ZigZag 48" x 60" by Connie Kauffman
The June Island Batik Ambassador Challenge is called Create for a Cause. Each Ambassador was sent a ruler from Deb Tucker's Studio 180. The challenge was to make a quilt using our ruler and Island Batik fabric that we could donate to a worthy cause.
Deb Tucker highlighted the organization Sleep in Heavenly Peace for us to donate quilts. This organization makes beds for children so that NO child sleeps on the floor! The organization Quilts Across America relies on the generosity of quilters to provide a quilt for each bed that is delivered. Their goal is to get kids off the floor, into a bed and under a quilt. That's fantastic!
The ruler I received was called Split Recs.
Each ruler comes with a very clearly written direction sheet.
I tape this sheet to the back of the ruler when I'm finished so I don't lose it. These rulers are great, but you do need to read the instructions and review how to use them each time. Deb also has great video's about the rulers that are very helpful also.
As you can see on the direction sheet, this ruler makes a rectangular block that is divided on the diagonal. It tells how to cut the fabric to make blocks like this -
The ruler makes 8 different size blocks, from 1" x 1 1/2" to 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" In the past with other Studio 180 rulers I've tried making some of the small sized blocks. This time as the challenge was to make a larger quilt, I made blocks that measured 4" x 8".
Since the quilt was probably going to children or youth, they recommended bright colors. So I decided to use many of the beautiful, bright solid foundation fabrics that Island Batik always has in stock. I used eight colors with gray on one half of each block. I made four blocks with each color and gray and alternated them with a block done in gray and black. The colors I used were yellow, lime green, red, turquoise, cobalt blue, orange, fuchsia, pink, gray and black. You can see all the Island Batik solid fabrics here
One caution when using the solid fabrics - I do prewash to get rid of excess dye. I don't usually prewash my fabrics, but I always prewash the solids.
This quilt actually came together pretty quickly once I decided on the layout and colors. The block size made by the ruler my quilt came out 2" shy of the suggested size of 50" x 60". Mine is 48" x 60", but I think they will still accept it!
I pieced the blocks with Aurifil thread and pressed with my Oliso iron which heats up nice and hot. I used Hobbs Black Cotton batting that works so well with darker fabrics. I used a variegated thread for all the quilting and I thought it looked nice. I used the variegated for the top and also the bottom. The back of the quilt is the solid gray so the colored thread there was nice also.
I sewed the binding on by machine as suggested. They say it is a sturdier binding for children and for quilts that will be washed more often. I've only sewn a binding on by machine once before so it was a bit of a challenge. I usually cut my bindings 1 1/4" and do a single fold binding. Not thinking about sewing on the binding, I cut it 1 1/4" not realizing I would have to fold the binding in half and sew it on the back and fold it to the front and sew again. It was a real squeeze to do it with my already cut binding, but I managed!
My neighbor kindly let me take photos at the side of his house. I thought the red backdrop was very nice.
Many thanks to Island Batik, Island Batik, Aurifil Thread, Hobbs Batting, Oliso Irons and Deb Tucker's Studio 180 for donating supplies to make this project.
Don't forget that I am an affiliate for the Missouri Star Quilt Company. If you use my link
you can get 20% off any order of $50 or more!
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