December Challenge and Blog Hop

I firmly believe that anyone who has a voice can sing. Whether their singing is pleasant to hear or not is another story altogether.  Similarly, I can make a quilt with any group of colors. Will that grouping be aesthetically appealing? That depends on the design.

December Challenge!

Four times a year when the challenge is combined with a blog hop, we the Island Batik ambassadors are required to use one of the new fabric collections, assigned to us. Further we are directed to use as many fabrics (from the collection) as possible.

I was assigned the Chickadee Fabric Collection for the December Challenge. Chickadee is a Signature Collection designed by Kathy Engle for Heidi Pridemore of The Whimsical Workshop.

I like every fabric in this collection!

The challenge - Use as many fabrics as possible from your assigned Summer’22 collection to create a striking Lone Star quilt! 

I waited for inspiration but in vain. 

I could pick the blues and greens for a cool Lone Star. I might consider reds and greens for a seasonally appropriate Christmas version. But it was tricky to come up with a cohesive design using blues, aquas, greens, reds and oranges (even if I did not use all the fabrics). 

I turned to EQ8 and mocked several different options. 

Two fabrics at a time

All the fabrics at the same time

I even followed an EQ8 tutorial for a modern twist on the traditional Lone Star.

Exploding

But none of these options appealed to me. I decided not to use all fabrics. I chose blues, aquas, and reds.

This might work

The blue, aqua and red combination was singing.  But it did not have the wow factor. What if I could step away from "use as many fabrics as possible" directive? 

Oh wow!!!

The song was loud and clear. It had the harmony that I was seeking. This is a song that I can listen to again and again. This was it!

There were just two problems.

1. It uses only four fabrics from the collection. 
2. It was not lap size, which was another requirement of the challenge.. 

A pieced border using all the reds and the remaining blues was the answer.

Final Design

Once the design was finalized, things moved quickly.

Strip Sets

I used the 2.5" strip die and the Accuquilt Go Cutter to cut the 2.5" strips. I used Aurifil Thread
(50 wt) to piece the strips. I used 70/12 Microtex Schmetz needle for piecing. The neutral in the above picture is Fondant.

The first pieced diamonds

On the design wall

I used the remaining blues and aquas plus all the reds to make a pieced border. I used two neutrals - Fondant in the Star and Rice in the background. 

The batting is Thermore by Hobbs. I used 40wt Aurifil Thread and 90/14 Schmetz Needle for quilting. The binding is Fondant. I cut the binding strips the same time as the strips for the star, using the Accuquilt 2.5" strip die. 

And here is the finished quilt. I have named her Selma. Selma finished at 45" square and uses 12 out of the 20 fabrics from the Chickadee collection.

Hello Selma!

It was a windy day and shooting decent pictures was also a challenge. 

Quilting Texture

The finished quilt certainly has a Quilt of Valor vibe to it.  

Well, if we can celebrate Christmas in July then, Independence Day in December isn't unthinkable at all.

Independence Day in December!

Even after the quilt was completed my thought process continued. Trying to twist and turn the diamonds into a modern layout. I have a few ideas humming in my head. Will see if a song comes together.  I will let you know :-)

Labelled

Red, White and Beautiful :-)

Paul has injured his wrist and is unable to perform his modeling role. He claims it is domestic abuse (insert eye roll here).  Here is a short convo between us, for all the fans of Paul-Preeti banter.

Me: Yogurt in America tastes nothing like the yogurt in India.
Paul: Well, of course, it is a completely different culture.

Is there a giveaway? Absolutely, there are several. Here is mine, a mystery, with a bit of explanation.

I applied to become an Island Batik ambassador because I love batiks. I was accepted to the program and I made a commitment to use only Island Batik fabrics. 

As an avid batik lover I have a stash of great batiks from other manufacturers, from my pre-ambassador days. I decided to share my stash as giveaways for this challenge. This giveaway includes two mystery scrap packs of batiks that can be yours, if you do the following:

1. Follow me on Instagram @sewpreetiquilts.
2. Leave a comment on this blogpost, telling me your favorite color combinations.
3. Provide your email. If I do not have your email, you will not be entered into the drawing.

As these are mystery prizes, I won't be showing pictures of the scraps to honor my commitment to Island Batik. However, if you are the winner, I will reach out to you to ask for your favorite colors, before creating the scrap pack just for you.

I will announce the winners on 12/14/22. 

Giveaway Update - Lori and Maya are the lucky winners. Emails have been sent.

I will be sharing this post with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar. This is the last challenge and blog hop for the year 2022. I encourage you to visit the Island Batik Blog for gorgeous giveaways. 

Bye Selma!

Please visit other Island Batik ambassadors blogs. See full schedule below. Not only they have spectacular quilts to show off, they may also have giveaways of their own ;-)

WEEK 1

December 5

Maryellen McAuliffe, Mary Mack Made Mine

Gail Sheppard, Quilting Gail

December 6

Megan Best, Bestquilter

Brenda Alburl, Songbird Designs

December 7

Preeti Harris, Sew Preeti Quilts (You are here)

Emily Leachman, The Darling Dogwood

December 8

Jennifer Thomas, Curlicue Creations

December 9

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 1 and Giveaway

WEEK 2

December 12

Reed Johnson, Blue Bear Quilts

Suzy Webster, Websterquilt

December 13

Gail Renna, Quilt Haven Threads

Jennifer Fulton, Inquiring Quilter

December 14

Denise Looney, For the Love of Geese

Claudia Porter, Create with Claudia

December 15

Leah Malasky, Quilted Delights

Andi Stanfield, True Blue Quilts

December 16

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 2 and Giveaway

WEEK 3

December 19

Mania Hatziioannidi, Mania for Quilts

Michelle Roberts, Creative Blonde Gifts

December 20

Pamela Boatright, Pamela Quilts

Connie Kauffman, Kauffman Designs

Sandra Starley, Textile Time Travels

December 21

Jane Hauprich, Stitch by Stitch Custom Quilting

Lisa Pickering, Lisa’s Quilting Passion

December 22

Brianna Roberts, Sew Cute and Quirky

Anorina Morris, Samelia’s Mum

Elizabeth DeCroos, Epida Studio

December 23

End of Blog Hop + Final Round Up

Diamond Star Quilts - Book Review + Giveaway

For some time I had this voice inside me goading me, chiding me.
Shouldn't you try something more advanced?
Isn't it time to add to your skills?
How about attempting something that actually challenges you?

