Celebrate Diwali

As the daylight hours decrease and the darkness envelops the northern hemisphere, Hindus all over the world celebrate Diwali - the festival of lights. You may have seen the newish British Prime Minister and his family celebrate Diwali at 10 Downing Street.

I have talked about my Diwali Memories and I made my first Diwali Quilt last year. 

This year when Island Batik gave us the choice to make a quilt project "celebrating" our favorite holiday, I knew instantly that I will be making a Diwali Quilt, using a fabric collection called Celebrate!!! Could there be a more appropriate fabric line to make this quilt? 

I started by making candles with two tone flames. All piecing was done using a 80/12 Schmetz Needle and 50 wt Aurifil Thread. 

Candles

Some height adjustments were made to create interest.

Tall and Short

The next step was adding text.  I marked the center and spaced the letters evenly. 

Marking the Center before placing the letters

I appliqued the letters and stitched them using a simple stitch without a break!  Check the picture below.

Applique

Once that was done, it was time to baste and quilt. I used Schmetz 90/14 Needle and Aurifil 40 wt thread for quilting. The batting is Thermore by Hobbs.

Quilting Lines Marked

And here is my completed Celebration quilt!!! Happy Diwali Mini Quilt finished at 14.5" by 20.5"

Happy Diwali Mini Quilt

Finished Mini Quilt - 20.5" by 14.5"

But wait there is more. Celebrations are always more than one thing and so is this post.  

I continued playing with these gorgeous fabrics and made this joyful quilt. I used my Accuquilt 8" GO QUBE to make the smaller half square triangles.  So. Many. Triangles!!! It is good to have an Accuquilt Cutter.

All piecing was done using a 80/12 Schmetz Needle and 50 wt Aurifil Thread. 

Koi Pond

Finishing at 60" square, I have named it Koi Pond.  Picture this - Colorful fish who ate lots of Diwali sweets (or Christmas cookies) and are now swimming in circles, chasing each other as they burn off their sugar high :-D

Let's get closer. Do you see the little swirls in the background fabric? These fish are creating some serious ripples :-D

Such happy fabrics

The background is Doughnut (Island Batik Neutrals) and the binding is Island Batik Solid Yellow.  I used Schmetz 90/14 Needle and Aurifil 40 wt thread for quilting. The batting is Thermore by Hobbs.

Kissing Fish

True Story - When I was arranging the quilt over the mailbox, prior to taking this picture, a woman stopped her car, rolled down her window and complemented me :-) I was so tickled. I smiled and thanked her. Then I continued smiling the whole day.

But enough about me. What is a celebration without sharing? So here is a free tutorial for you to make your own Scrappy Swirling Fish block. This may be a suitable block for Rainbow Scrap challenge next year. Let me know what you think.

May the holiday season bring you joy and peace that continues into the new year. I will treat every comment like a cherished holiday greeting. Big Squishy Hugs!!!

Sisters without Borders

My purple blocks for August were completed at the very last minute. Tch Tch Tch.
September is Red.

September Completed

And my red blocks are all done. Happily sharing at Angela's Linky Party.

Floral Red

Fluorescent Red

Dark & Light

Sparkling Red

Poppies & Daisies

Celestial & Wine

Yes, I am overcompensating for a tardy August.

Happiness is Red

Red is Joyful

I also have red on my mind - for another reason.

Canadian Quilter Magazine - Autumn 2020

I am thinking of Canada and the Canadian Quilter magazine. I was featured in the Autumn 2020 issue. Specifically the International Sister Block was featured (you don't have to be Canadian or in Canada to subscribe). Quilters are making and sharing the International Sister Quilt Block to turn it into quilts for shelters and charities. To know that I am a small part of this noble endeavor warms my heart and moistens my eyes.

Featured

I brought home a Strawberry Shortcake to celebrate...

Also White & Red :-)

Paul: What are we celebrating?

I showed him the article.

Paul: You are in a magazine!!!

Me: Yes, I am.

Paul: Does that mean you are famous?

Me: The International Sister Quilt Block is very popular. I am just lucky.

Paul: They all have different outfits, don't they?
Me (beaming with pride): Yes, no repeats.
Paul (mocking): Two women wearing the same thing? Never.
Me: Well, American films definitely enforce that stereotype.
Paul: How many different fabrics?
Me: Fifty in the big quilt. 32 in the smaller one.
Paul: That is a lot. What if someone wanted to make this quilt but they don't have as much variety?
Me: Quilters do block swaps all the time.
Paul: How would you arrange that?
Me: Quilt guild meetings have block swaps.
Paul: All your meetings are suspended.
Me: Like-minded quilters can coordinate and mail blocks to each other.


Paul's phone buzzed and the discussion ended.
But it got me thinking - could I use a layer cake square (10" square) to make the block?

International Sister Quilt Block from a 10" Square

10" Square - Cut Up

The Complete Outfit

Me: I believe I have addressed your concern about someone not having 50 different fabrics.
Paul: How so?
Me: The outfits can be made from a 10" square and one can buy a packet of 40 squares, instead of 40 different fabrics purchased individually.
Paul: That is cool. 

The thought process continued. Can I use 5" squares? How?
Here is a how you can use two 5" squares to make a modified block (7.5" finished).
One square makes the skirt and the other square provides the sleeves and the headdress.  

