Showing posts with label Paper Piecing. Show all posts

Thursday, May 9, 2024

Island Batik May Challenge and Blog Hop

Whoever said "Happiness is to be found along the way, not at the end of the road" wasn't making this pattern.

But let's start at the beginning.

For Island Batik's May Challenge and Blog Hop, we were required to use our assigned Winter 2024 collection, transforming fabric into a visual ode to joy and festivity.

I received Fire and Ice. This is an original collection designed by Claudia Pfeil. It should be available in fabric stores now.

With my favorite pinks and oranges, this is a beautiful collection and I created about six paper-pieced designs in EQ8 that would be perfect for celebration/festive quilts.

As I struggled to pick one, I came across an email from my quilt guild, announcing an Ultraviolet Radial workshop with Audrey Esarey of Cotton and Bourbon. Of Quiltcon fame, I have admired her work and seen it in person in Austin (2020) and Raleigh (2024).

Easily seduced, I bought the pattern and signed up for the workshop. I downloaded the pattern and went to the Print Shop to get the templates printed on 24" by 36" paper to avoid taping the paper together. I promise I did everything to ensure accuracy.

And yet, it was a struggle.

The paper-pieced wedges were simple enough to make. My Oliso Iron was a huge help. But 22 pieces per arc made it stretchy and prone to distortion.

The trickiest part was the outermost concave piece. It was so skinny (1/2") at the two ends that instead of maintaining the curvature, it just straightened as I tried to align and stitch the two pieces.

Distortion at the Skinny Ends

Half inch width means that the two seams will completely eat the skinny edge so that the fabric tapers into nothingness. It has extraordinary visual appeal, but from the construction viewpoint, it is a nightmare.

Very Slightly Off

Prior to piecing the quarter circle block, I measured and noted that it was very slightly off, but there is no room for error. The circle would get cut off if I straightened it.

Unstitched

Trimmed and Marked seam line

Corrected!

I had to redo almost every block. It was an agonizing two weeks. The skill level associated with this pattern is "Confident Beginner".

Either I am a complete novice, or this pattern is for advanced/experienced quilters.

First Circle - Will it fit?

Once all blocks were made and four circles completed, it was time to decide the layout.

Black Center

Yellow Center

I decided to go with the bright center. The original pattern is 60" square. I reduced the border widths so that I could use the Hobbs Tuscany Cotton Wool Blend Batting in Throw Size.

Throw Size 60" by 60"

I used 14 of the 20 fabrics in the Fire and Ice collection.

I used two background fabrics - Solid Black and Bumblebee (Opulent Oranges).

I used Aurifil 50wt thread for piecing. I used 80/12 Microtex Needle by Schmetz.

I marked the entire quilt top with a 2" grid and used my trusted walking foot and squiggly stitch.

The backing is Valentino (Precious Pinks).

Valentino Backing, Black Binding

I used Aurifil 40wt thread and 90/14 Microtex Schmetz Needle for quilting.

The Binding is Solid Black.

Wagon by Ikea, 56" square

Me: What do you think?

Paul: Impressive!

Me: What would you name it?

Paul: Hmmm...

Me: I was thinking Wheelin' and Dealin'. It sure took a lot of coaxing and fudging.

Paul: Wagon from Ikea?

Me: Some Assembly Required?

Then we both had a hearty laugh.

I am beyond thrilled that this quilt is complete. PHEW!!!

Wagon by Ikea finished at 56" square.

Quilting Detail

Almost Matched!

Transparency Effect :-)

With the transparency effect, it gives the impression of a Giant Ferris Wheel, reminiscent of a County Fair. My fellow ambassador Brenda (also posting today) said that it reminded her of Halloween Hayrides.

Hayrides and Ferris Wheels - that sounds like a celebration!

For a chance to win a scrap pack of Island Batik fabrics, please leave a comment on this post, letting me know your favorite memory of a county/state fair or a hayride.

~~I will pick two winners on May 17, 2024. If you show up as Anonymous/No-Reply, please include your email so that I can reach you.~~

Giveaway Update - The lucky winners are Pamela (#33) and Diptee (#49). Emails have been sent.

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In other news, all Island Batik Ambassadors were invited to become partners with the Missouri Star Quilt Company. And I’m so excited to tell you that I’ve been accepted!

This means that when YOU order over $50 from Missouri Star Quilt and you use my Affiliate link: https://glnk.io/mzmmj/sewpreetiquilts you will get 20% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

Enjoy receiving 20% off all of your orders! You can use my link over and over and over!!! It’s permanently on the sidebar of my blog so you won’t need to always search for it!

Happy Shopping!

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The BlogHop Continues. Make sure to visit the Island Batik Blog for exciting prizes every week.

Below is the complete list of Ambassadors, the collections they’ll feature in their projects, and their scheduled post dates:

WEEK 1

May 6:

May 7:

May 8:

May 9:

Brenda Alburl, Songbird Designs
Preeti Harris, Sew Preeti Quilts (You are here)!!!

May 10:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 1 and Giveaway

WEEK 2

May 13:

May 14:

May 15:

May 16:

May 17:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 2 and Giveaway

WEEK 3

May 20:

May 21:

May 22:

May 23:

May 24:

End of Blog Hop and Final Round-Up

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Island Batik Challenge & Blog Hop

The September Island Batik Challenge and Blog Hop is called Pieced to Perfection. We were required to make a paper-pieced project at least lap sized, using as many different fabrics as possible from our assigned collection.

I received Chromatic. It is an original collection designed by Deb Tucker of Studio 180 Designs.

Chromatic Bundle

Chromatic Fabrics

And here is my response to the challenge!

Bromeliad Garden

I chose "The Palm" block from EQ8 Block Library (under Old favorites).

The on-point layout uses 24 blocks. I used 21 (out of the 22) fabrics from the Chromatic collection. I used three fabrics from Island Batik Basics, so that each leaf uses a different fabric. I chose the solid white background for maximum contrast with these dark/bright fabrics.

I started with making an audition block and after about three attempts, I was ready to roll.

Audition Blocks

I chose this block because it gives me the opportunity to show off every fabric (except the white one) from the Chromatic collection.

Since paper-piecing is not my strong skill, I wanted a block where imperfections did not cause a fatal flaw. Leaves, you know, are not exact :-) Further, since each leaf is its own block, a mismatched/imperfectly shaped leaf does not mess up the adjacent one.

Imagine the horror of mismatched seams, especially after all the effort of piecing and tearing out (hair and) paper.

On the Design Wall

I used Aurifil Thread for piecing (50 wt) and quilting (40 wt). I used Schmetz Microtex 80/12 needle for both piecing and quilting. I chose Thermore batting from Hobbs.

Completed Quilt

Since the quilt finished at about 47" square, I pieced the back, using the leftover fabrics from the front.

I like to think that I "zipped" the two white pieces together :-D

The quilt is named Bromeliad Garden, for the shape of the leaves.

Pieced (Zipped) Backing

I quilted diagonal lines using my walking foot. The Backing and Binding are Island Batik Solid White.

Quilting Detail

Of course I added my label and thanked my quilt model for his patience and support of all my quilty endeavors. He was rewarded handsomely for his efforts :-)

If you'd like to win a handsome reward (in Island Batik fabric), please leave me a comment on this post. I will pick two winners on September 15.

Be sure to check each of the Ambassador’s posts as many of them will be offering their own giveaways – all the more reason to enjoy the Pieced to Perfection Blog Hop!

The full list of Ambassadors’ names, collections they will be using in their projects, and their post dates are as follows:

WEEK 1

September 5