Chrysanthemum Quilt {Finished Quilt}

I am so excited today to show off my finished Chrysanthemum quilt!

This is my June Island Batik Ambassador project -- I used fabrics from the Primo line by Ebony Love for the piecing and solid white batik for the backing. I used stash builder strips cut in half for the binding.

For the quilting, I used a peach Aurifil 50 wt. thread in both the top and bobbin. I obviously used a crysanthemum motif for the free motion quilting!

I am pretty resolved that this year there won't be a QAL given that life has been crazy busy but that this pattern will likely be the QAL for 2021. It's just that much fun of a pattern!

I did just use the white solid batik as my backing this time around because it was basically the best choice I had on hand to back this quilt. I'm guessing if you've been like me the last few months, the name of the game in the sewing room is making due with whatever you have on hand without having to go shopping!

This will likely be a keeper quilt for me because I love it just that much!

Quilt Stats:

Name: Chrysanthemum throw quilt

Pattern: Chrysanthemum -- by me, will eventually be a real pattern

Fabrics: Primo by Ebony Love for Island Batik, white solid backing

Techniques: free motion quilting, HSTs, strip piecing

Quilting: Free motion chrysanthemum quilting

Batting: Hobbs 80/20 batting

Size: 75 inches square

Started: April 2020

Finished: July 2020

Future: TBD

Chrysanthemum Quilt Top {June Island Batik Project}

This month's theme for the Island Batik Ambassadors is more of a lack of theme! This month we were given free rein to make whatever our quilters' hearts desired!

For my project, I decided to finish a secret sewing project that I had started way back in March! This is the first block that I finished:

One of the reasons this started as a secret sewing project is that I originally planned (and maybe still plan?) for this quilt design to be a quilt along project and potentially a mystery quilt along project. With 2020 being the crazy year it has been, I decided to just finish up this quilt and show it off. I still have plans for it to be a QAL but it might just be next year at this point.

I wrote the quilt pattern originally in three sizes -- a 9 block version, a 16 block version, and a 25 block version -- and this is the 16 block version. I used Ebony Love's Primo line for Island Batik and used multiple prints for each color of the quilt.

This is a large throw and I am currently in the process of quilting it. That *might* not get done before the end of the month tomorrow, so I figured showing off a finished top was a better choice than showing you a quilt that is only 1/3rd of the way quilted. I'll also at some point write a post about how I designed this quilt and tempt you with some alternate colorways in case we do a QAL either later this summer or next spring with this design.

But for now -- happy Monday! 

Simple Squares {Finished Quilt}

Today I'm excited to show off my finished quilt for our April Island Batik Ambassador challenge! Our theme was "creative borders and bindings".

As an Island Batik Ambassador, I am provided with samples of various lines of Island Batik fabrics, Aurifil thread, Accuquilt products, and Hobbs Batting to use and share with you!

My quilt is made entirely of 4.5" squares cut from Island Batik stash builder rolls and 4.5" strips of black solid batik to break up the inner 64-patch from the pieced outer border. 

I also used the same black solid for the backing and the binding of the quilt. The border and backing really shows off my leafy swirl quilting!

I used a variegated teal Aurifil thread for the top of the quilt and used a lighter teal in the bobbins. Some of the fabrics highlight the darker teal in the variegated thread and other fabrics show off the lighter teals! The black inner border shows off all of the quilting -- and I only used a single spool of thread throughout the whole quilt and got vastly different levels of thread contrast!

This quilt is finished and ready for snuggles! My intention is to keep this quilt for a picnic quilt (all of those dark colors will hide stains!)

Happy Thursday! Don't forget that our Etsy shop is still stocked and shipping!

Previous posts:
Cutting and Planning post
Quilt top post

Quilt Stats:
Name: Simple Squares throw quilt
Pattern: self designed
Fabrics: Island Batik stash builder rolls, Island Batik solid
Techniques: free motion quilting
Quilting: Free motion leaves and swirls with Aurifil thread
Batting: Hobbs 80/20 batting
Size: 48" square
Started and Finished: April 2020
Future: Picnic Quilt

Hip To Be Square -- Times Two {A Piece Of Blog Hop}

Today is my day on the A Piece Of blog hop with Island Batik, showing off their new fabric lines, shipping to stores now!

The line of fabric I was assigned was "Little Sir, Little Miss"! This fabric line has a whopping 40 different prints!

