Meet Nilsa. She is my newest finish and a pattern is available now.
At 60" by 83", Nilsa can be a Mercyful Quilt. The pattern can also be used to make a Quilt of Valor.
Nilsa, 60" by 83"
I used the Island Batik collection - Blushing Garden to make Nilsa.
Have you seen Blushing Garden? It is a beautiful collection with my favorite colors - red, pink and gold. Even a bit of teal to brighten things up. They are beautiful and sunny!
It is Layer-Cake Friendly. If you have been just petting a layer cake for a while because there wasn't a suitable pattern for it, this is your chance. All you need is about 4 1/4 yards of background fabric. That will take care of all the background, borders and binding.
Here I go again!
If you wish to use Blushing Garden, you are in luck. It is available in stores right now. For background, I recommend Egg White from the Island Batik Foundations.
If you'd rather use fabrics from your stash, that works perfectly too.
The Signature Shot!
Nilsa Quilt Pattern has eight pages of detailed instructions complete with colored graphics, and a full-page Coloring Sheet. I have also provided step-by-step guidance for on-point setting, showing diagonal columns and how to attach setting triangles.
Love these colors!
Finally, the pattern is 25% off from Monday, 11/20/23 through Sunday, 11/26/23.
Separately, there will be a storewide sale beginning on Thanksgiving, 11/23/23.
But wait, there is more. For a chance to win a free copy of Nilsa PDF Pattern (or any pattern of your choice from my Etsy Shop), please let me know in the comments - what is your favorite Thanksgiving side dish? If you are Anonymous or No-Reply, please include your email.
I will pick one lucky winner on Monday, 11/27/23.
UPDATE - The two lucky winners are Elana and Frederique. Emails have been sent.
Till then, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.
Island Batik's November Challenge and Blog Hop is sponsored by ByAnnie.
I chose the project - Room with a View. I chose to make all three sizes.
The pattern and all supplies including vinyl, mesh, Soft and Stable, zippers etc. were provided, thanks to our generous industry partners at ByAnnie.
Supplies
I received fabrics from the Morris Mist collection.
Morris Mist is a signature collection by Kathy Engle for Sherry Shish of Powered by Quilting.
It should be shipping to a quilt stores in November 2023.
The Fabrics
ByAnnie patterns are very detailed with excellent step-by-step directions. Once you make a bag/project using these directions, you are kinda spoiled. They also come with additional videos to guide you through tricky/difficult steps.
Getting Started
The very first thing to do (even before reading the pattern very carefully) was to buy 100 clips. No, this is not an exaggeration :-D You will see.
Secondly, I changed the needle. A Schmetz Microtex 90/14 Needle is an absolute must to sew through multiple thick layers.
I quilted the fabrics with Soft and Stable. I made bias binding. I made handles - top and sides.
Quilted!
Bias Binding
Handles
Zipper Loops
Yes, the project was challenging. I struggled with vinyl and zipper interface. The vinyl is sticky and the zipper tape is wobbly. It was not as neat as I'd hoped. There was cursing and whining.
I could not listen to a book/podcast/music during this time. This project required my complete attention.
Mesh Pocket inside the Lid and lots of clips
Each bag has three bindings, one on the lid, second where the lid connects with the body and the third on the base. I am NOT a hand sewing person. Seriously, by the time I get to the binding (for a quilt), I am already thinking about the next project and cannot finish the current one soon enough. So machine binding is my default method.
But in the case of ByAnnie patterns, I have accepted that it is impossible to maneuver the thick layers under the needle. I can stitch the binding by machine but must finish it by hand. This view is corroborated by other Island Batik ambassadors. After I completed the hand sewing of first three bindings, I was in a foul mood. My thumb and forefinger felt raw and painful.
The fact that there were two more bindings to stitch per bag, six in all brought out the worst in me. I was beyond hating this project. I didn't care about neatness any more. I had a deadline approaching and I was frustrated and stressed.
So I did something that I had never done before. I finished the second binding by machine. PHEW.
It isn't neat but it is done.
