Splish Splash Friends - Island Batik Ambassador Irish Chain Challenge

 

  

The Island Batik Ambassador Challenge for the month of May was to create an Irish Chain quilt using the Accuquilt Go cutter and Irish Chain Die.  This die can cut all of the components for a complete block in one pass. Pretty Cool!  I had to do some additional cutting as I needed more squares for my double Irish chain alternate block but I cut 8 layers at a time which made it go quickly.  

I decided to do the additional block as the Irish chain pattern really doesn't showcase fabric due to the small squares. Check out those sea horses on the white medallio background fabric. So stinkin' cute!

   

Splish Splash is absolutely adorable fabric!  It is covered with sea horses, fish, kelp, bubbles and starfish. The colors are rich shades of teal, blue and coral. Certainly some of my favorites!  I have some leftover fabric, so I will certainly make another quilt in a different design to showcase some of the cute creatures.

I loved the idea of embroidering some seahorses on the quilt to keep in theme with the fabrics. I found a free vector file online with some cute sea animals so I digitized them in my Bernina Designer 9 software and embroidered the individual blocks on my Bernina 770 QE Plus machine using OESD Isacord threads. 31 blocks in all are embroidered. Each sea animal is approximately 5" x 5".  What was I thinking?  Took 4 days and a lot of thread!

The piecing took a bit of time as I was dealing with individual squares versus stripsets to create the block components. I also ran into a few glitches. I ran out of background fabric. I designed the quilt in Electric Quilt and went by their fabric calculator then added 3/4 yard on the background fabric for trimming etc. I was short 1 strip!  I had very few scraps so I sewed a few together and cut the 4 pieces I needed from the seamed scraps. They are scattered in the quilt and you would really need to look for them so all is well. 

For my piecing, I used Schmetz 70/10 Microteck sharps on my Bernina 770 and a tight stitch length. I love working with batiks as they do not distort or have a ton of bias and the shorter stitch length makes for a tight, smooth seam that doesn't stretch out when it is under tension on the quilters frame. I use Aurifil thread for all the piecing in my favorite Dove Grey 2600. I pressed as I sewed with my trusty Oliso iron right next to my machine. It helped make quick work of it. 

I did a lot of chain sewing. The way the Accuquilt Irish Chain die cuts the pieces, it leaves a smart corner on all four corners so easy to match up to sew.  

My final pressing was done on my Rowenta Steam Station and I used my quilters wood clapper to get all the seams very flat.  I also spun the center seams on all the block center four patches to keep them flat, My long armer loves my nice flat seams!

My quilt was long arm quilted by the awesome Dottiann Chevalier. She did really neat wave quilting across the blocks that actually went around all the embroidery, not over it. I used Hobbs Tuscany 100% cotton natural batting. I was worried that a natural might shade the background fabric but it was ok. 

So I hope you enjoy my little Irish Chain Quilt and all of the other beautiful quilts my fellow ambassadors are creating this month. Be sure to check out their blogs all month as there are new ones posted with fabulous new Island Batik collections every week. And, you will have a chance to win prizes!  Here re a few more pictures. Unfortuantely, it is raining so I couldn't get good shots outside and I have no wall space inside to hang it flat but I will add more.

You can win just by visiting the blogs and entering and you'll have another chance at the end of the month to vote for your favorite Irish Chain quilt and be entered for more prizes.  

Enter Here for the Blog Hop Contest

Thanks and Happy Spring!

Sue

Be sure to check out the wonderful designs the other ambassadors created for the challenge. So many unique approaches and viewpoints. I like them all so much it is difficult to choose a favorite!

• Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs
• Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting
• Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts Studio
• Tina Dillard ~ Quilting Affection Designs
• Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany
• Kimberly Flannagan ~ Kimberly’s Quilts
• Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts
• Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts
• Kim Jamieson-Hirst ~ Chatterbox Quilts
• Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
• Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt
• Connie Kresin Campbell ~ Freemotion by the River
• Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood
• Denise Looney ~ A Quiltery
• Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
• Susan Michaels ~ Dragonfly Fiberart
• Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion
• Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique
• Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
• Carol Stanek ~ Stitch with Color
• Solomae Stoycoff ~ Cuddle Cat Quiltworks
• Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations 

Island Batik April Challenge - Drunkards Path

Meet Morocco, my drunkards path quilt for the Lumen Fabrics Island Batik Ambassador April challenge. It is named Morocco as it reminded me of the beautiful curving arches in the architecture of that country and the vibrant colors of the textiles sold in the markets there.

