Disappearing 4-patch Optical Illusion Quilt Top
11-13-2024, 05:35 AM
#1
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Carroll, Iowa
Posts: 3,980
Disappearing 4-patch Optical Illusion Quilt Top
Well, I finally got this top finished after 306 4-patch blocks sliced and diced, put back together to make this quilt top that came out just a bit larger than planned. 101 x 106. I had added 3 sashings plus a 6" border as they couple wanted it to go over their queen bed.
I had pulled the fabrics a couple years ago as they said they wanted a red/white checkerboard quilt but I had no idea what I was going to do until I saw this YouTube video on this optical illusion pattern. I tried one block using the gal's measurements of 3.25 and decided there wasn't enough to trim off to make a 6x6" block so I changed my cuttings to 3.50.
Using my rotating cutting mat was a big help also plus I used a titch of 505 spray to keep the block from moving around as I sliced it up. Had a bit of trouble cleaning the spray off afterwards but found the spray I used to remove the spray from my embroidery hoops worked the best.
I used all from my stash and almost screwed myself up when I gave my long scraps to a neighbor who also quilts but luckily she hadn't cut into the last strip I needed for my middle (red) sashing.
I also had a conduit pole installed up on my beam in the middle of my livingroom plus hooks with clips so I could start photographing my quilts in whole instead of only half at a time on my design wall. Haven't decided how I'm going to quilt this bad boy but I'm sure I'll use an E2E on the body, feather cable on the 3 sashings together and probably my go to piano keys for the border.
My very 1st test blocks were used to make a couple throw pillows plus I had just enough of the border fabric left over to add to the blocks.
I had pulled the fabrics a couple years ago as they said they wanted a red/white checkerboard quilt but I had no idea what I was going to do until I saw this YouTube video on this optical illusion pattern. I tried one block using the gal's measurements of 3.25 and decided there wasn't enough to trim off to make a 6x6" block so I changed my cuttings to 3.50.
Using my rotating cutting mat was a big help also plus I used a titch of 505 spray to keep the block from moving around as I sliced it up. Had a bit of trouble cleaning the spray off afterwards but found the spray I used to remove the spray from my embroidery hoops worked the best.
I used all from my stash and almost screwed myself up when I gave my long scraps to a neighbor who also quilts but luckily she hadn't cut into the last strip I needed for my middle (red) sashing.
I also had a conduit pole installed up on my beam in the middle of my livingroom plus hooks with clips so I could start photographing my quilts in whole instead of only half at a time on my design wall. Haven't decided how I'm going to quilt this bad boy but I'm sure I'll use an E2E on the body, feather cable on the 3 sashings together and probably my go to piano keys for the border.
My very 1st test blocks were used to make a couple throw pillows plus I had just enough of the border fabric left over to add to the blocks.
11-14-2024, 05:47 AM
#6
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Carroll, Iowa
Posts: 3,980
Just to tell you that the blocks themselves are not optical, just look at the throw pillows. It's when you start putting the blocks together that they start to look crazy and make you get dizzy.
I've got another optical illusion pattern I picked up on Deb Tucker's website called Abstraction as the young man asked for modern in blues, purples and whites. So I've got his fabrics all pulled from my stash already.
Jamie Wallen has a book out all about optical illusions and I finally found mine again. There's a block I want to try out someday when I have all these other quilts finished and out of here.
I've got another optical illusion pattern I picked up on Deb Tucker's website called Abstraction as the young man asked for modern in blues, purples and whites. So I've got his fabrics all pulled from my stash already.
Jamie Wallen has a book out all about optical illusions and I finally found mine again. There's a block I want to try out someday when I have all these other quilts finished and out of here.
11-14-2024, 08:52 AM
#8
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 17,813
11-14-2024, 02:07 PM
#9
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 2,640
I'm very drawn to optical illusion quilts but have yet to make one. Your reds and white makes for a striking quilt. But, the description of your cutting challenge make me aware that when I'm ready to tackle something similar to look carefully at the cutting instructions.
