Deb Tucker is introducing her newest fabric collection from Island Batik – Squiggles and Dots. I decided to make a small quilt using Deb Tucker’s “Curved Log Cabin Technique Sheet“.
A Curved Log Cabin Block is really an optical illusion. The block is made up of one center square with a series of narrow and wide logs sewn around the center square. It sounds easy, but if you’ve ever tried to make them, you know that it is tough to get them to come out the way you want them – nice and square. Studio 180 Design’s technique has you strip piece each round of logs, then trim with the Tucker Trimmer® III, which allows you to straighten up those edges before you sew the next round. You will make every block quickly, easily, and accurately.
I had 6 – 1/2 yard pieces of Squiggles, Dots and Lines, plus background fanric. I chose to make 36 – 5.5″ finished blocks with 3 rounds of logs.
What is so interesting about the log cabin block is you have many design options.
I fell in love with this version of a Curved Log Cabin quilt. It measures 40″ by 40″. Below are other options I came with.
Check out what my fellow Certified Instructors created:
I fell in love with the colors in this panel by Carol Cavalaris and QT Fabrics.
I did not want to include the panel borders in my One Block Wonder (OBW), so I measured the inside as 30.75″ x 36.75″. I cut my strips 3.25″ to yield 5″ finished hexies. As there was little design in corners, I aligned around the turtles and plants in 12 different places. I cut my strips on the shorter 30″ side as opposed to the length of the panel. I had 165 hexies to design with.
I started designing on the bottom right of the panel going across the bottom and up the right side. I added a 15″ Hollow cube that had 3 – 5″ hollow cubes inside it. My cubes are made using Deb Tucker’s Star 60 ruler and the Hollow Cube 60 Technique Sheet.
I added half hexegons made using the Star 60 ruler and a darker Island Batik fabric to fill in around the hexies from the panel.
My rows are numbered and ready to be stitched together into sections .
The photo above show how the 15″ cube is incorporated into the 5″ hexies. I don’t trim the panel till I’m ready to stitch the sides to it.
All four sections are stitched together and ready to add to the panel.
I add the bottom section to the panel first. I did not want to trim the points, so I took out few stitches in the valley’s and pressed under about 1/4″. After the bottom is stitched to the panel, I add the right side and stitch, ending about 8″ from the top of the of the panel. This shows me where to attached the top section to the panel. Once the top is attached I can finish the seam of the right section to the panel. Now the left side can be easily added.
Once all the sections are attached to the panel, I can begin to tweak and soften the edges around the panel.
I made 3″ finished Hollow Cube 60’s to applique on the left side and on the top to hide where the panel border was showing. I use Island Batik fabrics to create my Hollow Cube 60’s. Heading to the Turtle Boudoir is now ready to be quiulted. This quilt won a 4th Place Ribbon at the New York State Fair, 2023.
You can probably tell, I’m a huge fan of Josephine Wall panels. I feel so lucky to have found this one.
The name of the panel is Wings of Joy. I added “Emerging from the Cocoon” because I think the design suggests she is emerging with great joy. The panel measures 35″ by 43″.
I cut my strips 3.25″ to yield 5″ finished hexies. With 5″ finished hexies I would fit 8 across the top and bottom of the panel. I will to trim the panel to fit the top and bottom sections. I had to give her a destination, so I using my Star 60 Ruler and my Star 60 Log Cabin Technique Sheet, I added a 15″ log cabin star.
My Star 60 Log Cabin finishes as 15″. I stitched three rows of hexies together above and below each half of the log cabin star, which made it possible to seamless add the 15″ star.
Now, I have the top, right and bottom sections ready.
Above, all four sections have been added to the panel.
After a little tweaking “Wings of Joy, Emerging from the Cocoon” is ready to quilt. She measures 100″ wide by 70″ tall. As always, I use Island Batik fabrics to enhance my OBW’s.
