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.

Diva

Do you remember Diva?

Designed in EQ8, Diva was published in Make Modern Issue 58. Now, she is available as a standalone pattern in my Etsy Shop.

I made Diva using the Vintage Charm collection, combined with Island Batik Solids in Red, Orange, Yellow and Fuchsia. The focus fabric strip sets were scraps leftover from making Kashvi, but there is nothing scrappy about Diva!

Finishing at 51" by 68" she glides in royal splendor. And although you may think that she is set in her ways, she is very adaptable. I encourage you to take a look at the various color options.

I quilted with my trusted walking foot using my favorite squiggly stitch. The binding is Island Batik Solid Fuchsia.

Some of you are likely to believe that she may be extravagant and she does look resplendent in those rich colors. But the truth is that Diva is very affordable. The pattern is $10 and is available at a 25% discount till September 3, 2024. If you act quickly she can be yours for under $8!!!

In fact, Diva is so persuasive that all patterns in my Etsy Store are 25% off on account of Labor Day Sale. But wait there is more. Two lucky winners can get Diva Quilt Pattern for free. Just leave me a comment on this blogpost, making sure that I have a way to reach you. I will pick the winners next week.

Update - The two winners are Comments #8 and #19. Emails have been sent.

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The theme of Island Batik September Challenge and BlogHop is Adventurous Applique, co-sponsored by Aurifil Threads. I will be working with the Geometric Symphony Collection.

Here is a sneak peek :-) I will be posting on September 17.

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar. As usual I'd love to hear from you!

Rainbow Parade - New Pattern, Bloghop & Giveaway

Spring is around the corner and I am ready to say goodbye to winter blues. Here is a new colorful quilt to get us in the mood for the new season. Meet Rainbow Parade.

Rainbow Colors

Made using Island Batik Blenders, Rainbow Parade finished at 57" by 70".

Basting

Light and Dark

The quilt uses eight colors (light and dark) for a total of 16 fabrics, plus the background.  

I am thrilled now that the pattern is published. 

The instructions are super simple and the detailed graphics ensure that it is a breeze even if you are a new quilter.

Yours Brightly

Is it Spring yet?

I am sure you would like to see this done a few different ways. And that brings me to my awesome pattern testers.

Ahead of the pattern release, Cathy, Bonnie, Frederique and Diptee agreed to test drive Rainbow Parade and they will be sharing their versions today. Please visit their blogs/social media  - for they have their separate giveaways. 

Love a Rainbow

The Rainbow Pattern is now available in my Etsy Store and it is on sale (20% off) till March 12, 2024.  I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

What is a pattern release without a giveaway? So, I have two prizes.

1. A PDF download of the Rainbow Parade Quilt Pattern (you can be anywhere in the world)

2. Fabrics to make your own Rainbow Parade Quilt (US readers only)

To be eligible, please leave me a comment on this blogpost. If you show up as Anonymous, please include your email, so that I can contact you. I will announce the winners on March 16, 2024.

Update - Astrid (#49) won the Rainbow Parade Quilt Pattern. Pat (#4) won the fabrics. Emails have been sent.

Jewel Stars

A few months ago I saw a quilt on Pinterest.  It was a very happy, bright, starry quilt by Leslie Unfinished.  Naturally, I pinned it to my board of "To be Made" quilts.

Jewel Star

Once I finished Homeful, which was a production, I wanted a quilt that could go quickly from fabric selection to a finished quilt.  Meet Jewel Star.  This is just the kind of weekend project that can perk up any child's room.

I wanted bright colors. I purposely avoided blue. Why?
I am not sure. I just was thinking of a girl quilt.

I love the idea of the stars peeping out of the negative space. I decided to go with three stars, randomly distributed in the quilt.

Here is the problem with random - it needs to be planned otherwise there is a danger that it may look too uniform.  I know it sounds counter intuitive. In any case, I decided to sketch it out first.

Rough Sketch Layout

This way I could decide the size and the number of the blocks too, in addition their placement. This pattern is charm square friendly. Since I was cutting yardage and using scraps, I chose a 6" block.

Paul: Who is that for?
Me: Dunno. Just need to make something.
Paul: You are crazy.
Me: Yes. Crazy about you.
Paul: Nah, just plain crazy.
Me: And very busy. Leave me alone!!!

Design Wall

The blocks/squares are arranged 7 by 9 for a total of 63 squares.

Piecing, in process

Stars with starry (white on white) fabric

When the quilt top was complete, I admired it again and again.
And then received an invite for a staff meeting at work...followed by a Sprinkle for a co-worker. Let's call her Julie (not her real name).

A few phone calls later, I discovered the following:
1. It was Julie's third baby.
2. No, she is not registered anywhere...because she has most of the baby stuff already.
3. It is a girl.

Girl!!!
Very quickly, all the dots in my brain connected. Jewel Stars for Julie's baby girl. Perfect.

Here is the backing I chose. Birds and butterflies  - pink, purple and peach = perfect

Backing - Peach, Pink and Purple

I struggled with the backing. Since the top is so bright, I wanted something bright to match those jewel tones.  However, the muted colors in the backing left me stumped.

Finally, I chose a black with white wavy dots and I am so happy with it that I have decided to replenish that fabric so that I can make many more bindings out of that fabric!!!

Binding Success

Don't you just love it when the binding works for both sides of the quilt?
I took a few more pictures in the morning, before I left for the staff meeting/Sprinkle.

I am convinced that morning light is the best for taking pictures.  The colors look so saturated.

Happiness in a Quilt

The finished quilt measures 42 by 54, making it a generous baby quilt or a crib quilt.  Those babies - they grow up so fast. Here is hoping that the generous size would ensure that the quilt is usable for a bit longer.

Ooh, pretty!!!

And there is one more thing about this quilt that makes it a bit more special.  A label which is "oh so professional."  Do you like it?

I found them on Lorna's Sew Fresh Quilts blog. Here is the link. 

On the other side are care instructions.

When Julie pulled out the quilt from the gift bag, her face glowed.

"My girl has a lot of hand-me-downs and there is nothing wrong with that. But this will be her very own quilt. "

And that was the sweetest thing I heard.

It is ridiculous that the first baby is welcomed with a shower and the second and third ones just get a sprinkle. I am sure that by the time it is Baby # 5, the celebration would be reduced to a Raindrop!!!
I believe that every baby should be celebrated, whether they are first or not. I hope this quilt is that celebration for Julie's baby girl!

Happy Mom-to-be and Me

Others oohed and aahed, took pictures, and complimented me on my beautiful work and thoughtful gift.  Mission Accomplished.

Julie is due next month and I am looking forward to meeting her new bundle of joy.

This is my 12th finish of this year. A dozen quilts already???
Paul is right. I am crazy, just plain crazy!!!