The products shown in this post were given to me by Island Batik.
Our assignment for February was to create a “Magnificent Mini” using any technique we chose. The only criteria was the size: 24″ x 24″ or smaller. It seems I’m always collecting quilt blocks for hearts and Christmas Trees. The first thing I do is fire up my EQ8 and start drawing.
Last year I made a heart mug rug. The drawing above consists of mirror image split rects and two squares that have had the corners popped using Studio 180 Design Split Rects & Corner Pop tools.
Welcome to Studio 180 Design’s “Twilight Chic Blog Hop”. I have been lucky enough to make 4 quilts from Twilight Chic line of batiks by Island Batik for Deb Tucker.
For this challenge I chose to make a hunter star quilt from Deb Tucker’s book “Hidden Treasures” using the Rapid Fire Hunter Star Petite tool. Hidden Treasures offers you 29 different lap size quilt patterns and 7 bed runner patterns for the hunter star.
The same pieces can make very different quilts. There are just 3 different block configurations used in these patterns.
The pattern I chose used the first two blocks.
I made 24 of each.
With these blocks I could choose from 16 different quilts or 3 bed runners.
These two are Curveball page 30 and Checkmate page 32.
Strawberry Fields page 40 and Spring Fling page 48.
La Belle page 50 and Pele page 74. These 6 quilts are just a sample of what you can make with these blocks. So what did I choose………
I chose to make Autumn Twilight on page 66. But, I call mine Twilight Treasure!
This book is definitely a treasure!
Click here for a chance to win a Twilight Chic Fat Quarter Bundle.
Be sure to see all the creations by my fellow Certified Instructors:
It’s that time again, a new year of challenges from Island Batik. I’m blown away by the generosity of Island Batik, Aurifil, Hobbs Batting and Accuquilt Go Cutter! We have some great projects to share with you this year. I’m almost done with February and March’s challenges and can’t wait to share. Here is a video of all the products given to me as an Island Batik Ambassador:
The fabrics shown in this post were given to me by Island BatikDeb Tucker’s Twilight Chic by Island Batik
Well, if you can’t getaway, go to the library for a good book! The Utica, NY Public Library opened in 1904. I love the inside of this Library.
Shaded Chic
The upper floors of the Utica Library are made of thick glass. I used to love coming here as a child.
In every box of fabric we Island Batik Ambassador’s receive, there is a secret bundle of the newly released batiks. I was lucky enough to be assigned Twilight Chic by Deb Tucker for Studio 180 Design. This is my third quilt from the Twilight Chic line.
The fabrics shown in this post were given to me by Island Batik.
Next week, January 7th begins Island Batik’s “Get Away Blog Hop” I’m all ready for my reveal. My secret bundle for this blog hop is Deb Tucker’s Twilight Chic by Island Batik which was introduced at this past fall market.
I participated in Studio 180 Design’s blog hop in November in which I made this version of “Evening Elegance” from the Twilight Chic line.
With fabric I had left I wanted to make a quilt to showcase the seven technique sheets created to expand what you can do with the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star tool.
This is day 3 of Studio 180 Design’s Evening Elegance Blog Hop. Deb Tucker has launched her own fabulous signature fabric collection, Twilight Chic, with Island Batik and fabric designer Kathy Engle.
Below are the links to everyone participating in the blog hop:
Unit C. Quarter Square Triangle: Make a Quarter Square Triangle with the fabrics that match the V Blocks, remember to swirl the center.
Unit B. Combination Units: Combination units begin by making half squares triangles (HSTs). The fabric for the HSTs must match the side triangles in the v blocks, so I began by laying out the starter squares next to the V Blocks and then making them into the combination units.
When making Combination units, you are making two at a time, a left & a right. Choose the units that will match the side triangles in the V Blocks as shown above.
Sew the units into rows then join the rows into the block.
Unit A. Diamond Rects: Cut your precision diamonds & side triangles per the Diamonds Rects instructions. Stitch opposite side triangles, press toward the side triangles. Stitch the other opposites side triangles.
Make 4 diamond rects units and trim.