I love Deb Tucker’s Star 60 ruler! It can be used to cut out equilateral triangles for a One Block Wonder (OBW), and has 8 accompaning technique sheets for stars and cubes that can be added to a OBW or any quilt.
Traditional Lone Star’s are made using a 45 degree angle. I wanted to make a Lone Star quilt using the Star 60 ruler.
I chose 7 fabrics and a background fabric from Island Batik. I used the Checkerboard Technique Sheet and made 6″ finished Checkerboard units and 6″ diamond units.
The trick with creating multiple pieced diamonds is to only trim the side of the diamonds that are being stitched together at that time. To help with this I created a chart So I always know which sides are trimmed. This combination makes a 12″ finished diamond.
I made 6 of the pink and green diamonds, 6 of the blue and orange diamonds and 12 of the blue and green diamonds.
This shows the layout and how the four diamonds fit together.
Once trimmed, stitch the halves together to create a 24″ diamond.
I cut 13″ WOF strips and used my Star 60 ruler and my 6″ x 24″ Olfa ruler to establish the 60 degree line and continued to cut side triangles for my 24″ diamonds
Layout the side triangles on the left and right sides of the diamond.
Stitch the right side triangle first, press toward the diamond. Stitch the left side triangle, press toward the side triangle.
Rotate the unit so that the untrimmed edge is either by your right hand for trimming if you are right handed or by your left hand if left handed. Locate the Flat Edge trim line on the Star 60™ Tool. Align the Flat Edge trim lines with the seams of the Diamond. Bump up a 24″ long ruler next to the Star 60 ruler and trim, leaving a 1/4″ seam allowance.
Stitch triangles together in groups of 3, creating half hexagons, press seams open. This is a 48″ star.
Create Half Triangle Rectangles by cutting a 25″ WOF strip, trim to 16″ x 25″, make sure they are right or wrong sides together, align the ½” line on the tool with the top edge and the center line with the edge of the rectangle, place a regular ruler next to the Star 60 tool. Move the Star 60 tool out of the way and cut along the edge of your long ruler.
The Half Triangle rectangles (HTR) turn the hexagon into a rectangle. Once the HTR’s are stitched to the half hexies I added 4.5″ strips to the side to make it a square.
My Star 60 Lone Star top measures 65″ x 65″, and was made Island Batik fabrics.
My favorite panels to make OBW’s with are by Josephine Wall.
Call of the Sea
Call of the Sea panel measured 35″ x 43″. I cut 3.25″ strips which yielded 5″ finished hexies.
I created a barrier reef for my mermaid using Studio 180 Design’s Star 60 tool, along with Quad 60, Framed 60, Capped 60, Checkerboard 60 & Hollow Cube 60 (not yet released) Technique sheets. My Island Batik stash is like having the BIG box of crayons. They are my go-to batiks to add color and interest to my OBW’s and all my quilts.
Join me for a Converging Geese Zoom class September 15th at 11:00 AM. Sign up and download the supply list here (pattern is included with the class fee):
I created this pattern November 2018 for an Island Batik Log Cabin Challenge. It has been a popular pattern in my Etsy Shop ever since. This is a variation on the Log Cabin block and is a fun way to use your Square/Squared, Tucker Trimmer I & Wing Clipper I tools.
I 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.
I just completed my 95th One Block Wonder! I guess I need to shoot for making at least 100 OBW’s!
A World of Wonders
“A World of Wonders” is made from a panel by Josephine Wall and measures 72″ x 97″. I integrated Star 60 and Quad 60 Stars and Island Batik fabrics to enhance my quilt’s story.
Got some fat quarters? Deb Tucker has many free patterns for you and this one is called Twilight Paths. It uses 14 fat quarters and a background with the Tucker Trimmer I. Twilight paths uses 5″ finished Shaded Four Patch units (5.5″ unfinished). The Shaded Four Patch Technique Sheet shows you haw to make this unit in 21 sizes! This whole quilt is made with Shaded Four Patches!
