Island Batik Ambassador Challenge: Whimsical and Wonky

My last Island Batik Ambassador challenge project for the year is part of the Whimsical and Wonky theme. This challenge was a harder theme for me to figure out.

When I designed my original project, I created a basic block that I repeated 4 times to make a simple table runner.  I was not completely happy with this design, I felt it was not Whimsical or Wonky enough for this Challenge.

So I decided to play a little bit further and came up with the design mockup pictured above.  At this time, I was a bit behind on this Island Batik project due to I have been completing two other quilts that were due to Island Batik for their Spring/Summer 2019 Catalog.  So once I finished them, I had 4 days to complete this project.  On Friday, I started making all my blocks.

The fabric I choose for this project was from the Island Batik "Check It Out" Collection from the Fall/Winter 2018 collections. Did you know that you can get a plain black, white and even grey Batiks?  Island Batik has a Foundation collection where you can get these colors.  If your local quilt store doesn't have them ask for them.  They are beautiful fabrics, and they are must in any stash.

To make the blocks I used the Deb Tucker Studio 180 Design tools, Square Squared® 6" and V Block® Tools.  The central unit in the blocks was from the High/Low Technique Sheet.

I started with making the two different High/Low Units, one slanting to the left and the other slanting to the right. These were made with the V Block® Tool.

Next, I made all the square squared units.  These units had two black corners on opposite sides and the colored fabrics on the other edges.

With all the units made it was time to assemble the blocks. Making sure to line up the correct colors to match the slanted units.  I only needed two of each block.

The final block I needed was a basic 9 Patch block for the center of the quilt.  Now all blocks made, to position them on my design wall.

By the end Friday evening I had finished adding all the sashing pieces.

Saturday morning, I started cutting all my corner and side pieces. Once I had the quilt stitched together. I trimmed it to prepare for the borders. By the end of the day, I completed the quilt top, and by the end of Sunday, I finished the whole quilt including the binding.

Here is the final product which I'm calling "Whimsical Chimes."  This quilt was a blast to make and watch come together.  So, I have decided I will be adding this quilt to my list of workshops in the next couple of weeks. If you would like me to teach this at your quilt guild or shop, please contact me at qa@quiltingaffection.com.

The 2018 Island Batik Ambassadors have one more project for a January. Starting the week of January 7th - February 1st will be hosting the "Getaway Blog Hop," knowing these talented ladies we will have some exciting projects using new collections from the Fall/Winter 2018 catalog.  So stay tuned.

I sure love being an Island Batik Ambassador, so many exciting projects this year.

I will be hosting "Graceful Points" Quilt Along starting February 1st.  The blocks using Deb Tucker Studio 180 Design Blockbuster Blocks.  If you would like to get more information, please visit the original block post HERE.

I would like to wish my fellow Island Batik Ambassador, Studio 180 Design Certified Instructors and all my readers a Happy NEW YEAR!  See you in 2019!

Tina

"Designs to Inspire"

Teaching Tucker University

On Friday and Saturday of this past week, I taught Tucker University to some hard working ladies at my local quilt shop  "Material Girls Quilt Boutique" in LaPlata, Maryland.  

Tucker University teaches you how to use how to use and expand your knowledge in using the Deb Tucker Studio 180 Design Tools.  

Last November I had assigned homework to my students to make blocks from their units they have learned from Month 1 which was Tucker Trimmer and Month two, V Block Trimmer.  

Before class on Friday and Saturday, we had a little show and tell with their block homework, and here are pictures of the fabulous blocks they made.

These ladies in my Tucker University classes are amazing.  I look forward to the next classes in January.  If you would like to set up Tucker University for your shop, check out the https://tuckeruniversity.net/. 

Graceful Points Quilt Along coming February, 2019

Have you ever wanted to make a quilt using the Studio 180 Design Blockbuster blocks?  Or are you one of those Deb Tucker Studio 180 Design fans that love the tools and want to expand your skills.  Well, you’re in luck, I will be hosting the first of many Quilt Along in 2019, where I have designed a quilt around the blockbuster blocks.

Some of you may be wondering, what is a Blockbuster? Starting back in 2016, the Deb Tucker Studio 180 design team began developing a Free PDF download program called “Blockbusters” to encourage Deb Tucker Studio 180 Fans to play with their tools and work on their skill sets. The Quilt Along will take these Blockbuster Blocks and make a quilt out of them.

Wall

King

The first Quilt Along “Graceful Points” will start Friday, February 1^st, 2019.  Graceful Points uses 15 of the Blockbuster Blocks (one Blockbuster will be repeated three times to make a total of 17 blocks), to complete your quilt.  You can have your choice of making two different sizes.

