New York Beauty

/ quiltinggail

Way back in December, I received this “Surprise” package in one of my Island Batik boxes. I didn’t know which line of fabric it contained.

Along with the 1/2 yard cuts of Harvest Night, I received 2 yards of Wheat Leaves Latte and 2 yards of Midnight Blue.

We were instructed to make a “New York Beauty” quilt.

P.A.N.I.C.

YIKES!!!! Google “New York Beauty” and you’ll see why I was in a panic!

EQ to the rescue! They have plenty of blocks to choose from. I chose to do a Checked Arc Beauty. Then, in order to have enough fabric for the design I chose, I foolishly chose a 9″ block. If I had been wise at the time, I would have chosen a 12″ block. But, I might have run out of fabric making those 9 blocks that run down the centre.

I printed out the pattern, taped the necessary parts together and started to sew. It took me over 3 hours to sew my first block. Oh my … what had I gotten myself into?

When I paper piece, I do NOT sew on the paper. This way, I can chain piece my pieces and use a regular sized stitch … and the bonus – I don’t have to remove paper!!! AND it’s easier to “unsew!”

When I was doing the curved seams … I pinned, pinned, pinned. I wanted those points to match up. And for the most part, they did! That was a LOT of pins for me to use – especially since I rarely use pins!

Here’s an assortment of pieces of one block …

I went to a retreat in March. I took my project with me … I only got 4 blocks completed on the weekend! Sigh!!! But, I must admit, I was busy visiting, taking pictures, eating, visiting, eating, taking pictures, visiting and only sewing in between!

Once I got home from the retreat, it was pedal to the medal and the quilt top was done.

This quilt told me it needed a simple, fairly skinny border which finishes at 1 1/2″. The dark border is “Midnight Blue” and the light border is “Wheat Leaves Latte.” Both of these fabrics are foundations that are available at any time.

To sandwich the quilt, I used 505 Spray baste and Hobbs Batting 80/ 20. It hung on the design wall for several days while I decided how to quilt it. There is a LOT of stitch in the ditch and some 1/4″ outlining … it took awhile to quilt! Aurifil Thread #2370 (Sandstone) was used. Schmetz Needle microtex chrome 70/10 was used for the quilting. The scrappy binding used each of the 20 fabrics.

Here is a close-up of the quilting. And yes, I like this thread so much, I’ve almost used a cone and a lot of a large spool! (Not all on this quilt!) I hate having to unthread my machine to wind a bobbin – that’s why I like to have the extra spool – just for bobbins!

I didn’t have enough of the Wheat Leaves Latte for the backing … SEW … I cut what I had in half diagonally, put it up on the design wall and measured what the distance was between the 2 pieces. I took some of the left-over pieces and made the center strip. Then I had a backing that was big enough – and pretty as well!

Here is a closeup of the quilting on the back:

There is a give-away!

Island Batik has a give-away! You have the opportunity to win a fat-quarter bundle of Jewel Carvings or Nightshade! Both lucious collections! Follow the rafflecopter instructions below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Visit Elizabeth

Visit Elizabeth at Epida Studio. She received the same surprise bundle of Harvest Night as me. I can’t wait to see her New York Beauty!!! I bet they look totally different. But I need to wait until she posts to see it!

Thank you!

Disclosure: The fabrics, batting, thread and needles were generously supplied by the following companies: Thank you, Island Batik  Aurifil Thread  Hobbs Batting & Schmetz Needles !!

Blog Hop Schedule

Everyone is making New York Beauties this month! Be sure to visit each of them. You are in for a lot of fantastic eye candy! Here is the schedule:

June 6:

Gail Sheppard, Quilting Gail
Elizabeth DeCroos, Epida Studio

June 7:

Reed Johnson, Blue Bear Quilts
Andi Stanfield, True Blue Quilts

June 8:

Sandra Starley, Textile Time Travels

June 9:

Jennifer Fulton, Inquiring Quilter
Mania Hatziioannidi, Mania for Quilts

June 10:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 1 and Giveaway

June 13:

Jennifer Thomas, Curlicue Creations
Maryellen McAuliffe, Mary Mack Made Mine

June 14:

Pamela Boatright, Pamela Quilts
Anorina Morris, Samelia’s Mum

June 15:

