Garden City

A new year calls for a new pattern!

Meet Garden City. 

Garden City

Designed in EQ8 and made using the Island Batik collection Shadow Blooms, Garden City is a layer-cake friendly quilt finishing at 64" by 88".

We chose a particularly cold and windy day to take pictures.

Backing is Aruba (Tantalizing Teals)

The collection includes Blues, Teals and Purples.  I used Egg White (Neutrals) as Background. The Backing is Aruba (Tantalizing Teals). I used Hobbs Thermore Batting.

Hi Handsome!

Walking Foot Quilting

To make Garden City, you will need just one Layer Cake and 4.5 yards of Background fabric.  The pattern is available in my Etsy Store. It includes colored graphics and step by step directions. Garden City is on sale (25% off) till Wednesday, 1/15/25.

What is a pattern release without a giveaway? So if you'd like a copy of the Garden City Quilt pattern, please leave me a comment on this blogpost, mentioning the favorite book (and author) you read in 2024.  If you show up as Anonymous, please include your email so that I can reach you. 

I will announce two winners next week.

1/19/2025 Update - The two random numbers are #1 and #13. 

#1 - Carolyn, you are a no-reply blogger. Please contact me at sewpreetiquilts at gmail so that I can send you your pattern.

#13 - GranChris - Email sent.

In other news, Island Batik has announced the slate of ambassadors for 2025. Slashing the number from 26 to just 22, the competition was even tougher this year. Many applicants did not make it. I am thrilled (and relieved) that I made the cut.

We have received our first box of supplies. I will share the Unboxing video and blogpost next week. But here is sneak peek.

I will be participating in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Angela has announced that January is Pink. Here are my selected pinks (Island Batik fabrics).

I am working on my January RSC 2025 blocks. Will show you when I post next time, along with the Unboxing video. Sharing with Angela's and all my other favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

Hope you stay safe, warm and dry.

Sweet Dreams

In summer I dream of a chilly breeze. 
In winter I dream of a fire. 
At land I yearn for the stormy seas. 
Once there it is dry land that I desire.

It is no surprise that I made an Autumn Quilt in Spring :-) Meet Sweet Dreams.

Autumn in Spring

Island Batik's June Challenge Requirements/Guidelines are as follows:

• Project Type: Quilt for Quilts Across America
• Size: between 50” to 60” wide and 75” to 90” long. 
• Fabric: Any, in colors that appeal to children aged 2-17.
• Work with any size unit that you want, you can also use more than one unit size in the project.
• Must use at least 30 units total, made with the Studio 180 Design tool you received.

I received the Corner Beam Ruler.

Corner Beam Units

I used four colors - Orange, Green, Red and Purple - in light, medium, dark and very dark to make the Autumn Leaf Block.

10" Leaf Block

I love the gentle gradation of values going from light in the tip to very dark in the base of the leaf. 

In Orange

The leaf stem is made from Eucalyptus (now discontinued Island Batik Basic).  The background is Egg White. I used Schmetz Microtex 80/12 Needle for piecing.

I  made a total of 24 Leaf Blocks, arranged four across by six down.  

Design Wall

The sashing is 2" and the border finishes at 3".

Basting

The batting is Hobbs Premium Cotton. I used Schmetz Microtex 80/12 Needle for Quilting, using my walking foot in a 2" grid with my favorite squiggly stitch.

Quilting Detail

The Binding is a Green Vine fabric left over from the Wild Blooms collection. 

In the picture below, I am standing on a picnic table, with the Potomac in the background, while Paul took the perfect shot. Can you see the river to the right?

Finished Quilt - 52" by 76"

Since the quilt used only 24 Corner Beam units, when we were directed to make at least 30, I considered adding a fancy border.  But that would take away from the simple beauty of the quilt.

I wanted to follow the rules/guidelines but sometimes that is at loggerheads with design considerations. 

What could I do? The shape of the Corner Beam unit is similar to a candle/lamp flame.

So I made a Zippered Pouch. It used four Corner Beam units, bringing the number up to 28. I know it is not the required 30, but that is close enough!