For my quilt, I used the Daisy May collection of fabrics on a solid black batik background. The quilting is done in a beautiful polyester gold thread, circling the blocks with arches and dragonflies.(of course)!

I do not typically do curved blocks. They don't like me and I don't like them. I have tried many different methods, rulers, classes, watched innumerable YouTube videos and I just cannot make them work. My curves are always perfect but the blocks always seem wonky and I always have to trim them down. This one was no exception (sighhhhhhhh...)

This time, I opted to use the CutRite rulers to cut my pieces. Donna Jordan (RIP) of Jordan Fabrics liked those particular rulers and made them look easy. She made several videos demonstrating their use in making quilts with curved blocks.  Their instructions say no need to pin as they are easy. Small slots in the ruler along the curves let you cut tiny slits that line up the two pieces as you sew. 

My original design had some small tear drops in the whiter fabrics interspersed in the quilt but the trimming made the fit bad and I just eliminated them which worked out fine. I decided to use a black background to showcase the lovely colors in the Daisy Mae collection.

Using the CutRite ruler, I cut all of my block components then headed to the sewing machine. I used Aurifil black in the bobbin and an Aurifil dark grey in the top so I could see where I was on the black.  I tightened up my stitch length to 1.8 as it seemed to work better to keep the curves smooth. I used a Schmetz Microtek Sharp needle (my favorite) in an 80/12 size.

With my trusty stilletto in hand, I tried the Cut Rite method but after ripping out for the 3rd time, decided to glue them. 

I used my favorite Acorn precision piecing glue which is heat set. It doesn't leave the fabric full of gluey stuff like a white glue or the glue pens. My Oliso iron was the pefect size for working on the curves. I glued the ends first, then the center then filled in with a few dots here and there.

I used a rigid seam guide on the base of my machine for more accuracy, set at a perfect scant quarter. I sewed all my blocks and pressed. My curves were absolutely perfect! Nice and smooth, ends matching nicely. This is where the wonky became apparent. Not sure where I went wrong, but a little trimming solved the problem. I just trimmed from 8 1/2" to 8". 

Once I trimmed the blocks, it was simply a matter of laying them out into rows and sewing them together.  Dottiann Chevalier quilted it for me using a fine weight polyester thread in gold to give it a little sheen. She did a cool pattern of swirling dragonflies! I used a black batting from Hobbs just in case there was a little bearding from the quilting process. The back is black with speckles of color that complement the Daisy May collection colors. 

So there it is!  My Drunkard's Path challenge quilt is complete. Let me see pictures of yours!  Post on Facebook or Instagram at Dragonfly Fiberart Patterns. :-)

Happy Sewing!

Sue

Be sure to check out the wonderful designs the other ambassadors created for the challenge. So many unique approaches and viewpoints. I like them all so much it is difficult to choose a favorite!

• Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs
• Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting
• Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts Studio
• Tina Dillard ~ Quilting Affection Designs
• Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany
• Kimberly Flannagan ~ Kimberly’s Quilts
• Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts
• Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts
• Kim Jamieson-Hirst ~ Chatterbox Quilts
• Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
• Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt
• Connie Kresin Campbell ~ Freemotion by the River
• Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood
• Denise Looney ~ A Quiltery
• Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
• Susan Michaels ~ Dragonfly Fiberart
• Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion
• Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique
• Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
• Carol Stanek ~ Stitch with Color
• Solomae Stoycoff ~ Cuddle Cat Quiltworks
• Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations 

Cupid's Arrow Part IV - The Arrow

Hello Everyone

 This was to be our finish for the quilt but I would like to take a bit of time with the Arrow Block and put the sewing rows together and finishing in a separtae post today. The arrow is amazingly cute but does have a few small parts. It was fairly easy to make you just need to take your time. For those that do not like sewing small pieces, I am including a foundation for paper piecing if that is your preference.

