This month was a free month for us to determine what to make and which fabrics to use. I had been wanting to try the ProStitcher Fabric Bins, so that was my choice. The Pro-Stitcher Fabric Bins come in sizes, but you can adjust the size and make them any size you want. I like to keep my Island Batik fabrics separate from the rest of my stash, so these will be perfect for that.
This video shows the pattern stitching out on my Handi Quilter Forte and also the overall shape of the bin before sewing the seams. The program stitches a 1/4″ line to the outside of the design to make it easier to cut it out leaving the 1/4″ for the seam allowance. This project comes with easy to follow written directions. Here is a closer look at both bins flat on the longarm before sewing the side and bottom seams. The top fabric is Round Petal Floral Lemon Lime by Island Batik and the blue fabric on the bottom is Sprout by Island Batik.You can see the one side and one bottom seam. The horizontal seam shown here is made by bringing those two seams together to make the boxed bottom. The lining fabric is Mocha by Island Batik. It’s one of the beautiful foundation fabrics!Bottom seamBinding the top of the bin is the last thing to do! Flip it inside out and voila! My larger bin is bound in Lime solid by Island Batik. It measures 11″ x 11″ x 11″, perfect for storing my scraps I have cut into 10″ squares.Here’s my smaller storage!! It measures 8″ x 8″ by 8″. This will store my 5″ and 2 1/2″ squares. Fabric is Sprout by Island Batik, bound with Cheerio in Bermuda by Island Batik. The bundle inside my bin is Natural Healing. Look for it in September when I’ll be using it for my September Challenge. A different design on each sideA different design on each sideThis is a picture of my Pro-Stitcher history showing some of the designs I used for the sides of my bins.
I used 2 layers of Hobbs 80/20 batting on the blue one and quilted with denser stitching to help make it stand upright. I used Bosal foam on the yellow/green one, which is a heavier batting/stabilizer/foam usually used for tote bags. Then I didn’t feel like I needed to quilt with as heavy quilting because it stands upright easier on its own.
Many thanks to Island Batik for supplying the fabric and Hobbs Batting for supplying the batting for this project! Check your local quilt shop for Round Petal Floral, Lime solid, Sprout, Cheerio Bermuda, and Mocha by Island Batik!
Check out what other creative projects my fellow Ambassadors did for their challenge this month!
Our challenge this month was to make a quilt or table runner using Flying Geese blocks with the Fall or Winter 2022 bundle we received. I had been looking forward to using the Winter 2022 pre cut bundle I received, Holiday at Home, because I love how the peach (Conch) companion fabric brings out the subdued peach in the background of the fabrics. I was also given the Hunter fabric, but didn’t end up using that fabric for this project.
Hunter and Conch
It was back to The Trendy Table for inspiration for my table runner. I’m a sucker for what I call Film Strip sashings or borders, the small squares repeated in a row, as in the runner in the top right of the front cover. So, that was my choice for this month.
I made this at a quilt retreat in April and was so busy chatting with my friends, that I forgot to take progress pictures! I used Aurifil thread and a fresh Schmetz 80/20 needle in my machine. Every project deserves a new needle!
I quilted it using double batting, one layer of Hobbs 80/20 and one layer of Hobbs wool on the top to provide the loft I wanted. Hobbs has many varieties of batting for every need. The digital quilt design is used is Hollies and Berries from Pro-Stitcher Patterns quilted on my Handi Quilter Forte 24 (Handi Quilter Amara 24).
And…it’s reversible!Digital quilt design is Hollies and Berries from Pro-Stitcher Patterns
The Holiday at Home collection can be found at these shops:
Compass Point Quilts
NH
Cotton Cupboard-ME
ME
Creekside Quilts-OR
OR
Hancocks of Paducah
KY
Missouri Star
MO
Nine Patch Fabrics
VA
Quilters Headquarters
SD
Sew What Fabrics/Batiks Etc.
VA
Check out all the other Ambassadors to see how they handled the challenge:
This month Island Batik challenged each its 25 ambassadors to use a Studio 180 tool that they had received, but not used previously, to make a quilt or a runner with the surprise bundle of the Winter 22 collection each of us received. (Remember the wrapped fabric bundle I couldn’t show you in my unboxing video? ) It is revealed below.
The tools I received were the Wing Clipper Tool and the Quilters Magic Wand. You can find details and directions for how to use the Wing Clipper tool from Deb Tucker herself here and the Magic Wand here.
