This pattern has been around for years.  It's actually an Eight-Pointed Star.  And although "Collide-O-Scope" could be strip-pieced, it's kinda fussy to get all of your center points crisp and you have to have an accurate 1/4" seam allowance...yuck!  That's why I choose to paper piece the blocks.  Not only do they all finish to the same size, the center points match as accurately as possible, and it's done in the same amount of time.   Did anyone say dental floss?

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Once again we have all straight lines which result in the illusion of curves, which create the kaleidoscope pattern.  It's the play of the shapes and contrast between light and dark fabrics that makes it all happen.  I used a William Morris layer cake for my darks and then light neutrals for contrast.  It's the consistency of the lights that make the pattern sing.  So when planning your quilt use lots of darks but keep the lights in the same color family, making sure there's good contrast with the darks.  What a great project for all those scraps you've been saving!

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Bring to Class

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• Your pre-cut fabrics

• Sewing machine, thread and pre-wound bobbin, regular piecing foot and 1/4" foot

• Pins, and just in case, a seam ripper

• Pencil or pen

• 2 Hand Needles (embroidery, cotton darning) as long as they have a sharp point and a long eye

• Rotary cutter (with a new blade) and ruler - 6"x12" works fine

• Invisible Scotch Tape (any brand)

• Small cutting mat 9" x 12" is fine

• Highlighter (Pink, green, blue, orange, but NOT yellow)

• Add-A-Quarter ruler (the longer the better)

• Paper and  fabric scissors

• Something in which to collect your scraps

• Oral B Pro-Health Comfort Plus Dental Floss or any ribbon dental floss

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For Virtual Classes Only:

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• Elmer's Disappearing Purple Glue Stick or any washable, acid free glue stick

• Your pre-printed patterns (for online classes only)

• Click here for more about the paper

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Cutting Specs

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The cutting specs below are for yardage and assume 42" of useable fabric.  So you can choose seven different darks and seven different lights. If you're using lots of scraps, just make sure you end up with the correct number of finished pieces.

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Each block uses four light wedges, four dark wedges and four light HSTs (half square triangles). So it is not necessary to cut all your fabric before class since we'll only be making a few blocks.  However, if you pre-cut all of your fabric you're more likely to finish the project.  Just sayin. 

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The blocks measure 8-1/2" unfinished.  The quilt is 40" x 40" without borders.

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From your Light Fabric(s): 

 

Cut seven 5” Strips.

• Then use the template to cut each strip into fifteen wedges.  100 total

 

Cut five 4” Strips. 

• Then cut each strip into ten 4” x 4” squares. 

• Cut the squares in half diagonally.  You should end up with 20 half square triangles per strip.  100 total

 

From your Dark Fabric(s):

 

Cut seven 5” Strips.

• Then use the template to cut each strip into fifteen wedges.  100 total.

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If you want to use scraps, fat-quarters, layer cakes, etc., use the template to cut the # of lights and darks indicated above .