This is the title for June’s Island Batik challenge.  We can make what we want … but of course we need to use fabulous Island Batik Fabric, Aurifil thread, Hobbs Batting and Schmetz Needles!  I didn’t use the Accuquilt Go! for this month’s project. However, the Accuquilt Go! would have been used if I wasn’t using a strip set!

In an earlier post, I teased you with the start of my project.  Doesn’t the black make those blues just POP?

The Island Batik fabric I used is a fantastic strip pack called Kismet!  Add a little Bubblegum pink (on the right), Island Batik’s Solid black and this is what I came up with:

I started off following a video by Man Sewing with a variation of The Three Dudes Quilt.  I made the blocks as he instructs, then I went off on my own tangent, rearranging the blocks and adding sashing.   The Island Batik strip set was PERFECT for this pattern.  There are 2 each of the individual fabrics. Otherwise, you’d need to buy 2 strip sets.

The blocks were made by making strata strip sets, cutting them at 14″ and placing them right sides together … one horizontal and one vertical.  Sew around the outside and then cut the blocks diagonally.  Once the blocks were made, I didn’t care for the layout that Man Sewing did … SEW, I changed the arrangement until I was happy.

 

I forgot to take a picture before I sewed the blocks together … so the picture on the left is of the wrong sides of the blocks.

Here’s a couple of close-ups of the quilting.  I definitely think I was some-what influenced by the quilting I did with the Helen Godden Flower Power quilt-along.

There wasn’t enough fabric for the back, so I put in a diagonal piece.  The purple fabric is “Geometric Arrow Plum” from the Santa Fe fabric collection and the pink is “Bubblegum”

Here’s my process for the diagonal back …

I put the top on the design wall.  I cut the rich purple piece diagonally (no it’s not at a 45 … it’s the length of the quilt, plus about 8″ … and that piece was cut from corner to corner.  I placed it over the quilt top. Then I measured the distance between the 2 purple pieces and cut a strip of the Bubblegum fabric that width, plus 2″.  When I do diagonal backs, I don’t want the diagonal to end up in the corners … it’s too difficult to make it line up perfectly … But, I’ll say it’s to eliminate the bulk in the corners (grin!)  This method is pretty easy to do with Island Batik fabrics as it doesn’t stretch (much) on the bias.  If I was using regular quilt fabric, I’d place a thin strip of interfacing down the cut.

Below is a picture of preparing to trim the pink once it was added to the diagonal.

Stats:

• size: 60″ x 60″
• Thread: Aurifil #4030 for the quilting … it’s a wine coloured thread.  It blended with some of the purple, but showed up on everything else.
• Bobbins: 8!  yes, 8 bobbins … there’s a LOT of quilting in this one!
• Binding: 2¼” of Geometric Arrow: Plum
• Batting Hobbs Cotton Batting
• Schmetz Needles: Chrome Microtex 80/12

A HUGE THANK YOU to Island Batik and the Industry partners for the wonderful fabric and products!

 

 

 

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!  
Gail 

*****************************