This is Twilight Paths using Deb Tucker’s Twilight Chic fabric line from Island Batik!
Download your pattern and let’s go!
Group 1
Group 2
To get a great scrappy quilt, Deb suggests that you split your fat quarters into two groups. Group 1 along the 22″ side, cut two 3 1/4″ strips and one 6″ strip, sub-cutting into 3 – 6″ x 7″ rectangles. Group 2 along the 22″ side, cut one 3 1/4″ strip and two 6″ strips, sub-cutting each into 3 – 6″ x 7″ rectangles. Cut one more 3 1/3″ strip from leftover from Group 1.
From your assorted dark fat quarters you will need 22 – 3 1/4″ strips, and 64 – 6″ x 7″ rectangles. From your background you will need 22 – 4 1/4″ strips.
Step 1 – Position each 3 1/4″ strip right sides together with a 4 1/4″ wide background strip and stitch lengthwise. Press seams toward the wider strip.
Step 2 – Pair two of the pieced strips right sides together with the narrow strips on opposite sides, so that each narrow strip faces a wide background strip. Sub-cut the strip sets every 3 1/4″ units until you have 128 rectangles.
128 – 3 1/4″ units Pick up each unit the same way when stitching one side.
Step 3 – Keep the two rectangles paired; stitch each pair of cut pieces together along one long side. Note the seams are not supposed to nest.
Snip
Snip the seam allowance at the half way mark between the two squares all the way to the seam.
Press each half of the seam allowance away from the square as shown above.
Step 4– Mark stitching lines. Select a ruler with a 45 degree angle marked on it. Draw a 45 degree sewing line from top to bottom, through the corner of the square where the stitching lines meet. Draw a 2nd line through the corner of the other square.
Step 5 – Center each marked, pieced rectangles right sides together with a 6″ x 7″ rectangle.
Stitch on both lines.
Trim seams 1/4″ from the stitching lines.
Press all seams toward the large triangles.
Step 6 – Trim the 128 oversized units with your Tucker Trimmer I to 5 1.2″ x 5 1/2″. Align the 5 1/2″ Sizing Diagonal with the diagonal seam of the unit. Position the common diagonal so it passes through the center of the unit. Trim the two sides.
Step 7 – Rotate the unit and line up the 5 1/2″ cut size lines on the tool with the previously trimmed edges, align the sizing diagonal and the common diagonal as before and trim the other two edges.
Step 8 – Layout 80 units according to the diagram on page 5 to create the quilt center.
Stitch the units into rows and then stitch the rows together. Press all seams open.
Step 9 – Attach the Inner Border. Stitch the inner border strips to the quilt center.
Step 10 – Assemble the Outer Border. Stitch the remaining units together into 4 border strips containing 12 units each. Make sure you orient the units as shown in the pattern. Press all seams open. Finish as indicated.
My top is not yet quilted. I used Deb Tucker s Steam Engine fabric line by Island Batik in my quilt top. So I guess I will call mine Steam Engine on the Tracks!
The fabrics shown in this post were given to me by Island Batik.
December’s challenge is to explore the world of 3D by using optical illusions, textures, trapunto or whatever else will make your quilt pop into life! I chose to make Pyramid Power, a pattern by Running with Scissors & Studio 180 Design. I think the design looks like perfectly folded boxes that must contain wonderful chocolates inside.
It is a bright sunny day here in Central NY and a balmy 11 degrees outside!
This pattern uses Studio 180 Design Corner Pop II & Corner Pop III. These tools give you perfectly popped corners with little waste. The Corner Pop II pops corners with a 2 to 1 ratio while the Corner Pop II gives a 3 to 1 ratio.
I used Island Batik’s Tropical Escape line due out in January.
The key is to stay organized. I chose 7 light & 7 dark scraps Fat Eighths. I paired each dark fabric with a light fabric of the same color.
