I needed a small diversion, I think, as I couldn’t resist starting a new project.
First I went about choosing fabrics. Not all the fabrics in this grouping are going to make the final cut, but I don’t think any more will get added.
Other than some from this second group. See the little white freezer paper pentagons? More about them in a second.
What started me down this path? Last week I was wandering about some blogs and was immediately captivated by the mandala shown on the Cabbage Quilts blog. And I knew I had to make a version of it.
I printed a couple of sheets of diamonds on fabric. I thought I was going to use one of the hexagons shown in the first picture, but I decided against it so printed a few hexagons too. And then the dark ages work began.
First I made a couple of dozen of the pentagon template on freezer paper. Cut them out. Those are the funny little white pentagons in that second picture. Then it was time to choose the fabrics for the pentagons, iron the freezer paper templates to the fabric, cut that out, adding the quarter-inch seam allowance when cutting. Then traced around each pentagon so I’d have my stitching lines.
You think reading that last paragraph sounds like a lot of work? The whole time I was going through that process – and I’ve only done enough of the pentagons for the first couple of rounds of this – I couldn’t believe I had decided to do this.
It made me really marvel at the fact I went through that process and traced every tiny piece that went into my Quilted Diamonds quilt. While I’m committed to making at least a few of these mandala blocks as I have what will be, I think, a good idea for using them, I realize just how much I don’t want to do much of this tracing of templates.
The time to prepare to and print the two sheets of diamonds seen in this photograph and cut the diamonds out? Maybe 10 minutes. Maybe.
The time to go through the whole process of prepping the templates, ironing them on fabric, cutting the fabric out, tracing the templates on the fabrics seen in this photo? At least an hour, probably closer to an hour and a half.
So clearly I’m committed to making this, or else I would not have done that work. But sheesh – no wonder my friend calls this the dark ages of quilting! One thing’s for sure – even though I used a very fine white pencil to trace my templates, that stitching line is nowhere near as fine as the ones I’m used to. I’m definitely spoiled.
This mandala madness is just a slight detour from stitching the butterfly kaleidoscope stars together. I think once I get the first mandala done it might be enough to get it out of my system – well, okay – enough tracing for me for a few weeks and the butterfly stars will start to grow quickly.
And this is how far I got with the stitching of my first mandala last night. And I am going to have to prep more pentagons very, very soon. All I can say is it had to be a really fabulous design to get me to do this kind of prep work again.
“Night Visitors.”
Jake was in possession of the upper tier of the kitty tree when Baxter decided it was time for him to vacate. Baxter jumped up and surprised Jake and then was “encouraging” him to leave. Jake has been known to “encourage” Baxter to vacate the top tier at times too, but this was the first time we’ve seen the two of them up there at the same time.
Quilt Obsession 
Wow! I can see why the mandala is calling you! How fun to see its progression over at Cabbage Quilts!
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Love this block! Time to ask Linda for a new shape collection perhaps!!
Ginny
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What a pretty collection of fabrics! Interesting mandala, too – how big will it be? The look in Baxter’s eye says “leave now……..
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Good luck on the very pretty creation of your mandala. I leave such finesse to you and your blog as my quilting tends to be slow, stop, stopped, asleep! Love the interactions of your two cats…they are so much fun to watch aren’t they?
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Cathi, that will be beautiful, but did only there were a shape collection for this.
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This is quilting dedication to a whole new level!!! I can see a shape collection for this very soon, but what a super pattern. And the two together on the tree, Wow. Take care, Jean. p.s. happy stitching after tracing and cutting.
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Such a great pattern! Love the blog you linked to also
Sandra
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Kathy for the Mandolen what size was you pentagon. It looks very pretty and I would like to try one. Thanks, Barbara
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I can’t wait to see how this turns out! I prep all my hand piecing in the way you described (yes, still in the dark ages!) unless the shapes are in one of the two Inklingo collections I own (the free one and the 3″ Drunkard’s Path) but I don’t mind the slow pace – it gives me time to plan the fabric placement! Oh, and to catch up on some telly watching!
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Definitely intense, and very pretty. When did you do the diamond quilt? I don’t remember seeing it.
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I hate to ask but why aren’t you using Inklingo for the pentagons? The pentagon comes in several of the hexagon sets.
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Judy,
The pentagons available in the Inklingo collections are the wrong angle for this design. I really wish I could use Inklingo to print them on the fabric. It would make this so much easier and more enjoyable!
Cathi
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I thought the same thing as Judy. The one your using really looks like the pentagon in the 60 degree Hexagon set.
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I had thought the same when I first saw the design and really hoped the Inklingo pentagons would work, but they do not — this is a slightly different size and definitely a different angle.
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I haven’t tried the freezer paper version. I cut plastic templates of the size with the seam allowances then use a 1/4 inch seam allowance stick to mark the sewing lines. Probably a little quicker than the freezer paper method. And so long as I remember to cut inside the shape traced and sew just outside (cut side) of the sewing line, I can be fairly accurate. Though I have been thinking the speed of cutting pieces (even squares) by inklingo has appeal so I eant to see if I can do that for my space invaders quilt.
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Forgot to say: love this pic of the boys – very playful 🙂
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