Monday, January 31, 2022

Island Batik Ambassador's Step by Step Challenge Part 2

Yesterday I showed you my quilt made from the scraps from my original idea for using the gorgeous Island Batik Ravishing Reds gradation.  I finally got the binding on the first quilt so now I can share it with you!  

When I was trying to decide what block to use my gradations in I immediately thought of my Pickle Dish Accuquilt Die.  It has 15 pieces in the arc which made it easy to incorporate a lot of colors.



I started by laying out sets of fabrics for the interior and exterior triangles.  



Then I cut a LOT of pieces and had fun starting to sew the arcs together.  I had to be really careful not to get the pieces out of order.



I also decided to put in some drunkards path blocks for interest and to add something different to the quilt to make it my own.  I have sewn curves before, but I feel like this time I really got the hang of it.  I have much more confidence in myself.


I ran into a challenge on the inside orange peel shapes.  I had fat quarters of all the fabrics and now matter how I laid it out I could only get seven shapes from the fabric.  What to do?  I pieced one.  That was the only way.


Now it was time to quilt!  I used Aurifil Invisible thread to stitch continuous curve in all the arcs.  It flowed quite smoothly through my Schmetz Microtex needles.  I really didn't want to have to switch colors all the time and it worked excellently.  In the orange peels I quilted a simple feather.  I thought about using Hobbs Black 80/20 batting in this quilt, but decided against it because there were a lot of light fabrics so I used regular Hobbs 80/20 batting, my favorite.


In the center of the quilt are four curvy areas, I decided to add some interest by diving it into separate areas as shown.  I did some pebbles in the center and arches at the edges.


In the white areas I wanted to mimic the arches of the interior black areas.  I made four arches for each piece which made them easy to space out.  I also did something in the center arc to add interest.


The outer black ring left me stumped for a while.  I finally decided to go simple and do a wide feather to fill all the space.


I'm REALLY happy with how this turned out.  Ironically...this is the second pickle dish quilt I've made.  The first isn't done yet...haven't we heard this story before?  LOL.  My pile of quilts layered and waiting for quilting is exploding of late.  I have a few to keep me busy. Or a dozen.


I hope you get to quilt today!

Suzy


Sunday, January 30, 2022

Island Batik Ambassador's Step by Step Challenge

I love Island Batik fabrics.  I was so excited to get a gorgeous Ravishing Red gradation bundle in my first 2022 Ambassador Box!  Here's the ironic part....this is the leftover quilt.  Yes, you read that right.  I took my remaining scraps and used my AccuQuilt Prairie Star die to cut diamonds that finish at 1" across.  So naturally you ask...what happened to the first quilt?  It's not quite done yet.  WHY?  Well, I went on quilt retreat and I had the thread to quilt this one with me, but I didn't have the thread for the first quilt along.  So this one got done first.  Don't worry, the first quilt will be revealed tomorrow (as soon as I get the binding on!)

Despite all of that I am totally in love with this quilt!





Here is my stacks of fabrics being laid out for sewing my lone star.  I was very careful to make sure I was pinning them in the right way since I only had my scraps.  I didn't have quite enough fabric to make an 8 by 8 unit star point, so I cut some out of the background fabric (Mahogany) to fill in the gaps.  I have seen a few lone stars over the years that break traditional rounds.  I decided that's what I wanted to do with mine. 


Here is one star point completed.  


I had fun quilting feathers in the large background areas.  I used Hobbs 80/20 Cotton/Poly blend in this quilt which is my favorite batting.  I love how it gives my feathers a little puff.


I simply did continuous curve inside all the diamonds.  I didn't want to have to switch color all the time so I used Aurifil Invisible thread which worked excellently with my Schmetz Microtex needles.  I don't like to use invisible thread in the bobbin so I used a cream Aurifil 50 weight.  I was very pleased with how smoothly the stitching with the invisible thread went and it was a relief not to have to change colors tons.


I didn't have much background fabric left so I found a red Island Batik in my stash to use as the binding.

I hope you get to quilt today!

Suzy

Friday, January 28, 2022

Island Batik Ambassador's 2022 Box 1 Reveal!

 I am excited to be an Island Batik Ambassador for a 7th year!  It's so much fun!  Here is a link to the video I made with all the amazing products from Island Batik and Hobbs Batting.


Gradations!  I received Ravishing Reds


A gorgeous precut.  I can't wait to play with the Peaches!


Foundations basics to go with my projects.


Contempo!  SO gorgeous.


Stashbuider rolls in yellow and green.


I also received four fabulous battings from Hobbs (which I forgot to take a picture of!)

I hope you get to quilt today!
Suzy