The first challenge of the year is to make a cozy, squishy Puff (Bubble) quilt using the fabric from your assigned Fall’22 collection 0.5 yard bundle!!
I received Exuberance collection. This is an original collection by Deb Tucker of Studio 180 Designs.
Like most of the ambassadors, I had the same question - what is a puff quilt and how do I make it? I watched about half a dozen videos on the YouTube and made a list.
A list of all the things I disliked about making a Puff Quilt. Here they are:
1. Do not like the pleated squares. Quilters and tucks don't go together. Generally, we hate them and painstakingly unravel stitches to smoothen them. Accepting those tucks was a departure for a quilter's soul. It was also extra work - work I wanted to avoid.
2. Do not wish to buy polyfill when I am rolling in batting. Although I had a small bag of polyfill left over from Gertie the Gecko, the puff quilt would need more. But I have plenty of batting which could be used directly (or cut up in bits), to make the puffy squares.
3. Do not like the idea that I will need a separate backing, in addition to the top and bottom fabric of the squares. This just seemed like extra work and extra fabric for no good reason. There has to be a better way to make this puff quilt. At least, a different way.
4. The puff quilt would be too thick to machine quilt and must be hand-tied. Tying the quilt would be slower and less secure than machine quilting. It might also require special needle and wool.
Paul: You did not get any cheese? Me: Cheese? You are allergic to cheese. Paul: Yes, but you need a lot of cheese to go with all that whine (wine).
Me (eye rolling): Everything about this Puff Quilt is a challenge.
Paul: When do you shy away from a challenge?
Me: I am going to try and come up with a way to make a Puff Quilt that eliminates these issues.
Paul: Go, Preeti, Go!
Concept - Make the quilt top. Place batting behind each square and secure it in place. Add backing and stitch over the seams, in the channels between batting mounds.
Making the Puffs
Trial/Audition Puff Quilt
I chose 16 fabrics from the collection to make 16 four-patch blocks. Arranged so that the lightest and darkest fabrics crossed diagonally in the middle. I used Schmetz Microtex (80/20) needle for piecing and quilting. I used Aurifil Thread for both piecing and quilting.
Quilt Top
I cut the batting squares 4.5". This would allow some room for the foot to move between the two puffed squares, thereby allowing me to machine quilt.
I used three layers of batting for each square. At a loft of about 1.5", it would provide a decent amount of puffiness.
3 Layers of Batting - About 1.5" high
Adding batting, one row at a time
I placed and pinned batting stack for one row at a time. Took it to the machine and stitched one/two Asterisk marks in the middle of each square in that row. Repeat for the next row.
Two done, six to go
Puffiness in Progress
Although this was a time-consuming process, it went smoothly. Bollywood music was a big help :-)
All Puffed up
Layered on top of Backing
Since the flimsy was 44.5" wide, I could not use a regular (44" wide) fabric for backing. I also had to account for added width to accommodate the puffiness.
I quilted on my machine, using the regular foot. Technically speaking, quilting is stitching three layers (top, batting and backing) together. Honestly speaking, quilting is a loose term here because I was stitching the backing to the flimsy, moving in the channels between the puff mounds. I used the regular foot because it is not as wide as the walking foot.
Quilting in process
Channel Quilted
Quilting was complete. No, I would not need to tie this quilt. PHEW!!!
The last challenge was binding.
Several of the YouTube Puff Quilts were turned inside out and then hand-tied. This eliminated the need for binding. But since mine was done differently, it needed a binding. Also, binding gives a neat finish :-) What do you think?
Ready to Bind
To make binding easier, I needed enough room (non-puffy flat surface) along the edge of the quilt. To achieve this, I moved my needle as far left as possible and quilted/stitched down the edges. Still, it would be impossible to completely machine stitch the binding. I machine-stitched the binding to the front, folded it to the back and hand-stitched it.
Finished!!!
Although this method eliminated each of my peeves (tucks, need for polyfill, separate backing, and hand-tying), it is not as puffy or biscuit-y as those YouTube quilts.
I like the understated puffiness. It is similar to a goose down comforter in puffiness.
Paul: This is finished!
Me: Yup.
Paul: What about all those challenges you were whining about?
Me: Killed each one of them.
Paul: Impressive! Did you name it?
Me: Yes. Trevor.
Paul: Trevor? Like Trevor Noah?
Me: Yes, because it is has dimples and it is cute :-D
Cloudy Day - Bright Quilt
Trevor by the Lake
Binding
Bye Bob, till next quilt.
In my continued effort to manage my stash, I am offering two prizes - scrap packs of batiks from my pre-ambassador days. As these are mystery prizes I won't be showing pictures of the scraps. 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.
To enter the giveaway, please visit the Island Batik blog, and leave me a comment letting me know which collection is your favorite. If you show up as Anonymous (or a no-reply-blogger), make sure that you provide your email.
