Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Batiks Gone Modern {Introduction + Giveaway}

This is the project that I am MOST excited about as an Island Batik Ambassador -- our modern quilt month!


Some people think that modern quilting and batiks don't mix -- those people would be wrong.

To me, modern quilting is dominated more by design aesthetics rather than the type of fabric. Obviously, some fabrics lend themselves more readily to a modern aesthetic than others but let's take a stroll on the wild side and let me convince you that batiks can be totally modern.

1. Any quilt in all solids is easily translated into batik "near-solids" or blenders.
I would consider this as a "jumping off point" for any modern quilter wanting to work with batiks.

2. Batiks and ombre are a match made in quilter's heaven.
Batiks have a built in "blend" within themselves -- making them a perfect choice for an ombre quilt.

3. You can cut batik fabric into the same shapes and sew it together using any modern-styled pattern.
Alternate gridwork? Totally an option. Wonky piecing? Yep, you can do that. Paper piecing? Sure! (I think you get the picture.)


Before you go buy 30 yards of batiks, let's bring you back to earth and note a few caveats and limitations with batiks:

1. More than likely, you're not going to mix prints and batiks.
One exception is using a blender batik as your background, but most of the time you'll lean toward making all batik projects.

2. The larger scale prints might not be as easily used in modern-style pieces.
The high color contrast larger scale prints might not be as easy to use in a modern quilt project as things with blender batiks or smaller scale prints that read as a solid or blender at a distance.

3. Be prepared for the texture difference.
As a whole, I find that batiks can be slightly thinner but also slightly stiffer than a comparable print or solid fabric. (And ps. expect to pay a few dollars more for batiks as your LQS!)


So let's dive into what I'm going to be making this month. For this project I decided to design around the fabric that I had, rather than starting with a basic design. Once you see the fabric you'll understand why:


I saw it and it screamed "Make us into something ombre-gorgeous, Alison!" and I complied.

Ombre on its own certainly isn't modern (look at the traditional bargello quilts from the last 20 years) so I wanted to use a distinctly modern block and/or block arrangement so that if you saw this quilt from 10 yards, you would say, "A modern mini!" and be very excited. Here's my mock-up design:


Yes. Everest made from a mountain of ombre wonky crosses. For some reason Blogger turned the diagram magenta rather than the lovely shades of purple and lavender that I made it in, but I think you get the point. All of my fabric cuts are half yards, so the outermost border will depend on how much I have left of it at the end. My design ends up at approximately 32 inches square.

My goal is to have this mini quilt as a free pattern at the end of the month, but if you want to make along with me, I'll be putting the directions up here on the blog as I go along. This doesn't have any sort of set schedule since I'm already hosting one quilt along, but expect 2-4 more posts about this project with lots of pictures and details.

What would you have made with this bundle? Tell me and you'll be entered to win some Island Batik fabric in your choice of colors!

Sharing at Let's Bee Social!

44 comments:

  1. Alison, your mini Everest will be gorgeous! I am a purple lover myself, so I know it will certainly catch my eye! I think any batik can look modern depending on the pattern they are used in. Great tips you shared on how to use them. with that bundle, I'd make a new table runner for my sewing room. It's lovely!

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  2. Your Everest will be beautiful with all those purples. I would make a wall hanging for my granddaughter since purple is her favorite color.

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  3. A little table runner would be cute made from these fabrics.

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  4. An ombré mountain look perfect for this bundle! I ageee that batiks can be just as modern as anything else; it's all about how it is used. I do love the hard and feel of batiks: they press so beautifully well and flat! I would definitely do some kind of ombré play, too. I look forward to seeing this come together for you this month!

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  5. Love your Everest Pattern..the purples are perfect for it!! My Daughter would loooove it..it's Purple!! Would also make a great Table Topper! Definitely a Wallhanging too.. Not sure exactly what I would make lol...such beautiful fabrics..would have to be something that could be out to enjoy daily tho! :)

    Thank you for chance to win your give-a-way too! :D

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  6. Pinwheels or flowers come to mind. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  7. I have a pattern for a pixilated rose and I think that those colors would be stunning for that purpose. I might have a difficult time working in the blue and would have to add some greens for the leaves and stems. I find that mixing batiks with stonehenge makes for some wonderful textures.