Instead of trying to squeeze all 40 prints into a single quilt, I decided to split the prints up into two quilts! I used our fast-and-fun pattern Hip To Be Square for these quilts!

For the first quilt, I used the black and tan numbers print for the background with the neutral and warm colored prints. I used a peach Aurifil thread to free motion quilt meanders all over this quilt. For the binding, I used two tan prints from the line.

For the second quilt, I used a cream triangle print for the background with the cool colored prints. I used a purple Aurifil thread to free motion quilt meanders for this quilt. I used two different purple prints for the binding for this quilt.

The big piecing of this pattern shows off the beautiful prints in this line!

And now, to go with my two quilts, TWO GIVEAWAYS!

I have trimmed up the remainders of my Little Sir, Little Miss collection into two sets:

First, 14 quarter yard cuts of the "cool" side of the collection:

Second: the rest of the fabrics trimmed up into 5" strips and 10" squares:

To enter, please leave me comments below, up to three entries per person. Giveaway will close on 11/22/19.
1. Easy entry for everyone! Leave any comment.
2. Bonus entry for my followers -- leave me a comment telling you how you follow my blog.
3. Bonus entry for everyone -- Visit the Island Batik website and tell me which of the new collections is your favorite. Click here to visit!

Update: These giveaways are now closed and the winners are...

My fellow Ambassador Suzy also made a quilt with this line -- she was much more creative than I and managed to fit all 40 fabrics into one quilt!

These fabrics were graciously given to me by Island Batik -- I am so happy to share them with you! The batting was provided by Hobbs and the thread was provided by Aurifil --- thank you!

Get your own copy of our Hip To Be Square pattern:
Etsy -- digital download
Payhip -- digital download

Quilt Stats:
Name: Warm/Cool Hip To Be Square
Pattern: Hip To Be Square (link above)
Fabrics: Little Sir, Little Miss from Island Batik
Techniques: free motion quilting, machine binding
Quilting: Free motion meanders
Size: 60" x 78"
Batting: Hobbs 80/20 batting 
Started: August 2019
Finished: November 2019
Future: These have been sold to a family friend for her grandkids!

Sharing at Finished or Not Friday and Peacock Party!

Starburst Wall Hanging {Finished Quilt}

My Island Batik version of our long-time favorite Starburst pattern is now complete!

For the quilting, I picked out a tan Aurifil thread that is nearly the same shade as the tan batik that I used in the blocks and for the inner border. I drew inspiration from my Magnolia quilt and quilted the blocks with different motifs and a consistent filler in the background. I used a meander with a "shell" in the background.

Here are my first two blocks close up.

I used the grey batik for the backing, and here is the first block quilted, from the backside! For the batting, I used a Hobbs silk blend batting -- my first time using a silk blend -- because I know this will be a wall hanging and not a throw quilt and likely will not need washed (or less frequently washed.)

I used the tan thread everywhere except the dark teal border, where I used a light teal thread and quilted leaves.

Here's the quilt top, post quilting, post trimming, pre binding. Also notice how well this quilt matches the rug -- it might end up being hung in this room!

Here's a photo showing the sold batik backing and how the quilting shows up on it. The two different thread colors are more apparent on the back than on the front, but I think the teal thread looks amazing on the dark border.

For the binding, I used the steel blue mottled print that I used in some of the borders. I made a hanging sleeve for this quilt and added it when I added the binding.

Get your own copy of Starbursts on Etsy! As an Island Batik Ambassador, I am provided with samples of various lines of Island Batik fabrics, Aurifil thread, and Hobbs Batting to use and share with you!

Quilt stats:
Name: Starbursts Wall Hanging
Pattern: Starbursts by us
Fabrics: Island Batiks
Techniques: Paper piecing, free motion quilting
Batting: Hobbs Silk blend
Quilting: various FMQ designs
Size: 48" square
Started: July 2019
Finished: August 2019
Future: TBD

Sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday!

Pineapple Log Cabin Quilt {Finished Quilt}

In my push to finish, finish, finish, I got my Pineapple Log Cabin quilt finished before it languished on a shelf for 6, 12, or 18 months -- unlike a lot of other finishes this year! Here's the quilt top when it was completed in June:

When I started this quilt, I got all of the supplies for it at one time -- I thought ahead and included the batting and a spool of Aurifil thread the same time I ordered the fabric. Sometimes, I forget about batting and thread -- especially batting! -- and that ends up being an impediment to finishing something. 

