This is our Island Batik February challenge. We were instructed to use any Island Batik fabric in our box, but not the “surprise” fabric. It was to be smaller than 24″ x 24″. Once I decided what to do for my mini … the rest was easy. Decision: A smalll Sudoku Quilt!
For my mini, I needed 9 fabrics plus a background. I received 8 wonderful fall colours. I added a vibrant green from a stash builder’s roll. And I used the neutral fabric for the sashing, border and back (the yummy butter fabric).
The next step was to cut all of the 2 ½” squares. I used the GO Cutter to do this … Once the strips were cut, I lined them up on the GO cutter and the squares were ALL cut all at once as they went through the cutter!!! (Sorry, I didn’t take a picture of this! But it was pretty quick work!)
I found a Sudoku puzzle and wrote it out so that I would have an easy visual to use.
I have numbered pins, but they are scattered all over … SEW, I took a piece of selvage with the coloured dots on the side. I cut the dots individually and stuck a pin through them. It made it easy to keep track of which colour was which number!
I then began sewing … one block at a time. No rushing this one. I would have had a lot of ripping to do if I did. As I finished a block, I added the sashing to the left of the block.
The corners were able to be twirled or swirled, but it took me a bit to figure it out. (I LOVE twirling where the seams meet – it makes it sew smooth when free motion quilting!)
The blocks were all joined together … and I checked carefully to ensure they were all in the correct placement. The quilt was sandwiched with Hobbs 80/20 batting, using a spray baste.
I started quilting on my domestic machine. I used Aurifil thread 50 wt (top & bobbin). I stitched in the ditch along each seam and extended out into the borders. In the sashing, I sewed wonky ¼” seams. (I call them wonky because they were not all perfectly straight! grin!) I thought I was done quilting, until I looked at it closely and saw that the 2 brown fabrics, although quite different, read almost the same colour. As well, one of the oranges had a lot of green in it, and definitely did not read the same colour throughout. No Problem! I decided to just quilt a tiny motif in each block to hopefully define each colour … Thankfully, I have lots of Aurifil thread in many colours … SEW that was easy. Then I had to decide which motif to use. Eventually, they all spoke to me and soon it was done! This little mini measures 22″ x 22″.
The wind is blowing up to 90 km gusts today, so it was hard to get a picture without the quilt being blown away.
I tried to be a bit artistic with my photos … The one on the tree (left) is the closest to the true colours … the right and bottom one are both washed out a bit.

Can you see the tiny motifs in the 2″ squares?
If you want to see the Magniifcent Minis that are already posted, go to these blogs:
- Clever Chameleon
- Adventurous Applique and Quilting
- Little Bunny Quilts
- Carolina Asmussen
- Creative Blonde
- Gene Black, Creative Soul
- Pretty Piney
- Free Motion by the River
There will be many many more minis being posted during the rest of the month. You don’t want to miss them! There is a tab at the top of my blog that lists all the 2019 Island Batik Ambassadors. If you go to each of their blogs and “follow” each one, you will ensure that you don’t miss a single post of all of their creations!
Disclaimer: The products featured in this Blog post were given to me by Island Batik, and their program partners: Aurifil, Hobbs Batting & AccuQuilt!
Happy Quilting!
Gail
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Linking to:
- Caroline @ SewCanShe
- Tish @ Tish’s Adventures in Wonderland
- So Scrappy Saturdays @ So Scrappy
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Love your quilt.
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Thank you, Barbara!
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Gail, I love this! I love how each of those fabrics translates to a number in the puzzle. And those fabrics…yummo!
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Hi Tish,
Thank you!
The fabrics are wonderful … 8 of them are from a IB basics collection, one was from a stash builders bundle and the sashing / borders / back was from my neutral! All from Island Batik … all of them just wonderful!
Happy Quilting! 🙂
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What a fun idea and a great way to move fabrics around! I love the quilting in each small square.
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Thank you, Emily!
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love that fabric
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I know … isn’t it awesome?
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Such a sweet mini and your quilting is so perfect. Too cute.
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Thank you, Carla! 🙂
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Very cute quilt Gail. Love your choice of colours.
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Thank you Sandy!
They were in a collection, so I didn’t have to do much selecting! That made it easy!
I’m loving these fabrics!
Happy Quilting! 🙂
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Hi Gail, your mini is amazing! I love how all the motifs all match in each nine patch — perfect!
you have a lot of patience – go girl ♥♥
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Hi Karla,
Thank you!
Patience? Heck no! 🙂 I just love quilting!
Happy Quilting and Embroidery! 🙂
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You’ve have amazing skills!
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Thank you! 🙂 Just like you! …
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Quilting a different small motif in each color was a brilliant idea. Nicely done!
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Thank you! 🙂
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Great quilt, Gail! I love the individual quilting on the same colored square throughout! Perfect!
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Thank you, Kathleen! 🙂
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Good Morning Gail! I have planned on making a Sudoko puzzle quilt someday, and yours does not disappoint. I love the unique quilting in each block. That makes it extra special and carries the theme really well. Such pretty fabrics. Happy Sunday! ~smile~ Roseanne
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Hi Roseanne,
Thank you!
It’s an easy, easy quilt to make! And quilting motif’s in each block allows you to practice each one – even if some of them are super simple!
I can’t wait to see your Sudoku quilt in the near or far future!
Happy Quilting! 🙂
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I love it. I have never made a Sudoku quilt but I love doing the puzzles. I suppose I should put the Sudoku quilt on my “make this one” list.
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Hi Gene!
Thank you!
The sudoku quilt is so easy to do. Just pick one of your puzzles, choose 9 fabrics & sashing/border and a way you go! The possibilities are endless!
Happy Quilting! 🙂
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Hi Gail,
It a beautiful mini!!!!!!!!
Bill
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Hi Bill,
Thank you! It was a fun way to start the Island Batik Ambassador program! And so nice to work with absolutely wonderful fabric!
Happy Quilting! 🙂
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Lovely little quilt. Great idea for using the selvedge numbers!!
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Thank you Karen! Unfortunately, the idea of using the selvage numbers did not originate with me!
Happy Quilting! 🙂
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Your mini is so beautiful! You created an awesome little quilt! Enjoy your day! Happy early Valentine’s day! 🙂 🙂
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Hi Angela,
Thank you!
Happy Quilting! 🙂
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I’m not any good at Sudoko puzzles, but I sure do like your quilt!
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Hi Wendy!
LOL! You don’t have to be good at Sudoku, you just need the finished solution in order to make a Sudoku quilt!
Happy Quilting! 🙂
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