Bella Skill Builder Quilt Block 1 Kaleidoscope block

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Bella Skill Builder Quilt Block 1A & 1B

I am taking part in the Bella Skill Builder Quilt Along designed by Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life for Fat Quarter Shop. Each month on the first a new free block pattern and video will be posted on the Jolly Jabber from February through November.

Bella Skill Builder Quilt Block 1 Kaleidoscope block in 2 different sizes

Kaleidoscope quilt blocks
Kaleidoscope quilt blocks

Visit the Fat Quarter Shop Jolly Jabber to read more about the Bella Skill Builder QAL and grab your free pattern.

This is the first block made with two different sizes of Kaleidoscope blocks.

Bella Skill Builder 6 blocks
Kaleidoscope quilt blocks

I just realized I was supposed to make 2 of the smaller Kaleidoscope blocks…..back to my cutting table!

Bella Block 1a 1b

All finished and a new photo uploaded.

Bella Skill builder Block 1 corners

I really liked the colors of the Bella solids that Sherri picked so those are the ones that I am using.

Fat Quarter Shop has a Bella Skill Builder kit available that includes the patterns and fabric for the top and binding.

Bella Solids for Bella Skill Builder Quilt
Bella Solids

The quilt will be 66.5″ x 88.5″ which is a nice size.

Bella Skill Builder Quilt
Photo from The Fat Quarter Shop

Bella Skill Builder Quilt Block 1 Kaleidoscope block in 2 different sizes

Block 1A and 1B is the Kaleidoscope block and uses the Creative Grids Spider Web Ruler but if you don’t have it don’t worry, your free pattern includes a template that you can use. I’m using Bella Ice and Bella Caribbean solids for the blocks.

When I make the corners I like to fold and press a center mark on the half-square triangles and also on the sections of the block that I am matching up.

Using the Creative Grids 12 1/2″ Quilting Square and the Creative Grids 6 1/2″ Quilting Square will make it easy to trim your blocks.

Bella Skill Builder Quilt two colorways
Two colorways of blocks

While I was waiting for my Bella solids to get here, I made a couple of blocks using some solids I had in my stash.  I now have a couple more blocks to add to my orphan block collection!

When I was doing this post I kept looking at the center of my large block and it was really bothering me that I had stretched it out of shape.

This is something I can hide when I quilt it but I decided to make another block.

Remember that those are biased edges and they will stretch. Careful with the pressing, I think that is where I stretched it.

The block on the right is the first one I made, the block on the left looks much better!

Bella Skill Builder Kaleidoscope block center is wrong
center of block stretched

Every month on the first I’ll be sharing my Bella Skill Builder quilt blocks. I hope you’ll decide to make them also.

Remember to visit the Fat Quarter Shop Jolly Jabber to read more about the Bella Skill Builder QAL and grab your free pattern.

Bella Skill Builder Quilt Block 1A & 1B

More Skillbuilder posts you might like:

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Connie with her dogs

About Connie

Hi, I’m Connie Kresin Campbell, the quilter, writer, and photographer behind Freemotion By the River. I enjoy inspiring others with my quilt tutorials and patterns. You’ll also see my sweet adopted dogs from time to time.

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6 Comments

  1. Wow! That is going to be a quilt like no other. Fabulous February Dear…

  2. I’ve never done a kaleidoscope block before, but it has been on my bucket list. I had to check in my sewing room and found that I had bought a ruler for these at some time in the past. So now I have excuses not to give these a try.

  3. Your blocks look great! I changed the colors and hope I got the correct amount of fabric. It will be fun to see all the quilts in a few months. Awesome to be sewing along with you, Connie!

  4. Those are so pretty. That is going to be a great quilt.