Me: Good morning Paul (groan)
Me: Would you like some breakfast? Paul: Do we have bacon?
Me: I don't think so. Paul (Bigger Groan + A Whine)
Me: I can make you an egg sandwich. Paul: Without bacon??? Why did you wake me up anyway?
How to put these together?
The smaller block needs help
Black floral + orange/yellow stripe is better than just the stripe
Matched size = Success
And so it grows!!!
Eggs without bacon is an insult...at least in Paul's opinion.
So when this cute pig ended up next to the eggs sunny side up...I decided to name the quilt - Eggs and Bacon.
Eggs and Bacon
Little did I know that the name would be prophetic...
Making a scrap vortex quilt is not a sprint. It is a marathon. I work on it between other projects. Make a few slabs and set aside. Every time I enjoy the memories associated with scrap fabrics from previous quilts and fabric scraps gleefully received from friends.
Color is Joy
The sleeping moon face, the ladybird and the blue sharks came from Bernie.
Can you find the two sheep?
The two tiny sheep fabric was leftover from the Garden Party backing.
Can you see the rippling?
The pink fabric with scissors and notions came from Julia and the pink-orange mini floral came from Mell.
The polar bear with a scarf (Flurry by Ruby Star Society) reminds me of Quiltcon 2020 in Austin. I scored some gorgeous fabric scraps when Ruby Star Society dismantled their booth and invited quilters to take the display fabrics. Instantly there were a dozen women rummaging through boxes of yet unreleased fabric lines. The fabric scraps were like candy and I was like a kid on Trick & Treat spree on Halloween.
Scraps from Guild's Free Table
The cat and dog at a barbecue fabric is so much fun. Thank you Julia.
Grey Raccoons and Multicolor Cats
The pink fish and multicolor cats came from Bernie.
Bewitching
Look what the wicked witch did - she made the cat turn blue :-D You can always tell your own stories. The spinning of yarn continues even after all threads are buried :-D
Scrappy goodness
The fruit slices were a gift from Mari and the dancing stick figures came from Sylvia.
Splash of Color
The fabric with peachy berries came from Cathy. The orange blob fabric is left over from the border for Rainy Day. The crabs are leftover from the backing of Animal House.
Cat and Crayons
The bright flip-flops and the smiling zoo animals came from Julia, I think. Sometime I forget how I acquired certain scraps :-)
Let's talk about wool batting. No scratch that. Let me whine about wool batting.
I want to use wool batting for two major reasons
1. It is light, much lighter than cotton and cotton/blend battings.
2. It does not crease.
It has higher loft which can be good news for those of us who want better quilting definition.
It also makes for puffier quilts. No one told me that it creates a whole new problem.
The puffiness comes from multiple layers loosely held. These layers slide over each other during quilting. This is not a problem that can be fixed by basting or pinning.
Because it is not about how the batting sticks to the quilt top or to the backing. It is the fact that the batting is internally not sticking to itself. I noticed the tucks when I made Eric's quilt.
A few suggestions to decrease that effect included
a. Increase stitch length - DONE
b. Decrease the pressure of the presser foot - DONE
c. Don't quilt too close - OK
Also it is best if the quilting lines do not cross each other. In other words, do not quilt a grid.
Rob Appell of Mansewing in his Quilt Batting Boot Camp (How to Quilt with Different Types of Batting) suggested to quilt from he center out to avoid tucks. In general we do that but I treated it like gospel.
I quilted a spiral. And it went swimmingly well.
Spiral Quilting
Backing Fabric
Labelled
I had done it. It was awesome and then I tried to square it.
Finished!!!
Red Backing, Green Binding
The quilt was warped with wavy edges. It lives up to its name - the bacon bit!!!
Bacon with ripples is sexy (ask Paul). In a quilt - ripples are undesirable.
I choose Joy
Happily Yours
No. But wait. Quilts of Gee's Bend are rippled and un-squarish.
So I am not going to dwell upon the waves and ripples.
No, it will not win any award.
But it is bright and cheerful and will be perfect for some toddler's tummy time. Here are a few more pictures cause you can never have enough eggs and bacon (according to Paul).
And here is a plate of Eggs and Bacon for my quilt model/photographer - a salty reward for my sweet man!!!
Eggs and Bacon for Paul
So I have soured on wool batting. I started with such lofty hopes (pun intended).
I am exploring the batting made from recycled water bottles at this time, while I ponder what to do with 30 (minus 3) yards of wool batting on a roll.
If you have any other ideas about wool batting (with the exception of hand quilting) please let me know.
I have completed my dark blue blocks for July. Here they are.
Fussy Cutting :-)
RSC 2020 Project#2
Cacti & Sparkles
Not so Dark Blue
Bright & Dark
Alphabet Soup & Midnight Sky
Picket Star Quilt Blocks for July 2020
Linking with Angela's Linky Party and all my other favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.
How do you reward (or bribe) your quilt models? I'd love to hear from you :-)
