cutebuns

There is very little left over. I found when doing themthat I had less scrap than a traditional top to have.

I yet yet to do one it they also do an octagon one.

The fabric when choosing you want not a lot of background, a fair to large print. And depends what you like to the amount of colors. The more colors I find the more difficult it is to lay out the blocks.

With the repeats and size of project differing it is had to say a definitive on how much fabric. Bare minimum is to be able to find 6 repeats on the fabric. So if you are making a wall hanging or table topper you need very little as it is repeated width wise. Then depending on the sizeof project the more sets of repeats that you need. For a full size quilt top I would go minimum 18 repeats along the salvage. The size of repeat varies from print to print. So if it is 12" then times that by the 18 ( plus a couple for straightening) (6 yards) Then if you would like a border out of matching fabric add that as well. (yard/yard and a half)

cutebuns

If you look under the original posts about the obw we do discuss fabric choices. Members posted their choices and we would discuss them. It is very difficult to pinpoint one or two specific fabrics as there are so many. If you also look at what others have done and their results ( on the original threads) you may get a better idea of what kind of print you would like. Florals are a big one. But animals and all sorts of other things were used. As well as panels.

fireworkslover

For just cutting the fabric for the hexagons, there's hardly any waste. After you've cut your repeats and stacked them, then when you cut your strips, there's a small triangularish strip cut off each end that's waste. That's all!

As far as fabric selection, find a print that has colors you like. Sometimes you can see what the parts of the original fabric were, but sometimes not. It's best if the background is not a solid color or if it is, then the print should be larger so there's not much background in between. The print can be anything: birds, fish, deer heads, cowboys on horses, flowers, some Oriental prints work well, chickens/roosters, some landscapes, etc. It's best if the background has swirls of color VS being solid. So if there's water, then ripples show or waves instead of solid blue, for example. Maxine Rosenthal has a better explanation in her book "One Block Wonders", as well as photos of good fabric and bad fabric to choose. Stay away from prints with mostly straight lines, doesn't work as well.
If you pick a fabric with small images, like 1 - 1 1/2" diam. flowers, you might want to buy twice as much fabric, so you'll have more fabric to make more repeats with- otherwise you might have duplicate triangles.

The biggest help, I found was to buy or make a hinged mirror. Bring it with you to the fabric store and hold it open on the bolt of fabric crossways, so you see 6 images in it. Then slide it slowly across the bolt to see if that fabric will work for a OBW. You'll see the exact kind of triangles you'll get when you cut it.

fireworkslover

Octagons are also used, but then you'll need 8 repeats.

jillaine

well I got curious to try this, went to my stash and found absolutely NOTHING that I could use. I have no fabric with any sort of repeating pattern of this nature. I wonder what this says about me? ;-)

I currently have an agreement with Self and Husband that I won't purchase any more fabric until I use up a fair amount of what I have (and compared to what I've seen posted in this forum, my stash is a fraction of what y'all seem to have....).

So I'll just have to wait for awhile. Or for a really really good deal on ebay? ooops... (the exceptions we make!!!)

Xylie55

me three

Suzi

I have just folded fabric #5 up to put away for another day --- I can't find anything with a repeat that is in line with the following repeat and I'm about ready to chuck the whole idea of a OBW. This is something that I really want to try and I'm so frustrated I could scream. Is it me or do I have wonky fabric? I'm going to post a pic of the only one I have that looks to line up properly so would someone please tell me where the repeats are and which way I'm supposed to cut them - or even if this fabric would be suitabe for a OBW. Second part of the question: is it common to have the design printed on fabric off kilter? I'm finding this more and more and it doesn't make me happy!

wildyard

I have only done one small one of these, but I think the thing is that cutting the repeats will give you your fabric widths, but the lining them up exactly is what you do with your pins before you start cutting your strips. That is when you find the exact spot in the repeat you are going to match in all your layers.

Suzi

That sounds logical - I have the book and have read CB's tute but the pattern on this fabric seems slightly skewed. Think I'll just wait until tomorrow when I'm not so tired and try again. Thanks for responding - this gives me something more to think about --- lol.

wildyard

LOL Suzi, I'm one to talk, I have at least 6 fabrics I have selected for OBWs and/or kaleidascopes. Other projects keep getting in the way, and the OBWs intimidate me so I am more than willing to keep putting them off.