(That being said, I have started a new column on my WIP/UFO spreadsheet -- a "shopping list" column -- to note what I need to get to finish a quilt. My hope is that I can be more proactive about making sure I have everything I need for a project.)

For the quilting on this quilt, I got a spool of variegated Aurifil 50 wt. thread -- the color is "teal spotted". However, I used a solid color light teal for all of the bobbins. I found it to be much easier to work from the two spools for top thread and bobbin thread rather than to use the variegated thread in both the top and the bobbin.

This is the largest quilt (and I think actually the only "quilt") that I have quilted using variegated thread. I believe I've only ever quilted table runners and mini quilts with variegated thread before. For the design, I attempted to copy the same chrysanthemum motif that my mom used to quilt my Good Fortune quilt. But being "on brand" for myself, my flowers are denser and smaller. 

Regardless, I really liked using this design and found it easy to move across the quilt, to fill in spaces of various shape and size, and only once did I run out of bobbin mid-quilt-stream. 

For the binding, I had set aside a half yard of one of my fabrics -- a fun striped, scalloped print -- and turned the entire half yard into some really awesome bias binding. The whole half yard was more than I needed, but now I have enough bias binding for a mini quilt ready to go. 

This quilt turned out quite lovely and the color scheme was a fun diversion from my typical choices.

In my head, I call this the "OG Cotton + Steel quilt" since most of the prints are from the first few Cotton + Steel collections. I missed out on a lot of these fabrics when they came out since I am a quilter on a serious budget, but holy man do these fabrics feel amazing in the hand. 

I'm *very* glad I sort of maybe over-ordered and have lots left over. 

Quilt stats:

Name: Pineapple Log Cabin // The OG C+S Quilt

Pattern: Modified version of the Pineapple Day pattern from the Fat Quarter Shop

Fabrics: Various old Cotton + Steel prints

Techniques: Paper piecing

Quilting: free motion quilted chrysanthemums

Size: 67" x 55"

Started: May 2019

Finished: August 2019

Future: TBD

Magnolia Mystery Quilt {Finished Quilt}

I set a hard-stop limit on myself that I wasn't going to allow myself to start the new mystery quilt (Mosaic Mystery Quilt) until I finished my Magnolia quilt and now I have one fewer WIP on my list!

Here's the quilt post-trimming, pre-binding:

For the binding, I used a red cable print and cut it to create the stripey binding.

The grey thread was the exact right shade for the background fabric (Kona Coal) but isn't too obtrusive on the print fabrics. I bound this quilt entirely by machine and used white thread to do the final top stitching but had grey in the bobbin since it blended well on the backing fabric as well.

My quilt is slightly modified from the original pattern -- I added the sashings and cornerstones between the blocks and my quilt has the blocks running vertically rather than horizontally (however the picture above is hung the other way just because it shows the blocks better). I think the final size is similar to the original pattern.

I have made quite a few red, blue, teal, and green quilts lately!
April Showers
Good Fortune

Quilt stats:
Name: Magnolia mystery quilt
Pattern: Magnolia Mystery Quilt by Cheryl Brickey of Meadow Mist Designs, modified
Fabrics: Kona Coal and scraps for piecing
Quilting: free motion quilted meanders and semi-custom quilted blocks
Size: 70" x 60"
Started: August 2017
Finished: August 2019
Future: TBD

Sharing at Brag About Your Beauties and Oh Scrap!

Also sharing at Favorite Finishes for August!

Good Fortune {Finished Quilt}

I am so happy that my version of Bonnie Hunter's Good Fortune mystery quilt is now finished!

I made a scaled down version of last year's mystery quilt -- I made half as many blocks for the center of the quilt -- and then adjusted my borders slightly to fit the size of my quilt.

My mom quilted this for me on her mid-arm. She used a chrysanthemum motif for the quilting.

The backing is a red extra wide backing, I also used this fabric for the binding. I decided to hand stitch the binding on this quilt; I typically prefer to hand finish the binding on pieced borders.

My quilt is a small throw, and will likely spend most of its life in our guest room. 

Quilt stats:
Name: Good Fortune
Pattern: Good Fortune by Bonnie Hunter, modified to a throw size
Fabrics: Scraps
Quilting: Chrysanthemums, quilted by my mom
Techniques used: string piecing, stitch and flip corners, pieced borders
Size: approximately 54" square
Started: November 2018
Finished: July 2019
Future: Guest room throw

Sharing at Let's Bee Social and Needle and Thread Thursday!