Stitch using a partial seam to the center square. Stitch the second diamond rects unit and so on to finish the block center.
Unit B. High Low Left: Following the instruction the in technique sheet cut your squares and trim, add the replacement side triangle. Mark and stitch the square for the low point and trim.
Make four High Low Left Units.
Unit C Sidekick Right: When making a Sidekick Right, position fabrics face down for cutting. Cut and stitch replacement side triangles.
Peaks & Valleys block unit layout.
Stitch units into rows.
Join the rows to complete the block.
I love the Twilight Chic fabrics from Island Batik and I can’t wait to show you one of the finished quilts!
My beautiful Island Batik fabrics from left to right: Mr. T Blocks: Arc Pine Needle, Dash-Grasshopper, Seed Circle Custard, Arc Waves Grasshopper, & Sprinkles Playful Pachyderm, & Paisley Dot: Apricot, Candy Corn, Nasturtium, & Item number 121412189.
I have named my original design “Converging Geese” because each block has Flying Geese & Geese on the Edge units, along with Square/Squared units.
Each 16″ block contains 12 – 2″ x 4″ finished flying geese, 4 – 6″ finished geese on the edge & 1 square/squared unit. These Geese on the Edge units are soooo much fun to make! The technique sheet gives instruction for making geese on the edge in 10 sizes from 3″ to 12″!
You begin with starter squares, add logs by chain stitching, square up two sides with your Tucker Trimmer.
Trim apart.
Using your Wing Clipper trim the corner leaving a 1/4″ seam allowance.
Add a replacement triangle and press toward the triangle.
Trim after every addition of a replacement triangle. Add more logs.
The final trim down is performed when I have four rounds of logs for a 6″ finished geese on the edge unit.
Stitch the flying geese units into sets containing 3 each.
Block layout.
I have created a down loadable pattern for Converging Geese (measures 60″ x 60″) that can be purchased on my If Threads Could Talk Etsy Shop.
The fabrics used in this post were given to me by Island Batik.
October’s Island Batik Ambassador’s Challenge was to use any paper piecing technique.
I love Gail Garber and her book Flying Colors. Gail’s projects are awesome and inspiring. She encourages you to create your own design and gives you the tools to do it. I created free form flying geese with this book, but this time I used Gail’s pattern for Tiny Trees. The Tiny Trees block measures 12′ x 12″, with borders it project measures 19″ x 19″.
All the components parts are numbered. I began by tracing all the elements in the pattern onto freezer paper, including their assigned number, grainlines and registration marks.
Cut out the pattern pieces adding a generous seam allowance. Press them onto the wrong side of your chosen fabric and cut them out.
Above shows the tree foundations and fabrics to make them.
Add A Quarter ruler is absolutely recommended. I use a piece of plastic template material. You can also use a post card.
Begin by positioning the wrong side of the fabric to the waxy side of the freezer paper against the portion numbered “1”. Press this in place making sure the fabric has covered the number 1 section. Place the strip, fabric side down on a cutting mat. Align the template material with the line that separates pieces 1 & 2.
Fold the paper over the edge of the plastic and position the “Add A Quarter” ruler against the plastic edge and trim. You have now trimmed the fabric leaving a 1/4″ seam allowance.
Align fabric piece 2 to the raw edge that has just been trimmed, placing the fabrics right side together.
Turn the foundation over so the paper is on top. Stitch using a 1.5 stitch length along the seamline, stitching a couple of stitches beyond the end of the line. A smaller stitch length aids in removing the paper later.
Press.
Prep for piece 3, add fabric, stitch.
Press and trim as before leaving a 1/4″ seam allowance.
Continue up the tree until all pieces are stitched down. I trimmed the excess fabric from the side of mine with very sharp scissors.
After all the trees, sky and foreground are completed, begin piecing them together in the order they are numbered.
I added a 1″ inner border and 3″ outer border. I quilted the sky following the movement of the trees, and stitched in the ditch around the inner border.
Align fabric piece 2 to the raw edge that has just been trimmed, placing the fabrics right side together.
If These Threads Could Talk 