Download the Paper Piecing Foundation Here

For my arrow, I am using Sprig With Small Daisies Acorn Gold still in the lovely Island Batik Flower Pot collection. It is a lovely gold color with pink sprigs and daisies. How Perfect!

Cutting: I am working from 44" wide for Background and a fat quarter for my color.

Background:    (5) 1"x WOF    Split (9) the strips in half  (9) 1" x 22" approx  Subcut from the                                         remaining strip (10) 1" x 2 1/2" rectangles.
                        (1) 3 1/2" x WOF (I had a piece of 3 1/2" left over from a block) 
                        Subcut (3) 3 1/2" squares

                        (1) 2" x WOF    Subcut (20) 2" squares (I had plenty of pieces from the blocks 

                        that I used rather than a strip)

Acorn Gold:    (1) 3 1/2" x 22"    Subcut (5) 3 1/2" squares

                        (2) 2" x 22"          Subcut (12) 2" squares

                        (4) 1 1/2" x 22"    

                        (2) 1" x 22"

Flying Geese Four At A Time: 

We are going to make 2 separate sets of geese. The arrow head has a gold body and white wings.  The arrow tail has one the same but also needs one that has a white body and gold wings, so just opposite.

 

Step 1: Gather the (5) 3 1/2"Acorn Gold squares and the (20) 2" Background squares.

            We need a total of 20 flying geese (2 per block) in this combination and each square is going

            to give us 4 units.

Step 2: Place (2) 2" background squares RST on opposite corners of a 3 1/2" Acorn Gold square.

            They will overlap in the center. Nudge these in a little bit from the edge,

            roughly a 1/16" or so. It helps us with a little fudge factor space.  Draw a line diagonally

            from corner to corner crossing both background pieces. Slip a pin in to make sure they 

            don't move when your are sewing them. Sew 1/4" to each side of the line. Cut in between

            your seam lines.

Step 3: Carefully press to the triangles, away from the body. Be sure your press straight and do 

            not distort the fabric. They are small. :-)

Step 4: Next we place another Background square on the new units we have created, nudging in 

            again about that 1/16th" from the edge. Draw a line, then sew 1/4" to each side. Cut 

            between the seams then press to the Backround fabric (to the triangle). 

Step 5: Our geese need to be squared to 1 1/2" x 2 1/2".  I used the Studio 180 Wing Clipper ruler.

            You should now have (20) flying geese with white wings and Acorn Gold bodies.

Now repeat Steps 1 through 5 with the (3) 3 1/2" Background squares and the (12) Acorn Gold 2" squares. You will have 2 extra geese as we only need (10) in this combination but it is the easiest and most efficient way to make them.

Strip Sets for Arrow Body & Tip:

Step 1: Gather the (4) 1 1/2" Acorn Gold strips and (8) 1" x 22" Background strips.

            Make strip sets using the 1 colored strip and 2 background strips. Press all in to the Acorn

            Gold strip in the center. Be careful when pressing not to distort your fabric or add a bow 

            to the stripset. It should be nice and straight. It should measure 2 1/2" x 22" approximately.

Step 2: Cut 6" wide units from each strip set. You will need (10) for the arrow main body.

Step 3: Gather the (2) 1" Acorn Gold strips and (2) Background strips.  Sew the strips together

             and press to the Acorn Gold strip. It should measue 1 1/2" x 22" approx.

Step 4: Cut (10) 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" units from the strips. 

We are now ready to assemble our arrows. Sew the pieces in order as they are laid out below, starting at the tail of the arrow.  Follow the direction of the arrows on the block diagram for the pressing. Make (10) arrow blocks. These should measure 2 1/2" x 10 1/2".

Now we have all our pieces made to start assembling our quilt. I will do that in the next blog post.

Happy Sewing!

Sue

#islandbatik #oliso #studio180design #dragonflyfiberart #aurifil