Avantika

I first made Avantika for the Island Batik catalogue. The working title was Mosaic Stars but once the quilt was completed, it needed a better name. Avantika means princess :-)

Avantika, the original princess :-)

Sunset Backing and Binding

Made using Island Batik Juicy Mosaics fabric collection, Avantika finished at about 64" by 84". 

Juicy Mosaics is a beautiful collection and I love every fabric in it. 

Of course, we took her out for a photoshoot, thanks to Paul!

Ooh, the reflection!!!

I was so much in love that I chose to make these blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2023. 

Since August is "Ambassador's Choice" month in the Island Batik Ambassador 2023 calendar, here are my finishes that serve the dual purpose - Island Batik Ambassador August project and completed RSC2023 quilts.

To differentiate between the three, I have named them Avantika (original), Avantika (cool) and Avantika (baby). 

Meet Avantika Baby. Although it is the exact same block, the layout is different. Using only the warm colors, it has 32 different Island Batik fabrics. 

Avantika Baby, 40" square

Since the yellow hues are lighter than the others, I struggled with the layout. Placing them  in the center made sense. It also makes this baby princess glow from within. 

Oyster (Island Batik Neutral) Backing

I took her with me when I traveled to Myrtle Beach earlier this year.  These pictures were taken at Atalaya Castle at the Huntington Beach State Park in South Carolina.

At Atalaya Castle

Princess in her tower

Cool location, warm quilt

No princess, no climbing trees!!!

Are you really going to jump off?

The little princess has loads of attitude, as you can see. But I love her so very much!

Let's meet Avantika Cool. Made using blue, green, turquoise and purple, she finished at 60" by 80". 

Avantika Cool

Paul: How many fabrics does this one have? 
Me: Well, Avantika Cool uses 96 different Island Batik fabrics, plus the background, backing and binding. 
Paul: So 99, total?
Me: Yes.
Paul: 99 pieces of fabric on the wall...

The princess coming down the steps of her castle

I am glad I could get closer...

Time to meditate...

Crushing on You!

Time to rest. No more visitors, please

Gorgeous Fabrics - Fit for a Princess

I used Schmetz Needles 80/12 for all piecing and quilting. I used 50wt Aurifil Thread for piecing and 40wt Aurifil Thread for quilting. Hobbs Batting was used for all three quilts.

Solid Light Grey Binding

Rice (Island Batik Neutral) Backing

I so enjoyed working on these blocks throughout this year, I could hardly wait to complete these quilts. Since I had so many more fabrics in blue, green, turquoise and purple, than in yellow, orange, red and pink, it made sense to divide the rainbow into warm and cool colors, resulting in two quilts, made exclusively with Island Batik fabrics I have received as a part of the Ambassador Program.

If you have ever doubted about using Island Batik fabrics, these two quilts should clear all misgivings. 

Island Batik Fabrics are the Best!

I love how I have two princess quilts - sisters that could not be more different from each other, in spite of sharing the same basic block.

But wait there is more. Avantika is also my newest pattern, available in my Etsy shop, at a 20% discount till 8/31/23. If you wish to get a free copy of the pattern, please leave a comment on this post. Please include your email if you show up as Anonymous. 

I will pick two winners on September 7, 2023.

Mari's Star - Tutorial for Hands to Help

Mari was feeling overwhelmed. 
I was only too happy to lend a helping hand. After all, this tutorial is for Hands to Help :-)

If you have a layer cake in your stash, that hasn't found a perfect quilt, this is for you. Usually Layer Cakes have 20 fabrics, two squares of each fabric for a total of 40 squares. Of course you don't need a layer cake to make this block. 

This tutorial is in two parts. In Part 1, we will make the four identical units. In Part 2, we will look at ways to make blocks from those units.

PART 1 - Making the units

Focus fabric 

One square 9.5"
One rectangle 5" by 10"

(Or you could use two identical squares from a layer cake, as shown in the pictures below.)

Background 
One rectangle 5" by 10"

10" square of focus fabric (if using a layer cake square)

1. Cut the 10" square of focus fabric (if using a layer cake) into half for two rectangles 5" by 10". Set one aside.

Cut into half, two rectangles 5" by 10"

2. Pair the other rectangle with a 5" by 10" rectangle of background fabric and sew along the length. Press seams open.

Focus Fabric Rectangle paired with Background Rectangle

Stitched and Pressed

3. Cut this unit into half as shown below. Turn around one half and stitch together to make a 4-patch block. Press seams open and square to 9.5".

Cut in half

Turned around

4-patch block, 9.5" square

4. Take the 9.5" square of focus fabric and place right sides together with the 4-patch block. Stitch along all four sides. Cut on both diagonals to get four units.

Trim to 9.5" square (if using a layer cake square)

Place right sides together with the 4-patch block

Stitched on all four sides

Cut on the diagonal, twice

5. The next step shows how to trim these units. 

• Align the diagonal seams of the block with the 45 degree lines on the cutting mat. See picture below. Your block should lie fully within a 7" square on the mat.
  
  

  

  Align the seams with the diagonal lines on the mat

• Trim the two sides first, making sure that you trim exactly half inch inside from the edge of the 7" square. 

Trim sides first

• Then trim exactly 6" from the background edge of the unit. See picture below.

Trim 6" away from the background edge

• Do not trim the edge with the background fabric. This is very important, if you wish to maintain your points. 

Similarly trim all four units. 

PART 2 - Assembling the units

There are two basic ways to assemble these four units. We could arrange them in a 4-patch or in a 9-patch. See options below.

4-patch options (11" finished block)

Pinwheel

Swirl

In my opinion, this Swirl Block looks dense in the center. If you agree, you can snowball the inside corners, as shown in the following two pictures.  

Swirl with Snowballed Inside Corners

Swirl with Bowtie Center

Other options with four units continue.

Diamonds

Peaks and Valleys

Arrange them as shown and sew like a 4-patch. Square to 11.5". 

9-patch option (16.5" finished block)

Using the four units and four background squares (6") plus one square of contrasting fabric (6"), arrange as shown.

Star Block

Pin at the seams and sew like a 9-patch block.

Pinned

Square at 17"

Points safely away from the edge

If you followed the cutting instructions, you will notice that the star points are more than a 1/4" away from the edge, ensuring that they will not be cut off even when you sew a full 1/4" seam.

This is my favorite block to make from this method. Do you have a favorite? 

Please note that since the blocks are on a bias, there will be some wonkiness. It is okay to be imperfect. 

• Nine blocks (arranged 3 by 3) will make a baby quilt. 
• 20 blocks (4 by 5) will make a Lap/Throw/Mercyful Quilt.

Questions? Ask away and I will answer here so that all can see.