We will be making Type 1 and Type 2 Triangle Units.
I use paper plates to keep me organized. As I cut the triangles with the Corner Pop II, I placed Type 1 on the right plate and Type 2 on the left plate. Do the same thing for the Background Triangles.
Once you have constructed your Triangle Units it’s time to pop off the corner with the Corner Pop III.
Cut your replacement triangles with the Corner Pop III and get ready to stitch them to the triangle units.
Center the triangle unit over the replacement triangle and stitch.
Trim the unit using Corner Pop III.
I used my Magic Wand to mark the 1/4″ seam to help line up and carefully pin to stitch one Type 1 unit to a Type 2 Unit.
Pyramid Power Twin Size measures 51″ x 72″. Pieced with Aurifil thread and finished with Hobbs Cotton Batting.
It has been my great joy to be an Island Batik Ambassador for 2018 & 2019. I was so honored to included in a this group of widely talented & creative quilter’s. I will not be returning for 2020, I will miss you all so much. But I am excited to see what Ambassadors with be sharing next year!
The fabrics shown in this post were given to me by Island Batik.
Tropical Escape
Last January Island Batik gave me a secret bundle to hold onto till November, it was Tropical Escape shown above. I sat and looking at the bundle of gorgeous fabrics, waiting for them to talk to me. The goal is for me to introduce the Tropical Escape fabric line by making a quilt showcasing as many of the 20 fabrics as possible.
I decided to use Studio 180 Design’s BlockBuster pattern #29 Pointsettia. This block requires the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star, Split Rects and Tucker Trimmer I tools. You can download the BlockBuster pattern below:
I loved that the Poinsettia block could be made in 7″, 14″ or 21″ finished blocks. I chose the 21″ blocks.
Time to break out the paper plates. I sorted my fabrics by color and value, pairing a light/medium value with a darker value. This would allow me to use 16 different fabrics to form the flowers. I would use the lighter value fabric for the Lemoyne star quarters and the darker value fabrics for the split rects units.
My tip for staying organized while making Lemoyne stars is to label two paper plates, one “A” & one “B”. Follow the Lemoyne star tool instructions. When you come to Step 7, make one 45 degree cut – then imediateley reposition your ruler to cut the side triangles as you go.
If you are right handed the “B” strip was on the bottom & the “A” strip was on top. Place the “A” unit on the plate marked “A” and the “B” unit on the plate marked “B”, place one triangle on each plate also. (If you are left handed the “A” strip would be on the bottom and the “B” strip would be on top). Continue cutting your units, placing each unit on their assigned plate. Construct the Lemoyne units as instructed. Throughout the process you will always know which units are “A” and which are “B”. This is important for knowing which way to press your seams. Another tip for pressing the lemoyne star units is to “remember, the Lemoyne star point should always be pointed to the left”. To make Lemoyne star quarters you will square them up using your Tucker Trimmer 1 before stitching them to the split rects units.
Layout your Lemoyne quarters with your mirror image split rects units and stitch together.
Press seams as shown above.
Continue making your Lemoyne star quarters/split rects units. They are all constructed the same way.
Stitch a background rectangle with each Lemoyne quarter/split rects unit as shown. Follow block assembly instruction in the BlockBuster #29 pattern.
At first I decided to make 6 – 21″ blocks measuring 60″ x 83″.
But I discovered I had enough units to make 9 blocks with left over Lemoyne quarters for the use in the outer border. Quilt measures 83″ x 83″.
It’s funny how this quilt came about. It stared with Island Batik’s fabric line: Tropical Escape; BlockBuster’s Pointsettia block (a Christmas flower); and it is named after a canyon in Arizona. I named this quilt Copper Canyon Blooms as I think they look like desert blooms! In the supply list below I’ve given you fabric requirements for both the 6 block top and the 9 block top.
If These Threads Could Talk 