Studio 180 Wing ClipperStudio 180 Magic Wand
To use the Wing Clipper Tool, first position your block with the long edge of the center triangle at the top, as shown above. Line up the diagonal lines on the ruler with your seam. So, in the sample above, I moved the tool down so the diagonal lines on the tool matched up with the diagonal lines on my pieced rectangle block. Then trimmed the right side and top of the block.
Then turn the block upside down, line it up with the desired size of your block ( in this case, 2 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ and trim the right side and the top of the block.
This is the Quilter’s Magic Wand. It is used to mark the lines on either side of this tool to indicate sewing lines. I lined it up on the center line where I want to cut the block in two after sewing 1/4″on either side . I found this to be a helpful tool, because I can’t tell you how many times I have sewn right down the middle instead of 1/4″ on either side of the middle of the block.
I used the Magic Wand here to mark these sewing lines. I used a new Schmetz 80/ 12 microtex needle for piecing, supplied by Schmetz. Pieced with Aurifil 50 wt. thread.
And this is Sandalwood, my winter ’22 surprise bundle that was wrapped and tied with bows when I received my box of fabrics and supplies from Island Batik. It’s so beautiful, I had a hard time cutting into it! Sandalwood is shipping soon, so check these shops or ask your LQS.
A Quilter’s Place, Oakdale, CA
Cotton and Chocolate, Simi Valley, CA
Creative Union Fabric, Port Townsend, WA
Creekside Quilts, Gales Creek, OR
KIKI’s Quilt Shack, Fresno, CA
Ocean Wave Quilts, Eureka, CA
Quilt Passions, Mission Viejo, CA
Sew Smart Supply, Los Molinos, CA
Village Sewing Center, Santa Rosa, CA
Will n Beez, Salem, OR
This is the Star Shadows pattern from Studio 180 that was provided to me to make this challenge quilt. Once I decided this is what I wanted to make with the Sandalwood fabric and the Wing Clipper and Quilter’s Magic Wand tools I received, I reached out to Studio 180 and they graciously supplied it to me for this challenge.
This is Island Batik Yellow Amber I used for the back of my quilt and Island Batik solid grey was used for the star shadows. Did you know Island Batik has solids? We were provided with white, grey, and black solids and the grey was perfect for this.
Here is the quilt on my Handi Quilter Forte (now named Amara 24) longarm. I used Hobbs 80/20 batting provided by Hobbs.
Here is the digital quilting pattern I used to quilt it. It’s Mod Petals by Quiltable.
My finished Star Shadows quilt
Check out all the other Ambassadors to see how they handled the challenge:
Our March Challenge was our choice – choice of one of the fabric collections Island Batik provided and also choice of project. I needed a table runner for our new sofa table, so I browsed my patterns.
I have had this book for awhile, love the table runners in it, but have never made any. I decided on the one in the middle, second from the top. I love the movement in it.
Island Batik Stash Builders
Remember those rolls of fabric from my unboxing video? Each roll has 4 5″ wide strips by width of fabric. I had a nice assortment to choose from, so I choose some of my favs and began pairing them up in pleasing sets of 3. Then I cut 2″ strips.
I made 2″ wide strip sets from each group of 3, then cut them as directed in the instructions and laid out the triangles to make partial hexies which appear to overlap. I’m glad I caught those mistakes in my layout before they were sewn!
It’s loaded on my Handi Quilter Forte ready for quilting,
I sewed leftover 2″ strips for the backing.
I chose the digital design Malachite from Urban Elements.
And here it is on my sofa table. I love it!
Check out the other Island Batik Ambassador’s blogs to see what they did for their It’s All Up to You Challenge.
I’m more modern than traditional, so when it came to making a Double Wedding Ring quilt, I had to swerve. Sew Kind of Wonderful has a great pattern that fit the bill – Metro Rings.
I have a healthy stash, and I was able to find the perfect combo within it – Jelly Roll, background, binding, and backing. I’ve always thought scrappy binding was cute, and this would give me an opportunity to use the leftover strips from the Jelly Roll for that.
Loved my find in my stash!
Jelly Roll opened. Like what I see!
Metro Rings uses Jelly Roll strips and the Curve ruler to cut the pieces = less curved piecing.
Also used the sold lime green and solid navy from my stash for the triangle inset pieces.
Quiltable.com has a specific digital quilting design intended for Metro Rings! Score! Quilted on my Handi Quilter Forte with Pro-Stitcher and Superior Threads So Fine!
All finished except for the binding.
Enjoyed the ruler work on the triangle insets. Curved cross hatch!
