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.If you are taking the Butterflies
or Magic Mirror-Image Workshop, please review this page as well
as the general information on fabric selection (see the "What's
Stack-n-Whack®?" link on the menu bar).
The Magic Mirror-Image
Trick is an easy way to get a mirror-image effect without selective
cutting. The secret lies in using both the "right"
(or front) and "wrong" (or reverse) sides of the fabric.
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To see how a print might work with the
Magic Mirror-Image Trick, fold the reverse side of the fabric
back over the front side. Slide the edge over until you find
the point where the pattern mirrors. You can fold the fabric
on either the lengthwise or crosswise grain for this test.
The type of image you see along the mirror-image line approximates
the effect you will have at the seamline between two pieces.
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This is the fabric
used for "Roundabout Stars," the sample quilt for the
Magic Mirror-Image workshop. The left side of the photo shows
the face side of the fabric, and the right side shows the reverse. |
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This is the fabric
used for "Butterflies." |
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Prints with light
backgrounds tend to work best for this method, but don't rule
out any print until you have looked at both sides. The two sides
do not have to be identical to get the mirror-image effect. Slight
variations will not be very noticeable in the finished block.
When the two sides are quite different, a transparent or dimensional
effect may appear, as with this print used for "Karen's
Transparent Star," featured in "Stack-n-Whackier Quilts." |
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For the Magic
Mirror-Image Trick, we will stack the layers with all layers
facing right side up and cut the block kits from strips, as for
the basic Stack-n-Whack method. No special placement is
necessary. Any part of the design will produce a unique mirror-image.
These photos show the triangles used in the Magic Mirror-Image
workshop, but the principal is the same for other designs, including
"Butterflies". |
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When you piece the block, you will simply
use the reverse side of every other piece as the "right
side." The top photo shows how the triangles look with all
fabrics facing up.
This photo shows the same pieces with every
other triangle turned over to produce the mirror-image effect.
Advice to workshop students:
Don't worry if the fabric you select isn't
identical on both sides. The reverse side will almost always
have less definition and softer colors than the face. As long
as the reverse shows some pattern and doesn't look ugly, it will
probably work better than you expect! Just be aware that you
MUST use both sides for this technique to work.
There are more
fabric pictures and tips on page 2.
Visit
the Butterflies Gallery
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