Whaaaaaat? I started making this shirt 20 years ago and love it so much I’m still making it. I learned to sew in high school 50 years ago (boy it hurts to say that out loud)!
I first made this shirt in 1999. I love it.
But, I did alter it. I’m always hot, so I did away with the collar. I folded the pattern front center edge to give a smooth V neck and do away with the collar. But then I needed to create a facing. So I laid the pattern piece on tracing paper and traced the curve, then add 2″ to the width. I also shortened it by folding the pattern up to give it a straight edge.
I decided I didn’t need to add a separate yoke, so I stitched the yoke pattern piece to the back pattern piece to simplify the process.
I love cotton shirts. How lucky that I’m a quilter with access to lots of cotton fabric! After washing the fabric I cut out all the pieces and then serge the edges.
I love that the sleeves are not set in and that the front of the sleeve is the same as the back. It makes it easy to stitch to the front and back pieces, and then stitch the side seams.
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.
I saw a post on Facebook that asked the question “how many quilts did you make in 2018”. So I went back and started counting.
February included GAlentines day Mug Rug and Mini Love for Island Batik Ambassadors
March included my infamous attempt at a mini tuffet , Hunter Star – Tortola from Royal Treasures Book, Scrapodopolis using the first 6 BlockBuster patterns and Whirling Dervish.
April included Prism and Refraction
May was Pillow Possibilities and The Heron.
June included A Blast form the Past and Crossfire.
July was A Field of Popped V’s & Paris OBW # 64.
August included Split Personality and Firefly.
September was New Years Star & Sue Nami.
October was paper pieced trees wall hanging.
November included Paisley Cats OBW #65, Evening Elegance & Converging Geese
December ended the year with Plume OBW #66, Calm Seas & Holiday Tipsy Tree .
Phew, I’m tired but I’m already working on more projects.
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.
I am very goal oriented. Today is December 23rd and is One Block Wonder Day for me. Tomorrow I bake!
I used Plume for my example in my post “Using Panels in a One Block Wonder”. I also used it this fall in several OBW workshops. I wanted to get it finished so it wouldn’t get too beat up.
I also cut out two more OBW projects.
I’m going to use this panel in workshops to show how I integrate the blocks and the panel. It measures about 13″ x 20″ and will be much easier to work with in class than Plume. It is called Dreamscapes by Ira Kennedy for Northcott. I actually bought 14 panels, 7 panels for the class example and another 7 panels so I can finish one for me.
I also cut 6 of these spectacular panels that measure 34″ by 40″. I got 8 strips from these panels which yielded about 144 blocks. This is called Abraham Hunter for Elizabeth’s Studio’s.
Not a bad days work finishing Plume and cutting out two more OBW’s.
Of course I was supervised by Tucker, as always! Happy Holidays everyone!
The fabrics featured in this post were given to me by Northcott Fabrics.
A Storm at Sea quilt has been on my “need to make list” for a long time. I especially love the kind that use graduating colors. Lucky for me, fellow Studio 180 Design Certified Instructor Michelle Hiatt created her pattern “Calm Seas“. This fabulous pattern offers you a choice of 3 sizes; Throw, Double or King. I chose to make the Throw size (62″ x 72”). Calm Seas is a companion pattern for Studio 180 Design’s Large Square/Squared, Diamond Rects & V Block Tools.
I chose to use the fabulous fabrics from Northcott’s Canvas line. I needed 12 graduating colors in 2 different values each. Canvas is richly textured and has a depth of color that is gorgeous!
Definitely use your best organizational skills when making this pattern. Michelle has made it much easier for us to conquer a storm at sea.
If you know me…you know I use paper plates to keep myself organized. I snipped a piece of each fabric and pasted it to the paper plate, writing down all pertinent info to keep my brains from falling out.
I was very fortunate to spend a few days at Bridle Creek Bed & Breakfast for an annual mini quilt retreat with friends. I managed to get all my diamond rects, large square/squared and small square/squared units done!
Following the pattern instructions, I laid out my units in the proper color order to achieve this beautiful flow.
I numbered my rows and pinned them together to begin stitching them together,
A little precision pinning goes a long way when it comes to nice crisp points.
After four days of hard work I finished the top. Thanks to Michelle’s pattern Calm Seas & Deb Tucker’s Studio 180 Design tools I have checked another awesome quilt off my bucket list!
The Island Batik Ambassador’s December challenge was to create a project that is Whimsical & Wonky”. Well, I settled on Tipsy! My Holiday Tipsy Tree is based on BlockBuster pattern # 27 Roll the Dice . This year I have made many quilt projects using Split Rects Units so it is only fitting I end the year with Split Rects.
Cut your elongated triangles according to the Split Rects tool instructions.
Cut your background side triangles the same way.
Lay out your split rects, align and center the two pieces with just a bit of overlap at the ends. Stitch and press seams open. I love using my “Stick Strip” for pressing seams open.
Following the tool instructions trim, rotate & trim again.
Make the 9 Square/Squared units following the Square Squared tool instructions. I chose 9 different unit centers but you could make them all one color if you like. Each side of the square/squared unit will be different to match the fabric used for the split rects units.
Lay out your units as they will be stitched. Choose a square/squared unit for the center, rotating the square/squared unit so the side triangle matches the same fabric used in the split rects unit.
This block is constructed using a partial seam. Place the square/squared unit right sides together with one of the split rects units being sure to match the fabrics and stitch half way down the square/squared unit.
This gives you the next complete edge to stitch another split rects to, again matching the square/squared unit fabric with the split rects fabric.
When stitching the split rects to the square/squared unit, always place the precision cut square/squared unit on top be careful to stitch using the unit center as a guide.
Continue stitching the split rects units and complete the partial seam, pressing toward the split rects units. Make the other 8 blocks the same way.
Tree Trunk: Make one set of 2″ x 4″ finished flying geese using the Wing Clipper I tool instructions. Only 3 flying geese units will be needed.
Tree Star: Make the 6″ finished lemoyne star using the Lemoyne Star tool instructions.
Lay out your quilt blocks and construct the quilt center. Once the borders are added the finished quilt measures 38″ x 38″.
If These Threads Could Talk 