Petite International Sister Quilt Block from a 5" Square

5" Square Cut up

The Total Outfit for Petite Sister

Paul: Preeti, when are we leaving?
Me: In five minutes. I'll be ready shortly.
Paul (teasing): You do everything shortly.

I am 5'3" which is petite by American standards.  An average Indian woman is 5'1".
Paul is 5'11" which isn't exactly tall but he won't let that come in the way of a good-natured teasing. 

He can tease me all he wants but no one will tease my petite sisters.

Here are the fabric measurements to make a Petite Sister Block.

Background
Two rectangles - 2.75" by 5"
Two rectangles 1.25" by 3"

Skin
One square 2.25"  (face)
Two squares 1.25" (Palms)

Focus Fabric/Outfit
One Square 5" (Skirt - Use one charm square)
One Rectangle 2.25" by 1.75" (Headdress - see diagram above)
One Rectangle 3.5" by 1.75" (Headdress - see diagram above)
Two Rectangles 1.25" by 2.5" (Sleeves - see diagram above)

One Tall Sister + Three Newly Made Petite Sisters :-)

Please use the International Sister Quilt Block tutorial for detailed instructions.

The Petite Sister Block is 8" square (7.5" finished) compared to the 10.5" square (10" finished) for the International Sister Block.


I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.
Please tell me how you feel about the petite sisters (or the tall one). I am dying to know.

Picket Star Quilt Block

Hello Quilty Buddies,

Here are the detailed instructions for making the Picket Star Block, named because the star points look like slats of a picket fence.

For the 17" finished block.

Picket Star Block

Fabric Requirements

Background - Two squares 3.5", Two squares 9.5", Four squares 2.5"

Fabric A - Two squares 3.5", two rectangles 3.5" by 9.5"
Fabric B - Two squares 3.5", two rectangles 3.5" by 9.5"

I am using medium pink and dark pink.  My recommendation is to use two fabrics that have some difference in value - not too close and too much contrast.  This will give the look of light and shade.

Instructions

Step 1.
Stitch the two Fabric A squares (3.5") on either sides of the background square (3.5"), using a scant quarter inch seam.  Iron the seams open (personal preference) and trim to 3.5" by 9.5".

Stitch the Fabric A rectangles on either side of the above constructed rectangle, using a scant quarter inch seam. Press seams open and square to 9.5". Set aside.


Step 2.
Stitch the two Fabric B squares (3.5") on either sides of the background square (3.5"), using a scant quarter inch seam.  Iron the seams open (personal preference) and trim to 3.5" by 9.5".

Stitch the Fabric B rectangles on either side of the above constructed rectangle, using a scant quarter inch seam. Press seams open and square to 9.5". Set aside.

Step 3.
On the wrong side of the 9.5" background squares, draw lines (pencil or frixion pen), 1/4" from the diagonal.

Place one marked background squares RST with each of the squares completed in Steps 1 and 2. Pin in place.

Sew on the drawn lines. Cut along the diagonal.

You should have four half square triangle blocks. Iron seams open and square each to 9".

Step 4.
Snowball the fabric corners of the HST blocks.

Using the diagonal line on the mat to mark the squares

Place the background square (2.5"), RST, on the fabric corner of each HST block.  Pin in place.

Sew corner to corner. For accuracy, sew slightly (a thread's width) away from the center, towards the corner of the block.

Cut 1/4" away from the sewing line. Press seam open. Square again.

Step 5 - Final Step
Place the four HSTs (with snowballed corners) such that all snowballs meet in the center. Also make sure that Fabric A is adjacent to Fabric B.

Stitch using a generous quarter inch seam.  Yes, I said generous. I suggest moving your needle three clicks to the left to make a generous quarter inch seam. If you can eyeball it, power to you.

Default Setting on my Machine. (Default seam length is 2.4)

Needle moved three clicks left. (Seam length reduced to 2.2)

It is very important to sew a generous quarter seam because you want to preserve the points in the completed block.

Placed RST

Pinned

Generous 1/4" Seams

In the pictures below you can see that the point is that much farther away from the edge.

Point is more than1/4" away from edge

Pin the two halves together for one last seam.  Make sure it is a generous 1/4".

Pinned

Iron seams open and straighten the edges.

FINISHED!!!

The resulting block is just shy of 17.5".

All picket star points are a safe distance away from the edge.  This ensures that the points won't get clipped when you put the blocks together, even when you sew a regular 1/4" seam.

Point is more than 1/4" from the edge

Although there are several steps to making this block, it makes a large block, finishing at 17".

You only need 12 blocks for a lap/throw size quilt (51" by 68")
And 30 blocks will make a queen size quilt (85" by 102")
If you just want to try, I suggest making 4 blocks. It will make a small baby quilt (34" by 34"). Add 3.5" borders to make it larger at about 40" square.

This is the block I am making for my Rainbow Scrap Challenge in 2020.  You can see the earlier blocks at the links below.

January - Green Blocks
February  - Orange Blocks
March - Teal/Aqua/Turquoise (all the colors between blue and green)
April - Light/Bright Blue

If you have any questions, please ask in the comments.  I will answer here so that all can see.

This tutorial is free but I do request that you give me credit and provide a link to this page when you make this block. On instagram, please use #PicketStarQuiltBlock and tag me using @SewPreetiQuilts