Fly Away: Island Batik’s June Challenge

/ quiltinggail

Here’s what Island Batik had to say about this challenge:

This month, your challenge is to use one of the four Strip or Stack precut bundles that you received in your December box and play with the versatile Flying Geese blocks to create a fun quilt or table runner! Your project must use Flying Geese blocks as the focus but you can combine other blocks to enhance the project. 

What makes Flying Geese quilts so popular? First, blocks can be used in a variety of quilt designs, from traditional to modern, and arranged in rows, columns, diagonals, and more, making them a versatile choice for quilters. Second, flying geese blocks are relatively easy to make and require only basic sewing skills. Third, the flying geese design creates a sense of movement and visual interest in a quilt, making it eye-catching and dynamic. We can’t wait to see your Flying Geese quilt!

Well, a couple of years ago, I would have totally disagreed with Island Batik. I certainly didn’t find them easy to piece unless I was paper piecing … which isn’t a favourite of mine. However, I have discovered the perfect way to make flying geese … more about that later in this post.

I went to EQ8 to play with flying geese and fabrics. I decided to use the beautiful stack of 10″ squares from the Island Batik fabric collection “Maple Island” designed by Kathy Engle.

While I was playing and designing, I paired the fabric with Island Batik’s solid grey and this is what I came up with.

To make the flying geese, I used Studio 180’s Wing Clipper Tool. Using it guarantees PERFECT flying geese EVERY SINGLE TIME!

The 1st picture is of sewing flying geese in progress on my featherweight … a new package of Schmetz Needles at the ready. (There was already a Schmetz needle in the machine.) Then, using the Studio 180 Wing Clipper Tool to square up the flying geese and the 3rd picture is of the pretty pieces that were trimmed off.

The star points are flying geese blocks.

Once I had my star blocks and the flying geese sashing blocks made, I put them on my design wall. OH DEAR!!! It did not look as good as it did in EQ8!!! It looked washed out … I was not happy!!! So, I auditioned the blocks on the 2 coordinating fabrics that I was sent:

I was still not totally happy … although “Seaweed” was better than “Dot Sky,” I still wasn’t happy. I pulled out lots of different fabric from my Island Batik stash. The solid black was better, but not quite ‘just right.’ Then “Midnight Blue” was the perfect one! Midnight Blue almost looks black, but it has mottled bits of blue in it.

It was super hot (35oC or 95oF) when I was piecing this … so I set up my featherweight outside and was enjoying the warmth! And yes, that’s my grand-dog “Daphne” supervising! Plus, you can see that I use a cone of Aurifil Thread when I’m piecing.

I decided that I would do an all-over quilting pattern and feathers was the perfect choice to go with flying geese!

Aurifil Thread #6734 (Swallow), 40 wt was the perfect colour for this table topper. Hobbs Batting Thermore is inside and is just right for a light-weight topper! And, as per my usual, it was quilted on my domestic Janome M7 sewing machine.

Here is my flying geese table topper. There are 92 flying geese … 4 flying geese to make each star and there are 4 flying geese in each of the 17 blocks that surround the star blocks. This is 25″ x 36.”

This picture shows the feathers much better than the front picture!

Where can I find Maple Island?

Here’s a partial list of where you can find Maple Island. Check with your local quilt store and ask!

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 and Studio 180 Designs.

Island Batik Ambassadors

Visit the following blogs to see the flying geese creations!

Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs
Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting
Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts
Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts
Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany

Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts
Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts
Reed Johnson ~ Blue Bear Quilts
Victoria Johnson ~ Forever Quilting for You
Randi Jones ~ Randi’s Roost

Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood
Denise Looney ~ Quiltery – For The Love Of Geese
Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine

Elita Sharpe ~ Busy Needle
Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
Sandra Starley ~ Textile Time Travels
Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations
Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt

Anorina Morris ~ sameliasmum.com
Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion
Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique
Claudia Porter ~ Create with Claudia
Lana Russel ~ Lana Quilts

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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28 thoughts on “Fly Away: Island Batik’s June Challenge”

  1. Pingback: Perfectly Pieced Quilt Backs | Quilting Gail

  2. Hi Gail, that Midnight blue fabric is really perfect for highlighting your flying geese. That is one lovely topper with fun feathers. Hope you’re having a great week. Thanks for linking up to Free Motion Mavericks.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Pingback: Monday Moments: June 12 | Quilting Gail

  5. I always panic when my EQ mock ups don’t look as good in real fabrics as they do on the computer. You handled it really well. The blue does work really well. Congrats on a very fun finish.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks, Kate! Usually EQ works out well with colour choices. As an Island Batik ambassador, I have access to the scans for the fabric I’m using. In the end, I’m very happy with my finished topper! 🙂

      Like

  6. Love, the fabrics you ended up with for your table topper. I love blues and greens too and am working on a batik using green and greenish blues as the palette. I went with a tan batik for the background on mine. Like you, I thought mine needed a pop of something a little darker. I opted for dark sashes on mine.

    Like you, I use cone thread for piecing. It’s so much easier than running out of smaller spools all the time.

    You certainly have a neat set up for sewing outside. 🙂

    Glad I found your blog. I was blog hopping. LOL.

    Laurie

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hi Laurie, and Welcome!!
      Your project with the tan batik would certainly give it a different look than mine, but the dark sashes would also accent it! I love quilting outside when the weather is good! The rest of the time, I’m content to stay indoors!
      Happy Quilting! 🙂

      Like

  8. Several things caught my eye today. First your quilting is beautiful. Where did you get the cone holder for your featherweight…I definitely need to get one. I enjoyed reading the process you went through to find the perfect matches for your project. I like a deep navy blue especially when it has bits of light to highlife the dark. Great job.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks, Bonnie!
      I don’t remember where I got my cone holder, but I can’t say that I like it. It’s super flimsy. If I ever replace it, I will make sure that it has a heavy base. 🙂

      Like

    • Thanks, Anorina!!! I love it when it’s nice enough and warm enough to sew outside!
      The feathers are from a book called “Hooked on Feathers” by Sally Terry. They’re easy to do!

      Like

  10. I love this Gail! Midnight was definitely the perfect choice and look at your beautiful quilting!! Love it! I can quilt straight and wavy lines on my domestic…and that’s about it, but then I don’t practice on it very much! Your supervisor is just adorable – so cute!!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Very nicely done. I love the wing clipper from Studio 180 too and use it all the time. I remember when it first came out, I was on a shop hop and one of the shops was doing a demo with it. SOLD! Ruler & technique. Like you said, perfect everytime! Thanks for showing us the back. I’ve never tried an all-over feather design. Love the picture of you sewing with your supervisor. Life is good when you can be outside but that was too warm for me! hahaha

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hi Sue!
      I am so sold on the Wing Clipper, it boggles my mind when people don’t even want to try it!
      I’m always COLD these days … so warm days are wonderful for me!

      Like

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