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  8. I'm fascinated by ombre quilts right now, and have never made one! I'll enjoy seeing how yours comes together! I have found that neutral batiks make beautiful low volume backgrounds, and I have been using them a lot for that recently. Your bundle of fabric is so pretty - I might use it to try some kind of ombre design, too! Thanks for the giveaway, Alison!

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  9. This is going to be wonderful!!!

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  10. Those fabrics would be perfect in a table runner for my purple-loving sister.

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  11. Everest is lovely! Batiks are my favorite fabrics and these colors would make gorgeous pillows.

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  12. I totally agree, batiks can be very modern! What a great design! I have an idea with an ombre effect!

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  13. Ombre makes me think of landscapes. I think using it to make a landscape applique of some sort.~

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  14. I don't know exactly what ombre means in terms of quilting. I do love batiks and would probably use that to make some cute little pouches or something like that.

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  15. So pretty! I am doing table runners these days. Quick and easy and I feel like I am getting something accomplished.

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  16. Pretty bundle, I would make a pillow.

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  17. That's lovely! I've been wanting to make an abstract mountain scene with a quote from "Local Hero": Dream Large, for my partner, and these batiks would be perfect for that.

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  18. I see a beautiful braided table runner with those gorgeous fabrics!

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  19. Mini Mt. Everest with wonky crosses - I love it. Actually, that's what I would make - wall art for my dining/sewing room (purple has always been a favorite!).

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  20. My granddaughter loves purple, I would make her a pillow.

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  21. I am thinking of a sort of colorwash mini wall hanging in purples. I am currently working on a pixelated heart quilt working from various pink shades out to purple edges. Looking forward to see your creation.

    tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  22. LOVE the purples!! I'd make a mini mock-up of my larger purple quilt. Either a wall hanging or pillow cover to try out a pattern before I dive into the bigger project. I'm excited to see your tutorials!

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  23. I have had requests for place mats and this fabric would be perfect. Lovely mountain!
    nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

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  24. First off, Alison, have you been digging in my stash? I swear I could pull those exact colors, lol. I would try to do a Storm at Sea with an imbedded pattern, like the ones where a heart shape is in a contrasting or darker color.

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  25. I like your Everest. This fabric is perfect for Twisted Log Cabin blocks or some Interveave designs.

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  26. I have a daughter who loves purple so I would make her some pillows. I like your design too.

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  27. I agree on your assessment of what constitutes modern... and because I'm soooooooooooooo not a solids quilter, I prefer blends, whether they are batiks or normal cotton fabrics... so I would never make a totally solids quilt. I really admire those who can work with solids, but I am just not one of them. I love the Mt. Everest design, can't wait to see that come to completion.

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  28. Your Everest design is gorgeous! I can't wait to see it made up. And these purples are gorgeous too - my favorite color! I would use these fabrics in a quilted vest. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  29. I have been collecting purple batiks for a Cracker Box signature quilt, so, yeah, that may be their destiny! Fingers crossed!

    Love your mountain and looking forward to it!

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  30. I would use these to make a quilt for charity for World of Charity Stitching.
    Thanks,
    Peggy
    peggy_verdongibbs@att.net

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  31. I would make your Everest quilt or mountain and sky landscape.

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  32. I really love your quilt design, it's very fresh and modern. I love the colour purple!!!

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  33. I would love to make a wall hanging for my best friend who loves purples! I love your quilt design. tks

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  34. I'm currently making pineapple pillows and I think they would look great using batiks. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  35. I love batiks! I would use this bundle to make a wall hanging for my mom in memory of my grandmother who loved all things purple!
    cathylouwilson@gmail.com

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  36. I love the mountain design! I've always felt that batiks get a bad rap by modern quilters, which is a shame because they can be /gorgeous/! I'm on a big mini quilt kick these days, so I imagine I'd lean in that direction. Maybe something with pinwheels.

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  37. I love batiks. I would make a table runner.

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  38. Love those purples. They'll look great in your mini project. I'm not sure what I would make with those, they would have been perfect for my fan blocks, but I've got enough of those.

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  39. Your mini is going to be gorgeous, Alison. Batiks can absolutely be modern when done in the right manner. Really looking forward to seeing the progression of this project.

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  40. Very pretty! Can't wait to see your design in fabric! I love the gradient look, so maybe something with ombre flying geese or nine patches?

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  41. I would make a Pinwheel Pal baby quilt. rozz01 at cox dot net

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