Kaleidoscope Quilt Blocks Tutorial

I'm a visual learner so there are lots of pictures.  I hope this is helpful as well as clear. So here we go...

Gather your fabrics--prints, solids, a combination--it's your choice.  For more visual interest the more contrast between lights and darks the better.  I'm playing mostly with solids this time.

Please ignore the bad color.  I was playing with the settings on my new camera.  The wedge ruler has markings from 1 inch all the way to 9 1/4".  I'm using the 3 1/2" mark so  I cut my strips that width.  Whatever mark you're using on the ruler is always the width you cut your strips.

I lay  my 3 1/2" by width of fabric strips folded it in half wrong sides together to lessen the amout of cutting.  This was I'm cutting 2 at a time.  You can fold in half again to cut 4 at a time if you wish.  Lay the 3 1/2" line even with bottom of strip. 

Trim outer edge.  I'm left-handed if this looks odd.

You will flip your ruler point up and point down as you cut always lining up the 3 1/2" mark.

You'll end up with lots of these.  I like to do all of my cutting first.

Eight wedges make a block.  Sew the wedges together in pairs.

Be sure to sew along the long side.

I like to chain piece.

Press the seams in one direction and be consistent.  You'll have little ears.  I snip them off.

Next sew your pairs into pairs.

Now you'll have two halves.

Sew your halves together and you'll have your kaleidoscope minus the corner pieces.  Ideally all your points should meet in the middle.

OK...the ruler does not give you measurements for your corner pieces.  Although the strips were cut 3 1/2" the bottom of the wedge for that size only measures 2 1/2".  I added 3/4" to that and got 3 1/4".  I cut 3 1/4" squares into half square triangles to get the corners.  They are big but I like having more fabric to square up properly.  Do whatever works for you.

You can decide which 4 corners you want your half square triangles sewn--the lighter or the darker.  You'll want to alternate as this helps with the visual movement of the blocks.  I fold the HST in half and the wedge piece in half and pinch to mark the center.

Sew the four side on and now you have a  kaleidoscope block wearing funny hats.

I use a 6 1/2" square to "square up" my block.  The unfinished size will be 5 1/2".  Pardon the glare.  I have new awesome overhead lighting.

Ta Dah!  You did it.  Easy right?

Handy tip--I do not sew the corner triangles on until after I have all of my blocks laid out and arranged the way I want them.  Much easier to turn the blocks whatever direction you want before sewing the triangles.
You can also sew strips together then cut your wedges for a "string" look.