• ·     Wall Hanging (62” x 62”) – which was design around the 6”, 9”, and 12” block sizes.
• ·     King (110” x 110”) – which will use the 12” and 18” block sizes.

You can Download the detail for this Quilt Along below.

Fabric and Tools Requirements

Details:

How will this Quilt Along will work? Starting February 1^st, 2019 I will be posting the first of the blockbusters blocks that will be used in this quilt. Then every two weeks, I will post the next block through my Newsletter and Blog, and it should finish around September 13^th, 2019.  The last couple of weeks will be for finishing your quilt and making the additional blocks to add to your quilt.

Sign up for my Newsletter and Blog Here

Fabric:

You will need to purchase the following for your quilt. You will need to have 4 different high-contrasting colors and one background color, such as White, Black, Grey, or Tan, it’s your choice.  Again, I will leave your color decisions up to you and your tastes in fabric.

My versions of the quilts will be the following from the Fabric Collection Island Batik “Birds and Bees” collection, I will be using (4) different contrasting fabrics from the collection and for the background a Cream color from the Island Batik Neutral Collection.

I have provided the yardage below for the quilt.  These are the basic yardage estimates, and I have done my best to make sure you have enough fabric to make your quilt.  

Also, I have provided links to some the color pages for both sizes of the quilts so you can add your own touch to the project. Download Here

Yardage: Based on 42” width of fabric

The first chart only includes the fabric to finish your quilt and does not include the border fabric.  The border fabric is listed in the second chart below. Again these are estimates.

	Color 1 (C1)	Color 2 (C2)	Color 3 (C3)	Color 4 (C4)	Background (BG)
Wall	3/4 yard	3/4 yard	3/8 yard	1/2 yard	3 1/4 yards
King	1 1/4 yards	1 1/2 yards	1 yard	3/4 yard	4 3/4 yards

 Wall Borders and Finishing:

	Border 1	Border 2	Border 3	Border 4	Binding	Backing
Wall	1/3 yard	1/4 yard	1/4 yard	3/4 yard	1/2 yard	4 yards
King	7/8 yard	5/8 yard	3/4 yard	2 yards	1 yard	10 yards

Note: In the image above, I used the Background for Border 1 and 3.

Below is a link to the Graceful Points QAL Facebook Group to share your fabric selections, completed blocks, etc.  Please feel free to join, if you plan on participating.  This group is for participates only, not for spectators.  Join Graceful Points Quilt Along Facebook Group.

Pixelating Blog Hop Day 10

Welcome to Quiltoni's Pixelating Blog Hop Day 10.  

My good friend Toni Smith, AKA "Quiltoni," who is an awesome pixel quilt designer, is launching her first book Designing Block Quilts and she asked several of her quilt designer friends to design a pixel quilt using her book. So, I took up the challenge.

The book walks you through the process to create a pixelated quilt from image or drawings using squares and strips called the Quiltoni way.  

For my project, I want to make my own old antique sewing machine.  I'm not the best drawer in the world, so I asked my husband to draw out a design on graph paper. From the graph paper, I was able to determine the size of strips and pieces I needed to make my pixelated quilt.

From those sizes, I began cutting my strips and pieces. As I cut all my pieces out I placed them on my design board, watching the drawing come to life on my board.

When I had all my pieces cut, it was time to sew all the strips and pieces together. Making sure all my pieces nested and pressed flat.

The stitching of my project went really fast, the quickest quilt I have made in a long time.

The center of my quit is now complete, time to add some borders.

My sewing machine is finished, now to do simple quilting and binding.  This whole project took me only one weekend to complete. Pixel quilts are so easy to make and design using this book.

My finished quilt now hangs above my sewing machine.  

So, do you have an idea for a pixelated quilt you would like to make? Then you may want to purchase her books to help out with the process.  You can purchase her book, Designing Block Quilts, check it out HERE.

Or you Don't have the time to draft your own block quilts, then check out Quiltoni's Website and look at her patterns, such as Superhero: Magic Girl or Happy Painter. They are so much fun to make.

She also has a Twitch live stream where she talks about quilting and so much more.  She is currently raising money for St. Jude's through her live stream.  Make sure you visit her site, HERE

Make sure you check out the other bloggers and what they have been making.

