Sept. Pieced to Perfection Challenge/Blog Hop

 

                                                            

                                                            61" x 49"

September is the Pieced to Perfection Island Batik Ambassador Challenge.  We each received a bundle of half yard cuts of a new collection to use in a project using either paper piecing or English paper piecing.  It is ALWAYS amazing to work with a brand new collection!

The collection I received to work with is called Chromatic.  It is an Island Batik collection by the designer Studio 180 Design.  These fabrics ship to stores in September, so you can start looking for them now.

I also received a dark fabric from the collection in yardage and a light fabric in yardage from Foundations called Rice.

There are 22 fabrics in the collection and I used 19 of them.  Instead of the white color in the collection, I used the light bluish/gray fabric they sent in yardage - Rice from the Foundations as I needed more of the lighter color.  The two other fabrics I didn't use I'll be giving away in a drawing at the end of this post.

I decided on this block pattern because of the good contrast in light and dark fabrics in the collection.

I like to do paper piecing, so this is the way I decided to go.  I usually work very small in my paper piecing, but I wanted to showcase the fabrics so I decided to work with a larger block size.  My main block is 6" finished with only four sections.  For the middle border I took the same block and made it half size - 3" finished.  This is more like the size I like to work with.  I really like how these blocks worked in the border.  This is a simple block to paper piece.

Here are a couple works in progress photos.

One thing I like about this block design is that it gives an optical illusion.  You can easily see diagonal rows, but can you also see the squares that have indented sides?

I was able to piece the backing from the dark fabric they sent with the collection bundle.  It is actually one of the collection fabrics, so it looks really nice on the back.

I quilted with orange and dark blue Aurifil thread.  Hobbs Cotton batting gives it a nice drape.  I used Schmetz needles like always. I especially like the Microtex needles for sewing with batiks.

I had to make at least one block with smaller pieces like I normally do.  This block is 6 1/2".

I love how the black fabric makes the colors pop.  This may be a pattern you'll see more of in the future....

Here are a couple photos I took at Camp Alexander Mack in Milford IN.

DRAWING

I'm having a drawing for 2 half yard fabrics from the Chromatic Collection.  Leave a comment on what you would name my quilt.  I haven't decided on a name yet.  I will draw a winner at the end of the blog.

Make sure that I can contact you if you are the winner.  Entries only from the USA due to postage costs.

ISLAND BATIK DRAWING

Island Batik is having a fantastic drawing for two collection bundles.  These are fantastic- don't miss it!

Be sure to enter by going to their blog and entering the drawing there.

Many thanks to Island Batik,  Hobbs Batting, Schmetz Needles and Aurifil Thread for providing product for this project.