Milo

 Meet Milo.

Milo

Milo is a layer-cake friendly quilt that was published in Annie's Perfectly Precut - Simple Quilts With Precut Squares - of Quilter's World. 

Milo on the Cover!

I designed Milo in EQ8 and used the Island Batik fabric collection Essence and the neutral Egg White.

Essence is a beautiful collection. Look for it in your local quilt shop.

Milo was completed earlier this year. Pictures were taken in January. See the icy backdrop.

Icy River, Hot Model :-)

I used Hobbs Thermore Batting. The backing is Dark Grey Solid. The binding is Egg White Neutral.  I used walking foot quilting to quilt squiggly lines 2" apart. Milo finished at 60" by 84".

Of course, I will sleep with you!

Here are a few more pictures. 

So cool

Hi Handsome!

Picnic Ready

Crushing on You

Milo is Mine!

Hope you will check out the magazine in your local quilt shop. It contains 23 precut friendly patterns including one from Connie Kauffman, a friend and a fellow IB ambassador and one from Vasudha Govindan, a friend and a former IB ambassador.

The weather is changing (I am channeling Mari). Time to get your shots. Stay safe and hug your loved ones.

Nirali

Meet Nirali!

Nirali

Here is the story or TWO WEEKS AGO (imagine you are watching a thriller on Netflix).

Co-sponsored by Aurifil Threads, Island Batik's September Challenge is named Threaded Chaos, requiring us to make a crib-size (or larger) Crazy Quilt, using our assigned Spring 2025 Collection and Aurifil Threads.

When I made a Crazy Quilt the last time, we were not assigned a fabric collection. I chose solids so that the decorative stitching was better visible.  This time, the fabric and threads were not up to us.

I received the Everlasting Collection, designed by Jerry Khiev.

Everlasting Collection - Selected Fabrics

Aurifil Threads - One 50wt, Three 40wt

I added some more Aurifil Threads from my stash. 

40wt Quilting Threads

Back to the problem - Crazy Quilt. Since what (primarily) defines a Crazy Quilt is decorative stitching it is important that the decorative stitching is prominent. 

I chose the stack and whack technique to make the blocks with two important rules

1. Use background fabric in each stack. This would allow the focus fabric to shine and also provide a blank canvas for the the decorative stitching to be more visible.

2. Add a strip of contrasting fabric when re-piecing the whacked units. This strip would be like a red carpet for the decorative stitch divas to parade on.

Adding contrast skinny strip

Almost Block

I patiently made all the blocks. Then I added the decorative stitches - one block and one thread color at a time. The blocks finished at 7" by 12".

Light Thread on Dark Fabrics

Dark Thread on Light Fabrics

I used Meringue as the background fabric. All decorative stitches were made using my Elna Excellence 730 Pro. Of course, some stitches worked better than others.  

I used Schmetz Microtex 80/12 Needle for piecing and quilting. The batting is Hobbs Poly Down. I quilted in one direction only, using wavy stitches. The backing is Doughnut. The binding is Pistachio.

Here is the finished quilt, measuring 42" by 48". I named her Nirali, meaning unique.

Beauty in the Backyard

Thank you, Paul

Here are some close-ups so that you can see the decorative stitching.

Peachy

Hot Pink

Green and Glowing

Too much? 

Just Crazy Enough?

Labeled

My Lovely :-)

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

Giveaway - If you'd like to win some free fabric (Island Batik of course), please leave me a comment on this post. I will pick two winners next week. 

Thanks to Aurifil for sponsoring this Threaded Chaos Challenge.

Thanks to Schmetz Needles,  Oliso and Hobbs Batting.

Thanks to Lumin Fabrics/Island Batik for this collection and foundation fabrics.

Follow Island Batik's Instagram and Facebook page so you may be picked as the winner for the drawing this week or the following weeks (during this blog hop). You need to comment on their instagram and facebook, to be entered into the giveaway.

WEEK 1

September 8: 

Brenda Alburl Aurora

September 9: 

Sarah Pitcher Berry Crush

Solomae Stoycoff Berry Crush

September 10: 

Lisa Pickering Colorburst

Renee Atkinson Colorburst

September 11: 

Connie Campbell         Earth Essence

September 12: 

(Island Batik posts: Blog Hop Week 1 Round Up + giveaway)

WEEK 2

September 15: 

Jennifer Thomas Everlasting

Preeti Harris Everlasting - YOU ARE HERE

September 16: 

Gail Sheppard Fossil Finesse

Susan Deshensky Fossil Finesse

September 17: 

Denise Looney Frosted Foliage

Kimberly Flannagan Frosted Foliage

September 18: 

Mania Hatziioannidi Garden Glory

Tina Dillard Garden Glory

September 19: (Island Batik posts: Blog Hop Week 2 Round Up + giveaway)

WEEK 3

September 22: 

Kim Jamieson-Hirst Geode Glow

Carol Stanek Geode Glow

September 23: 

Brittany Fisher Quiet Charm

September 24: 

Suzy Webster Stone Strata

Leah Malasky Stone Strata

September 25: 

Connie Kauffman Sunset

Emily Leachman Sunset

September 26:

(Island Batik: End of Blog Hop + Final Round Up)