Thursday, December 6, 2018

Whimsical and Wonky {December IBA Challenge + Giveaway}

As an Island Batik Ambassador, I am provided with samples of various lines of Island Batik fabrics to use and share with you!



This month's Island Batik Ambassador theme is Whimsical and Wonky! I decided that this month I would try a technique that's been on my pin board for a long while -- the crosscut block technique from A Quilter's Table! I decided that I would use this technique to make a table runner with the leftover London Fog fabrics I have.

For my base blocks, I used 10.5" squares and 1.25" strips for the "cross" part of the blocks.


I wasn't overly precise with my cutting and sewing but I wasn't necessarily intentionally wonky in making my starting X blocks. Here are my untrimmed blocks before they were sewn together.


I trimmed each block to 10" and sewed the nine blocks together. A few of these blocks were cut with a little "wonk" to give the intersections a little more interest.


Next came the fun part -- cutting the original "top" into 6.5" squares! I picked 6.5" squares because I have a 6.5" ruler and that made it easier than trying to cut smaller or larger sizes. From my "top" I was able to cut 18 6.5" squares -- I had to sew a few large leftover pieces together for the last couple 6.5" blocks.


With 18 blocks, my table runner is 6 blocks long and 3 blocks wide, or 36" x 18".


Now to decide how to quilt and bind this abstract beauty!

And since I haven't done a giveaway in a while -- there's one today!


Today's giveaway is the remainder of my London Fog strip pack -- 24 strips in total! There are one of some patterns and two of others.

Comments for entries, up to two entries per person:
1. Leave one comment telling me what your favorite thing to sew with 2.5" strips
2. Leave a second comment if you follow me in some form or fashion: Bloglovin, Facebook, Instagram, or whatever other way you choose to follow!

Giveaway will close on December 11th (Tuesday) at midnight!

Update: our winner is Mary from Texas!


Sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday!

78 comments:

  1. Alison, I act7like your original blocks! I always strug7woth. Asking blocks like that. I can never piev7them back correctly. Any tips?

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  2. I like turning my strips to 2 1/2 " squares for 9-patch units

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  3. I really like the way you made your table runner. Very pretty.
    I love sewing the strips together and making 9 patch blocks. Thanks for the chance.

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  4. I belong to your facebook group and follow on Bloglovin.

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  5. How cool is this. I hadn't seen this before, so now I'm checking out the other patters on A Quilters Table. thanks for ideas bouncing around in my head now!

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  6. I follow you on Blolovin' and Instagram

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  7. There are tons of great patterns available that use 2.5 strips either alone or mixed with other pre-cuts. I have used them for 4 or 9 patches (framed or plain), Trip around the World, and my favorite Grannnie Square or Album blocks.

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  8. I love making blocks using 2 1/2" strips and the binding tool. Big stars form from simple piecing.

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  9. I follow you on Blogspot and have f[r a ehile.

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  10. i made a lone star wall quilt using 2.5 in. strips and i loved every minute of it. i also like using the strips for sashing, so much easier when the strips are already cut.

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  11. Your runner is an abstract beauty - subtle like an icy maiden!!! Oh my goodness, 2.5" strips are so versatile. Right now I am making 16-patch blocks and loving them, although making rail fence blocks is probably my most favorite thing to do with them.

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  12. Quilts! Tablerunners or whatever speaks to me. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  13. Following on Bloglovin'. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  14. I like to make windmill blocks with my 2.5 scraps, or a 9 patch.

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  15. I follow on bloglovin, facebook, and instagram.

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  16. I participated in Debbie's Crosscut QAL awhile back, and loved the result of it. Yours is so pretty in the blue batiks! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  17. 2.5 in strips are a staple in my quilting adventures. I have used them in many quilts: pineapple, log cabin, 4/9 patch, as well as some dresdens.

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  18. Haven't decided on a favorite thing to do with 2.5" strips. Love your table runner!

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  19. Lovely table runner! I liked it both ways...pre and post wonky cuts. I hope you have fun quilting this. And the blues are beautiful! My favorite thing for 2.5" strips would be to sew them in rows or 3 or so and then cut the strips in 60 degree triangles to be sewn back together as squares.

