.

11. Referring to Figure 11, arrange two each B-N and B-O units with two D and one E rectangle in three columns. Sew the outer units together into columns, then join to E, pressing after each seam, to complete an orange Churn Dash block. Make six orange Churn Dash blocks.

12. Referring to Figure 12, sew B-M, B-L, B-N and B-O units as shown to opposite ends of the remaining D rectangles, pressing after each seam, to make six different units as shown.

13. Referring to the Half Churn Dash block diagram, sew a step 12 unit to an F rectangle to make six different Half Churn Dash blocks (three orange and three blue).

14. Referring to Figure 13, sew B-L and B-N units to one end of each G rectangle as shown. 15. Referring to the Quarter Churn Dash block diagram, sew a step 14 unit to an F rectangle to make six Quarter Churn Dash blocks.

COMPLETING THE QUILT

1. Referring to the Assembly Diagram, arrange blocks and P squares into six rows of eight blocks/squares. Sew blocks into rows, and then sew the rows together to complete the quilt center, pinning to match seams at intersections as best as possible and pressing all seams open.

2. Layer, quilt as desired and bind referring to Quilting Basics.