Kaleidoscope: Collection 2 and a WIP

My regular readers know, I use Electric Quilt 8 *all the time. You can see so many of my quilts in mockups and the real thing….I can’t tell you how much I love that. Electric Quilt just added a new collection and asked me to take a look at it an make a block. I am excited to share a new compass block that I will be working on this week (WIP – Work in Progress). I often only post about completed quilts, but I have a little challenge from Electric Quilt* that I will share with you. Here’s my first take on their new collection.

The New Kaleidoscope Collection

Electric Quilt has released a second collection of Kaleidoscope blocks*. Their first collection is the favorite add on for quilters. I know I can draw these blocks, but it is so much easier to have the add on for many of us. It has over 500 blocks in it and there are so many fun ones, I just can’t believe it.

You can see that you get a lot of different blocks and in different styles. On this page you see some blocks that have “star corners”. I will show you a quilt mock up with this. I really like the effect. That being said there are two corner styles and many of the blocks appear in either style, a block or star will form when grouped together. But first, lets look at some eye candy.

I didn’t play with the colors at all, but just chose some that interested me. Some attracted me because of the design, something a little different about them. The first two in row one are reminds me of Celtic knot designs. Some of the others have other blocks and techniques – like the log cabin or sliced triangles – and I love it. Then there are the wreath like ones which just make me happy – whether it is apples, shamrocks, hearts, buds or even coffee cups! Then there are the ones that are flower like….so many different kinds of choices. I mean really, there are just so many fun ones. I am thinking some of these as 15″ mats would make a nice table topper.

You can print a paper piecing template, almost all of them require at least two templates. This is a paper piecing template for the last block in the second row. All pretty easy right!

Playing with Blocks

For many of the blocks you have a choice of a star or square corner. To help you see it, I designed two similar quilts, one with the square corner and the other with the star corner.

The star corner block has the star points at North, East, South and West. The block corner quilt, has the points shifted. You also get a different effect with the borders on these kaleidoscopes; one forms a continuous pattern and one is separate. I like each of these patterns for different reasons. The star corners give your eyes another place to focus on and find interest patterns. The square corners actually are on point, but make a nice place for a quilting design.

My Block

Here is the block I chose to make. It has quite the snazzy name: K2 Compass 15 Square. While it is colored quite nicely, I changed it up. I have been working with a lot of the teals, and decided to go a little more traditional with my colors. Also, I wanted to make the fabrics spin a little in the compass, to give it some movement. I like the way this looks.

The fabrics I am working with come from a scrap bag, so they are a little different than what you see on the mock up. I am using the new fabric palette available to members* of Electric Quilt. I love having current fabrics, even though, I mostly work from my stash, so I signed up. One of the benefits is the new color palette and I am enjoying it.I will mostly like post the finished project before the end of the month…certainly the block will be done. I am planning on either a pillow or a wall hanging.

Here’s a sneak peak at the first two wedges. I wanted to make the fabrics spin a little in the compass, to give it some movement. I like the way this looks.

And here is the reverse of the blocks, so you can see the paper piecing guide. I use freezer paper to make these so I can reuse the templates and I don’t have to rip. Well, most of the time that is true. It has been awhile, so you will see stitches on the one on the right…I forgot. I will print off another for the next set I make.

I am excited to show you my finished block. Do keep an eye out for it!

Coming Up on the Blog

Baby quilts (1 to quilt and 2 to make)
SAHRR 2025 – Block 6 (2/24)
Design a Boat block for a neighbor
Fall Fair Blog Hop (March 1)
Dust Off a Book Blog Hop (March 3-6)

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