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  20. I follow your blog by email. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.net

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  21. 2 1/2 strips can be used in a number of ways including binding and various blocks. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.net

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  22. I bought one of Eleanor Burns's templates for making "woven" quilts with 2.5 inch quilts and now that is my favorite thing to do with them. That template made it so easy and, for me, took the confusion out of it (which way to turn it, how much to cut off, there were so many ways I could goof up before!).

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  23. I follow your blog via email: wordygirl at earthlink dot net

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  24. I like to use the strips for making lap quilts of various designs. They go together so quickly.

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  25. What a wildly wonky project! Love it!

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  26. Ohmigosh I love it! It's such a fun controlled improv technique. I'll have to check out the pattern you mentioned.

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  27. I love making placemats...since they are precut, making a set is so much faster!!

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  28. I follow you via email, Bloglovin, and IG.

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  29. I have not sewn with 2.5” precut strips! However I have cut my own & sewn with them! Thank you, Susan

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  30. I follow you on Facebook! Thank you,Susan

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  31. I am addicted to doing the strip race quilts! I just love the surprise I get at the end.

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  32. I love to do strip quilts. It is amazing how each block has a unique personality dependent upon the strips.

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  33. I love to make quilts (any size) with any fabric! Love your wonky and totally into your 2.5" scraps - they are gorgeous!!!

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  34. I'm still new to sewing, and have only ever used on set of 2.5" strips to make a quilt. I should have made much better blocks with them, but it ended up fairly abstract looking, much like your tablerunner. These strips would make a wonderful binding, or get mixed into the other batik fabric I have waiting to make a paper pieced dragon for my husband.

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  35. Personally I can't get enough table runners, but those strips also look like a great start to a baby quilt! So many possibilities! basaran.family (at) rogers (dot) com.

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  36. I follow your blog by email. basaran.family (at) rogers (dot) com

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  37. Cute block! I like making 9 patches from 2 1/2 inch strips.

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  38. I have made a throw quilt with strips that turned out well,
    barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

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  39. I follow you on Bloglovin'.
    barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

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  40. I've been meaning to try this technique, so it's really fun to see your results. They're great!! I cut my scrap strips into 2.5" widths and end up using them for all sorts of things. It's hard to choose a favorite. I think I just like having them ready to go should I need them :)

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  41. Hi Alison! I love your tablerunner. Beautiful art! I like incorporating 2" strips into quilts. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  42. I follow you via Facebook. Thanks for all the inspiration!

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  43. I like making log cabin blocks with 2.5" strips.

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  44. I love to make quilts with strips. It's so easy.

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  45. Great idea! I love Log Cabin blocks, but don't enter me. Thanks!

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  46. Simple, but effective block. Love the blues you used in the blocks. Is this another Christmas gift?

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  47. so far as a beginner i have mostly used 2 1/2 inch strips for binding but i made 2 recently for toddlers with plus signs made of 2 1/2 inch squares from a jelly roll

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  48. This is so pretty. I've never seen the crosscut done with two similar fabrics. It works quite well.

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  49. I just finished my first Tuffet cover using 2 1/2" strips and it turned out beautiful. grinnie1961 at gmail dot com

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  50. I follow on Bloglovin and IG grinnie1961 at gmail dot com

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  51. That was a fun "cut up" and a great result for the challenge (no entry for me please).

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  52. I really like your finished table runner. The original blocks are simple and then chopping them up adds that bit of fun to the finished project.

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  53. The first version is so pretty, I don't think I'd have been able to cut it apart! But I do like the table runner, too.

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  54. I think bags are the easiest thing to make

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  55. I love using 2 1\2" strips for strip QUILTS with a pillow. They match and
    .look great! !

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  56. I love this kind of quilt. You came up with an interesting design with your cuts and placements. Well done!

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  57. love the colors! Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.net

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  58. Oh, there are so many things that can be made with jelly roll strips. I have used them in many block patterns and for jelly roll race quilts. I think I have at least 4 books full of ideas specifically for strips. Right now I am cutting strips into bricks to make holiday table runners.

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  59. I follow your blog on my blogger dashboard/GFC.

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  60. I do like to use 2.5" strips for nine patch blocks. Love these colors.

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  61. I use strips in a variety of ways, but my favorite is in making quilt blocks.

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