Michelle Roberts, Creative Blonde Gifts
Lisa Pickering, Lisa’s Quilting Passion

June 16:

Denise Looney, For the Love of Geese
Connie Kauffman, Kauffman Designs

June 17:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 2 and Giveaway

June 20:

Claudia Porter, Create with Claudia
Brianna Roberts, Sew Cute and Quirky

June 21:

Gail Renna, Quilt Haven Threads
Preeti Harris, Sew Preeti Quilts

June 22:

Megan Best, Bestquilter
Leah Malasky, Quilted Delights

June 23:

Suzy Webster, Websterquilt
Emily Leachman, The Darling Dogwood

June 24:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 3 and Giveaway

June 27:

Jane Hauprich, Stitch by Stitch Custom Quilting
Brenda Alburl, Songbird Designs

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

58 thoughts on “New York Beauty”

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  3. Pingback: End of Week One New York Beauty Blog Hop and Giveaway!

  5. I can relate to the challenges of making a NYB block. I noticed that one of your pins looked like it was run over by a sewing machine. I have done that too 😦
    The end result is beautiful and the back is just as lovely!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks, Preeti!
      I went back and looked at the pic of the pins and I didn’t see one that had been run over … but I admit, it has happened to me more than once!
      I love doing pieced backs with the diagonal! 🙂

      Like

  8. I am just WOWED by your quilt Gail, and how fast you got it done, because oh, probably 15 years ago I started one…and yeah those blocks take FOREVER. Now that I, too, have learned how to paper-piece without sewing through the paper, I really should pull it back out and make it. I am amazed that you got this done so quickly, and manage to do other things as well. It’s just beautiful, a real heirloom. And I love the back! – I must remember that diagonal cut for when I don’t have enough fabric (which happens fairly regularly).

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you, Sandra!!! Your compliments mean a lot to me! And yes, paper piecing without sewing on paper is a game-changer! I’d love to see YOUR finished NYB in the near future (like in the next year or two! LOL!!!) 🙂

      Like

    • Thank you. I must admit, NYB was never on my bucket list! If it wasn’t for the Island Batik challenge, I probably wouldn’t have done it! I’m glad I did, though! Happy Quilting! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  11. wow this is gorgeous. you did a fabulous job. this will be so fun to remember what you went through when you made this. thanks for sharing and inspiring. my favorite quilt shop is: Pieceful Gathering Quilt Shop with Carrie Quinn and Katie Reed (owners) Fox River Grove Illinois

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks, Jantyl!
      It thrill me to hear that you love my blog!
      And batiks … I’m seriously in love with Island Batiks! There are a lot of new collections every year and the fabric is a dream to work with! LOVE it!

      Like

  16. It’s fantastic, Gail!! I love the back almost as much as the front! Your method of paper piecing without the paper intrigues me! Paper, ugh! That’s why I don’t paper piece! The thoughts of tearing out all that paper after you finish, not to mention the tiny stitches you have to use! LOL Your quilt is lovely.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hi Brenda!
      Thank you for the complements! 🙂
      I really really dislike tearing out the paper … I find there are ALWAYS little smidgens of paper left in the corners. I can 100% guarantee that there is absolutely no paper in my quilt! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Aren’t you glad you persevered and have a beauty of a finish:) I have 4 blocks of a NYB done and that was years ago, they are a lot of work!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yes, Vicki, each block is a LOT of work – but worth it in the end! I challenge you to pull out your blocks and start working on them … you’ll be amazed at how much you can get done! 🙂

      Like

  23. Hi Gail! What a beautiful finish. I would have panicked when you said it took you three hours for one block. OMG! But that time investment was SO worth it. I look forward to seeing all the beauties this month! Nice job. {{Hugs}} and happy Monday to you. ~smile~ Roseanne

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks, Roseanne! I must admit, I do LOVE the finished quilt!
      All of the quilts promise to be spectacular! Each ambassador is so creative and none of us do the same thing! It’s always fun to see! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  25. Gail, I just love what you did with the block and of course the fabric is fabulous. Guess I will have to install EQ8. The only problem with that is I know that I will spend a lot of time designing.

    Liked by 1 person

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