Earlier this year I participated in one of GE Designs Quilt Alongs, Strip Twist. My Island Batik Stash Builders were perfect for this quilt. Stash Builders are 5″ strips by width of fabric that come 4 strips to a roll, 5 rolls per package. That’s nearly 3 yards of fabric and perfect for cutting 5″ squares or 2 1/2″ strips. I whipped this up at my annual quilt retreat using Schmetz needles and Aurifil thread.
Assembled piecesMy first completed block!Trying a layoutAll togetherAdded borders and scrappy binding using more of my Island Batik Stash Builders, Hobbs 80/20 batting, and Pro-Stitcher on my Handiquilter ForteDonated to our guild’s charity chairperson, Darlen,e at our November meeting
I know someone will appreciate this one as it is delivered this month.
Our challenge this month was to use the Accuquilt North Carolina Star block, generously donated to us by Accuquilt. We could use the entire block, just parts to make a totally different design, and/or pair it with companion dies. We could make it into any project we liked, using fall fabrics, if possible.
Accuquilt North Carolina Star
I thought about what fall decorations I needed, and came up with ideas for placemats. Placemats add a finishing touch to a table setting and we host Thanksgiving. Time to get busy.
First, select fabrics. I selected a variety of fall colored fabrics and wanted to use the larger prints as the focus fabrics. They became the 4 51/2″ squares in each corner of the North Carolina Star blocks. Then it was pure fun to play with the other fabrics to see how placement changed the entire look. The block itself was 12″ square and I wanted the placemats to be about 12″ x 18″ so I added some designs on the sides.
Parts and pieces to play with.My first placemat used Pine Leaves Cone-Gr as the focus fabric in the four corners. I really love this one. Other fabrics used were Leaves- Green in the very center, Berries -Orange, Pebbles -Coffee, and Sprig – Yellow in the middle and on the right border, and Rock -Yellow and Copper on the left side.This placemat was made with Leaves – Green Cactus in the four corners, Berries – Orange in the very center with Leaves-Green Grass and Rock – Yellow in the center cross and Rock – Yellow on both borders.This placemat features Pine Leaves from the Sandalwood Collection for the four corners, Leaves-Green from the Sandalwood Collection for the very center, and Leaves – Green Cactus from the Sandalwood Collection, Pebbles – Coffee, Sprig – Yellow, and Berries – Gold and Berries – Orange from the Sandalwood Collection for the rest of the placemat. This placemat features Leaves – Green from the Sandalwood Collection for the four corners, Sprig – Yellow, and Bubbles – Cherry to complete the center, and Copper, Rock – Yellow, Sprig – Yellow, Pebbles – Coffee, Round Petal Floral, and Leaves – Green Grass from the Sandalwood Collection for the side borders.
All placemats are backed and bound with Rock – Green Grass.
I quilted all of them at the same time on my Handi Quilter Forte with the Filigree Leaves e2e design from Pro-Stitcher Patterns.
I was able to use some Hobbs 80/20 batting scraps left over from what they generously supplies us. I don’t like to waste!Quilted on my Handi Quilter Forte (now Amara 24)with Pro-StitcherMy Handi Quilter Glide 2 foot made it so easyQuilted with Filigree Leaves by Pro-Stitcher PatternsI like the way they look on my dining room table. I enjoy some of them more than others, but that happens when you give yourself freedom to play. And they will let good with some of my other solid color placemats to complete the table setting for Thanksgiving dinner.
Many of the fabrics I used are from the Sandalwood Collection, which is a Winter ’22 Collection. These were the only fall colored fabrics I had on hand to work with, so if you see some you like, check your local retailer to see if they still have them. Country Charm or Celtic Fields are Summer ’23 Collections with similar colors and look. Otherwise, check out their current Island Batik fabrics, and I’m sure you’ll find something that needs to follow you home! I can always count on Creekside Quilts near me in Oregon to have Island Batik fabrics.
Remember, every project needs a new needle. I use Schmetz needles, normally an 80/12 Microtex. Hobbs 80/20 batting goes into nearly every one of my quilted projects and this one is no exception. Accuquilt makes cutting fabric so much easier and cutting the pieces is my least favorite part of quilting, so I use my Accquilt whenever possible. This time, it was the North Carolina Star BOB. Aurifil 50 weight thread is used for piecing. And a big thank you to Island Batik, who gives us freedom to play with our fabric and projects!
Please take a minute to check out what the other Island Batik Ambassadors did for their challenge this month:
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:
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.
GE Designs released a new pattern in July, Kimberly, and offered a quilt a long. It required 2 layer cakes, so I selected these from my stash. They were identical, in 2 different colorways. I loved the ease of this pattern and enjoyed just sewing and not having to match up seams except for the blocks themselves. I did make sure the diagonal seams in all blocks were facing the same direction. I didn’t have a purpose in mind when beginning this quilt, but its purpose became clear as the next few months passed.
It was easy to take on my travels by car, along with my Singer Featherweight, while teaching closer to home. I was able to finish this top in one of those hotel rooms. It’s such a happy, lively quilt
I found this Tulip Bells digital quilt design by Quiltable.com and thought it would be a great pairing for this quilt, echoing the tulips in some of the blocks. I double batted, with Hobbs 80/20 on the bottom and a layer of wool batting on the top to provide the puffiness and warmth. By this time, it was clear who this quilt had been intended for all along.
One of my very best friends is bubbly, colorful, and lively. She laughs ALL the time – so much fun to be around! She dresses in vibrant, beautiful colors. She would love this quilt, right? Made for her.
Alas , into everyone’s life come some shadows. A difficult chapter in the book of life. Even the bubbly and lively. A difficult health diagnosis shook the ground she walked on. Of course she is tackling this with her natural positivity with all her besties rooting her on. This happy quilt was made for her. Enjoy, Bev!
My favorite season is autumn and I love this pattern, It has been on my to do list for a few years. Motivation came in the form of a challenge; a Handi Quilter Educator Challenge. This year’s challenge was to make a black and white (grays allowed) quilt, plus one other color that can’t be more than 25% of the quilt.
Time is always a factor, and this quilt being only 36″ x 36″ was doable considering my traveling schedule between now and the due date. Easy decision. I finally get to make this quilt!
Pieces were cut and piecing together was begun in early October.
Two days later it was pieced. However, getting it quilted within the next 9 weeks between several teaching events, a quilt show, celebrating a birthday, Halloween, and Thanksgiving, would be tricky. But a busy schedule makes for efficient planning.
Now to decide how to quilt it. I knew I wanted to make “ghost pumpkins” on some of the background squares to mimic the colored pumpkins, so I played around with ideas for the background. Hay, so it looks like the pumpkins are laying in a patch? Pumpkin leaves with wisps of curls? Pebbles and swirls? I decided on the latter, so the small pebbles and swirls would make the “ghost pumpkins” pop. I added some leaves for interest as well. I also double batted with one layer of 80/20 and one layer of wool on top for the poof.