Appliquéd Corner Beam and Semicircle Units

Instead of piecing the units, I appliquéd them using an invisible thread. I used Red, Green and Orange (for the lamps) but not Purple because it would not have a good contrast against the Solid Black background.

Diwali Themed Zippered Pouch

There are design decisions at every stage. Do you approve of mine? Please let me know. 

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties, including Quilting Jetgirl's Favorite Finish. See full list on the sidebar.

In other news, Angela has announced that June will be Blue. Here are my Island Batik Blues ready to become Hexie Blocks. 

All the Blues - Light, Medium and Dark

We will be receiving our second Ambassador Boxes in July. 

I need to arrange, consolidate and make room for new supplies. Would you be interested in Island Batik fabric scraps? 

No pressure :-D But I'd love to know.

Aurelia

Aurelia was published in Make Modern Issue #56.

Aurelia is now available in my Etsy Shop as a standalone pattern.  It is a detailed pattern with 8 pages of step by step instructions including a coloring page. 

I am offering a 25% discount till Friday, April 5, 2024.

Designed in EQ8, Aurelia uses Island Batik fabrics from two collection. The blues came from the Porcelain Blue collection and the Purples are from the Morris Mist collection.

Aurelia finished at 60" by 84". Not my usual colors, nevertheless I am thrilled with this finish. 

Blue Skies, Breezy Day

For background I chose Egg White (Island Batik Neutral) and Island Batik Solid Black.

I used Fondant (Island Batik Neutrals) for Backing. The Binding is Powder Blue (Brilliant Blues).

Fondant Backing, Powder Blue Binding

I chose a variegated thread and quilted using my walking foot with my favorite squiggly lines.

Walking Foot Quilting

Labelled

We took it out for pictures. I had a fun time, shooting with the polar bear :-) climbing up on a short wall at a roundabout, till the security guard asked me to step down. I apologized sincerely and got down immediately. We had already taken the pictures ;-P

Thank you Polar Bear!

It was a breezy day and Paul held the quilt in place atop the polar bear, discreetly hiding in the shadows, while I took the picture. 

For the next pictures, I modeled and Paul photographed. 

Polar Bear in the background

Fiery Tree Backdrop

I am in love with Aurelia. She has an ice-maiden vibe about her - regal and stunning. But I promise you she is very approachable. Here are a few close-ups. 

Texture

Crushing on You

One last look!

What is a new pattern release without a giveaway?

Two random readers of this blogpost, who leave a comment (with their emails if they show up as Anonymous/No-Reply), will win a free PDF copy of this pattern. I will announce the winners on Saturday, April 6, 2024.

Winners Update - The winners are Jenny (#9) and Deb (#26). Emails have been sent

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

But wait there is more. Visit Emily's blog to see her version of Aurelia (Hint - it is pink). Who knows she may have a giveaway too. 

Nishat and Meteor Shower

Nishat was published in Annie's Bright & Colorful Quilts

Nishat

Designed in EQ8 and made using the Flutter Wings Collection, Nishat embodies the spirit of famous terrace gardens in Kashmir, India.

Flutter Wings Collection is available in quilt stores now.
I used Egg White (Island Batik Neutral) as background.  The binding is Fiery Orange. 

Everything ok here?

Spring has Sprung!

Nishat finished at 64" by 88" and I am very happy with it.

Swirling Spring

Published!!!

She walks in beauty

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Meteor Shower was published in Colorful Quilts for Kids.

Finished & Published

Meteor Shower is a layer cake friendly pattern and finishes at 51" by 59.5".  

Meteor Shower

I used the Island Batik Constellations Stack (10" squares) to make this quilt.  No background fabric required. The backing is Blurple :-D  I used my walking foot to quilt it. The binding is light gray solid.  

Labelled

Meteor Shower was instantly claimed by Joyce and I am happy that the quilt found a new home.

Grey Binding

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As promised I have completed my Purple Blocks for Rainbow Scrap Challenge. All scraps are Island Batik. It is great to be an ambassador :-)

Light Purple

Dark Purple

March blocks are done and I am wondering whether April will be Blue or Orange?

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties, including Angela's. See full list on the sidebar.