Here is the entire list of bloggers:

Nov 27 – Quiltoni – Welcome and Introduction of Bloggers and Giveaway https://quiltoni.blogspot.com/ 

Nov 28 –   Kate Colleran Designs, LLC –   http://seamslikeadream.com/blog/ 

Nov 29 –   A&E Gutermann –   http://www.seewhatmaterializes.com/blog/ 

Nov 30 –   Triangle Frenzy LLC –   https://trianglefrenzy.blogspot.com/ 

Dec 1 –   Desert Bloom Quilting –   https://www.desertbloomquilting.com/blog/ 

Dec 2 – Quiltoni –   https://quiltoni.blogspot.com/ 

Dec 3 –   Tamarinis –   https://tamarinis.typepad.com/ 

Dec 4 –   The Fat QuarterGypsy –   http://www.fatquartergypsy.com/Lex-Luther-Blog.html 

Dec 5 –   Around the Bobbin –   https://aroundthebobbin.com/blog/ 

Today's Stop

Dec 6 –   Quilting Affection Designs  –   http://quiltingaffection.blogspot.com/ 

Dec 7 –   Muppin Inc –   http://blog.muppin.com/

Dec 8 – Winners Announced

Oh, wait 

we have a giveaway at the end of the blog hop, so check out Instagram and enter the giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks, everyone for stopping by my blog hop today.

Tina

"Designs to Inspire"  

Perfect Flying Geese using the Wing Clipper® tutorial

This week I'm preparing to teach two class of the Tucker University at the end of the week.  This month I will be teaching my students how to use the Studio 180 Design Wing Clipper® I tool.  This tool is straightforward and gives you precise, accurate flying geese every time.

You start by making Flying Geese using the No-Waste Method.  You cut out the one large square this will be the body of your geese and four small squares which will be the wings of your geese.  To find your sizes you will need to cut, refer to the Flying Geese Chart that comes in Wing Clipper® tool instructions.  All the sizes for the squares you will be using are slightly oversized for trimming down later.

Position two smaller squares with right sides facing together diagonally in opposite corners of the large square.  

Note: Nudge your smaller squares toward the center to leave a few threads of the larger square showing.

Using your Quilter's Magic Wand you want to mark two sewing lines, from the center diagonal. Each of the marks will be 1/4"  away from the center diagonal.

Tip: use a .05mm mechanical pencil or use a fine tip Pigma Micron Pen to mark your lines and angle your pen or pencil tight toward the Quilter's Magic Wand to get your mark as possible. 

Also, you may want to pen the squares, so they don't move during sewing.

Stitch on the drawn lines and then trim in between the lines to get to units.

Press the seams toward the small triangle wings so they will lay on top of the unit.

Tip: Be careful when pressing so you don't stretch the Bias.  Using a starch product, such as Best Press will help stabilize the units and allow them to lay flat.

Place one of the remaining small squares in the corner of the previously pieced units.  Remember to nudge your squares just as you did before.  Using your Quilters Magic Wand and fine marking pen again mark your two Sewing lines. Pin to hold the units in place during sewing.

Stitch on the lines and Trim between the lines of stitching on the center diagonal.  You will now have 4 Flying Geese units.

Press the seams toward the smaller triangles wings.  Remember that your flying geese units will now be slightly larger, so we will now need to trim them down to the precise size.  

The flying geese are trimmed down using your Wing Clipper Tool.  The tool can be used by both Left and Right Handed, just like all the Deb Tucker Studio 180 Tools.  

Right-Hand Trimming

Position your unit Horizontally on your cutting mat, assuring the "V" point facing you first. Place your Wing Clipper® Tool on top of your flying geese unit.  Carefully align the diagonal guide guidelines Wing Clipper on the sewn seam lines of the unit.  Trim up the right side and across the top first.

Rotate the Flying Geese unit 180° and reposition the Wing Clipper® tool on the unit. This time align the cleaned up edges with the previous trimmed up edges and the "X" at the top with the intersection of the seams.  Trim up the remaining edges on the right and across the top.

Left-Hand Trimming

Position your unit so that it lays Vertically and the "V" point facing toward the right. Carefully align the diagonal guide guidelines Wing Clipper® on the sewn seam lines of the unit.  Trim up the Left side and across the top first. 

Rotate the Flying Geese unit 180° and reposition the Wing Clipper® tool on the unit. This time align the cleaned up edges with the previous trimmed up edges and the "X" at the top with the intersection of the seams.  Trim up the remain edges on the Left and across the top.

You now have four Precise and accurate beautiful Flying Geese units using the Wing Clipper® tool. 

If you have a problem with not getting perfect flying geese with your current method like the ones above, then you may want to give the Studio 180 Design Wing Clipper® tool a try. 

Do you use the Wing Clipper® tool or any other of the Deb Tucker Studio 180 Design Tools? 

Tina

"Designing to Inspire"