Getting close
My thumb and forefinger thanked me. It was time to attach the base. Could I finish the last binding by machine? I had to try. I started with the small bag. I machine stitched the binding, folded it over and "tried" to finish it by machine stitching it from the front using stitch in the ditch method. I missed the binding around the corners. Removed a few stitches, smoothened the fabric, glued it in place and FINISHED it by machine stitching.
Small Bag's Base - Kinda Ugly
Of course it is ugly. A war is ugly. In the end the only thing that matters is that I won! No PTSD for my thumb and forefinger.
The second bag went smoother, slightly. Still missed a couple of places and had to redo.
Medium Bag's Base - Missed a Spot
The last bag went much better; no missed spots. After machine-stitching the binding, I folded it over and glued the entire thing, and then clipped it using about 40 clips (told ya).
About 40 clips on the base
Then I turned it over and machine marched victoriously (but slowly), needle in the ditch. More or less, you know. Since I was killing it, neatness be damned.
Finishing Binding by Machine - Stitching in the Ditch
Large Bag's Base - Not Too Ugly, Not Perfect.
The binding is far from neat or uniform. I am sharing this with only you (so don't tell anyone else). If I can manage it, you can too :-) Besides this would be on the bottom of the bag.
There was just one last step - adding zipper pulls. I don't like the fabric pulls. So I found these little beauties for the final flourish in my conquest.
Fancy Zipper Pulls
One more challenge conquered!
Once the war is over and debris is cleared, there comes the photo shoot and glorious celebrations.
Happy Fall!
Small, Medium and Large
All Lined up!
The Small bag is perfect to store Island Batik stash builders. The fat quarter bundles fit neatly inside the Medium bag. The Large bag is tailor-made for 10" Squares (Layer Cakes). See for yourself.
What is inside?
I am Small & Cute
I am Medium & Pretty
I am Large & Spacious
Rooms With a View
Fabulous Finish!
Paul: Do you still hate this project? Me (suspiciously): WHYYYYY? Paul: We are going to see Mom for Thanksgiving. She'd appreciate them, you know. Me: No, I love these beauties and they are perfect for my storage needs. Paul (eyes twinkling): That's what I thought.
I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.
Make sure you check the Island Batik Blog for fabulous giveaways every week! The full list of Ambassadors’ names, collections they will be using in their projects, and their post dates are as follows:
Mom asked me to make a quilt for a young girl. Of course I said yes.
What is her name, I asked. She did not know.
How old, I enquired. Not sure, she replied.
Orange, Pink and Sparkly
At this point, I gave up. There is only so much eye-rolling I can do. I set about picking fabrics. Since I knew nothing about the recipient, my aim was to please my mother.
I chose a simple block using cream, pink and orange fabrics.
Design Wall
25 blocks
Ruby Star and Alison Glass Fabrics
Paul: Who is this for? Me: Some little girl in India... Paul: Do you know her? Me: All I know is that her father helped mom with some hard to find medications. Paul: That is it? Me: Mom wants to express her gratitude.
Paul: So she asked you...
Me: From across the Atlantic Ocean...
Paul: Are you going to mail it to India?
Me: No, just to Pennsylvania.
Paul: Your sister is going to India?
Me: Yes. End of October.
Festive Elephants Backing
I have been hoarding this elephant fabric since 2016, I think. I know Mom will love it. In fact, Paul loves it too and has asked me to make him a pillow (he already has mug rugs and zippered pouches) from the remaining 16". That is a separate project and blogpost. Insert eye-roll here.
Here is the finished quilt.
Tesu
I have named her Tesu. Tesu is the Hindi name for the Butea Monosperma flower. Tesu finished at 43" square. The block is made up of 5" squares framed with 2.5" strips.
Flame of the Forest :-)
Sunny and Warm
Here are some close-up shots.
Hello Birdie!
Pink and Orange? Well, yes!
Labelled
Love the Striped Binding
Tesu was a fun and fast quilt.
I especially enjoyed working on her after completing the much complicated Radiance.
I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.
