A Kaleidoscope Quilt Design - The Star

Kaleidoscope Quilts & More  Part 2 ... the Star design

The geometry of a kaleidoscope quilt is simple.  8 large isosceles triangles and 4 smaller half square triangles.  Every block has this same structure. 

So, if every block has the same structure - why do kaleidoscope quilts look so different?    The first answer is pretty simple ...  size.   If you cut your triangles smaller - you get a smaller block.  If you cut your triangles larger - voila - a larger block.  

The second answer is COLOR placement, and that's what these next few posts are all about.  On the internet you can find kaleidoscope coloring pages that will allow you to create as simple or complicated a design as you like.  I can't help you with complicated designs but sign me up to explain the simple ones.  Here is the first of three designs that are very doable - and look great.

If there is an official name for this please share - I just call it the Star. This is the easiest pattern since it really does not require any layout and is a good one to begin with.

Specs:

4 large colored triangles (shown here in blue)

4 large background triangles (shown here in white)

4  smaller colored corner triangles (shown here in orange)

The only word of advice I have for this particular style of kaleidoscope quilt is this: pick  either the background fabric or the color fabric and sew with that facing you every time. Why is this important?  See below.  All units have a background on one side - and a colored fabric on the other.  

This way everything alternates correctly when you are joining your units  - color then background, color then background ... etc.  

Time to sew the corners.  Ignore the background fabric triangles - in this case the white, and sew color to color.  That's it - every block will look this way.  Here are examples of quilts made in this style. 

This was made with all novelty fabrics and white.  Many colors and designs that all work together no matter how different the fabric is.              

Here is a quilt made with Little Ruby by Bonnie and Camille - with a close up of a block below.  

Even a smaller baby size quilt is effective with this 'star' motif. 

How to assemble and sew the kaleidoscope pieces together is in Post No. One HERE  with lots of pictures.

May 2020