And every time I banished it. Shoo away.
It was comfortable. I am enjoying the popularity of the sisters, basking in the adulation of the Picket Star Blocks and relishing the warmth of comments for Mercyful Quilts.

Then I got an email. The voice had evolved. It was harder to ignore.
Barbara Cline asked me if I'd be interested in reviewing her upcoming book - Diamond Star Quilts.

Barbara Cline

WHOA!!! WHAT??? Who is Barbara Cline? A quilter, teacher, designer and author of six books.
Yes, I said yes. Immediately. I chose to make Twirling and A-Swirling Star from the book.

My choice

Oh boy, and yes it was a challenge. 

After 7+ years and 150+ quilts I do not consider myself a beginner but I am not an expert. Further I had never made a lone star type quilt before which makes me Lone Star newbie, but a confident newbie :-)

Step 1 Choosing Fabric - Of course I wanted brighter fabrics than the purple, gray and navy. But just three colors? And one of them is the background.

Paul: You can use all random colors.
Me: You mean scrappy.
Paul: Yes, that.
Me: I worry that using many colors may lose the impact.
Paul: What impact?
Me: I love the movement.
Paul: It has that energy about it.
Me: It looks like a fancy firework and the transparency of the background between the swirls gives it the sparkling effect.
Paul: So make it in warm colors

 

Fabrics

Step 2 - Cutting Fabric - This was easy.
Step 3 - Piecing the Strip Sets

Piecing Strips

Strip Sets

The biggest challenge is the accurate 1/4" seam.  I chose to proceed very slowly and check after every step. In fact, I decided to make just one strip set per day.

There was some seam ripping in the beginning. By the time I perfected my 1/4"seam the sets were all done.

Step 4 - Cutting. This wasn't difficult either.

Piecing 

Step 5 - Piecing the diamonds. This is the heart of the pattern and if you got Step 3 right, this should be not too difficult, although I was prepared to do some seam-ripping, if required.

The first one

This is not a lazy daisy quilt. This is not a scrappy improv quilt. Even the slightest bit of wonky would derail it. Very precise, very careful and double check everything.

Design Wall

I completed the first quadrant and then the second. I showed them to Paul. He merely nodded.

When the four quadrants were completed (final seams pending), I placed all four on the design wall, admired my handiwork and left for work. 

WOW!!!

See what Paul had to say...

Paul: You should call it "gender reveal party"

Me: WHAT??? WHY??? 

Paul: Because it looks like someone started a fire...

Me: I am calling it "Playing with Fire"

Paul: That works too.

Me: Your humor though topical is horrible, at least in this instance.

The book, on the other hand, is marvelous. 12 fantastic patterns and many tips and tricks.

If you are up to the challenge, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy.

Just then I noticed an error - a piecing error.  Two strips were oriented incorrectly. I could rip them out and re-sew. But leaving it in seemed more valuable a lesson - what happens when you don't pay attention at every step. So there it is - my mistake immortalized in fabric and thread. 

Finished Flimsy

If you can find it, smile, for we are all human.

If you cannot find it then don't bother. The star still shimmers just as bright.

Basting

Quilting in Progress

I added a skinny border to protect the vulnerable star points from the encroachment of the binding. 

Binding is the same fabric as the background.  

Paul, the model

Labelled

Playing with Fire

Shimmering

Paul: So what is the word, hummingbird?

Me: I have been weighed and measured and have been found wanting...

Paul: What does that mean?

Me: It means that there is room for improvement in my work.

Paul: And how will you improve?

Me: By making more of such quilts...

Paul: Good thing you have the book

Me: Lucky Me!!!

Walking Foot Quilting

Matched Seams :-)

A touch of Wonkiness

Looking Good!!!

Paul: But what is your book review verdict?

Me: It is an excellent resource with 12 terrific patterns

Paul: But...

Me: But there are many little things that a new quilter may not know or follow leading to a finished product that is less than perfect.

Paul: I don't understand.

Me: It is like writing a recipe.  If I am sharing the recipe for Chicken Tikka Masala with someone who is familiar with Indian cooking, the recipe will be 5-6 lines. If the same recipe is written for someone who is new to Indian cooking the recipe will be a page and a half.

Paul: Why so?

Me: Because I will have to explain the ingredients and use additional pictures to show the exact color of the sautéed onions - things the Indian cook already knows.

Paul: So what do you suggest?

Me: A Quilt Along. This is when several quilters make the same pattern together, 1-2 steps every week and share tips and lessons learned.

Paul: You are so wise.

Me: You are so kind.

One last look...

You may be so lucky so as to win a free copy of the Diamond Star Quilts. Please leave a comment for a chance to win. If you are a no-reply blogger, please include your email. I will announce the winner on Saturday, October 10, 2020. And if you do not respond by Saturday, October 17, 2020, you will forfeit the prize and I will pick another person.

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

The pattern did not use the entire strip sets. What happened to the leftovers? 

I will show in the next blogpost :-)