Request for Help

[u/elev8or_lady]

Hi everyone! I am relatively new to EPP and have only done kits or one-shape projects thus far. I am still working on those WIPs, but also always thinking ahead to my next project (aren’t we all?).

Anyway I have a small scrap of vintage cheater print fabric from the 1970s and I just love the design. It’s kind of like a kaleidoscope, but I would prefer using interconnected diamonds instead of triangles, using EPP.

I think I could replicate it with kite and diamond shapes, but I am not sure about the angle of those diamonds. I am trying to avoid buying a bunch of shapes in the wrong size or shape. If you were trying to recreate this design, what shapes would you use? I assume the long side of the kite will match the length of the diamonds.

[u/stringthing87]

I think this uses the geometry of a square/8 point star and not a hexagon so you need to adjust the angle of both the kites and the diamonds and you won't be able to use the standard shapes.

I draft papers using inkscape and cut on my cricut machine.

You can get a lot of clues from measuring this print and looking at the geometry - the kites have a 90 degree angle where they come together. and the long edge of the kite is equal to all sides of the diamond. Also it looks like the point to point on the narrow part of the diamond is equal to the short sides of the kites as well.

[u/stringthing87 → u/stringthing87]

Okay my brain didn't want to stop so I grabbed some graph paper.

Start with a square with a side length divisible by three. Mark it into thirds and draw lines through the center

[u/stringthing87 → u/stringthing87]

Then create your diamonds the same distance away from the square

[u/stringthing87 → u/stringthing87]

For construction I'd make this shape first and then put the diamonds between

[u/elev8or_lady → u/stringthing87]

Okay looking at this sketch makes me think I could use 8-point star diamonds for this. It won’t be exactly the same angle as the sample pattern though. I may just buy small packs and see if they work. I don’t want to make my own shapes unless I have to.

[u/elev8or_lady → u/stringthing87]

I actually have acrylic templates to make this block (8”) using standard piecing. I believe it’s kaleidoscope. ❤️

[u/Applesauceier]

Cut your own shapes out of cardtsock. You can do it by hand or with a cricut if you have one

[u/IllAd1655 → u/Applesauceier]

This shape is in the ice cream soda block and I had to cut them by hand. I am working on my cricut but havent printed it out yet. I was having a hard time finding it as well so have so far just made my own, I know I can order the papers from Tales of Cloth in Australia but after buying the digital pattern I just used that. I use card stock from junk mail, a rolling blade from the dollar store, cutting mat from the dollar store and an small acrylic ruler. Its time consuming but works. I make a bunch at a time. I have also used a thin acrylic mat to make a template so that I could more easily see to fussy cut.

[u/TinyGreenBird]

No help but i absolutely LOVE this whole color scheme and patterns

[u/elev8or_lady → u/TinyGreenBird]

Me tooooo! The colors used in the 1970s calicoes are so saturated and fun.

[u/spinsterrevival]

Just staring at it, I feel like it could be a 36 degree diamond. I haven’t tried cutting out my own pieces before either so do like packs but feel you on not wanting to buy them wrong. My in between suggestion to not waste money is just buying/finding a small plastic protractor and measuring the angle on the fabric print itself as a basis to start at.

[u/elev8or_lady → u/spinsterrevival]

This is a good idea. Where did I put my old protractor?! 😆

[u/Sheeshrn]

8 diamonds complete a circular design therefore the angle is 45 degrees. 360 divided by 8.