Showing posts with label Kaleidoscope ruler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kaleidoscope ruler. Show all posts

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Kaleidoscope Quilts, and Rulers

One of my first specialty rulers, a Kaleidoscope, 45 degree ruler, by Marilyn Dohaney. This even came with great instructions, resulting in a quilt with seams pressed oppposite directions and neat intersections. Easy, despite what it looks like. I bought this ruler in 1989, and went wild with it for a time, probably due to the included instructions. I marked the back with masking tape (ugh) to help keep everything in line, and later learned about using painter's tape, a vast improvement. Masking tape left icky residue.


This is another favorite ruler but I found the lines hard to see, resulting in eye strain and error - hence the bright orange marking product. This product comes several strips to a package, they are reusable, and can be cut. No residue. I found if I licked the back of the product (oh yeah, quilt-y germs and all) it would stay put.


This was my first quilt I made using the Kaleidoscope Ruler - now, there are many similar products, but I still like my first. It is machine quilted using a rainbow type invisible thread, and two of the borders are done in a cable, using blue thread and a walking foot. I was new to this machine quilting stuff back them! The outside border is done with invisible thread, straight line stitching jogging between the white moons.

I purposely left my DH's stocking feet in the photo, as well as the lovely blue spring sky. We quilters should have a special commemorative day for willing "Quilt Holders."

Close up of the lovely crinkles and wrinkles, etc.

If you are new to quilting, be sure you understand the difference between a 45 degree ruler and a 60 degree ruler and a "Peaky and Spike" type set of rulers. Yep, a lot of us (uhhh ... me ...) have forgotten until we make the dreaded mistake!

You know, just pulling this quilt out of the closet, taking photos, etc., and I get all gung ho to make yet another! Arrrghhh - there is no end to what MORE we MUST make!