2021 Island Batik Ambassador Sign Up

If you have a blog and would be interested in becoming a 2021 Island Batik Ambassador, I encourage you to apply!

Click on the link for more information and the application:  https://forms.gle/WapggDZQEKsmcaZu9

October Island Batik Thread Painting Challenge

Thread Painted Quilt 

         46" x 58"

By Connie Kauffman

The October Island Batik Ambassador Challenge was to create a thread painted quilt with Island Batik fabrics and Aurifil Threads.  

 

This was an interesting challenge.  I was given the Mandala Magic fabrics designed by Jackie Kunkle of Canton Village Quilt Works to make the project.  These are bright, sort of wild prints and some black and white prints.  These fabrics are the summer 2020 line and are in your stores now.

What to make?

This time we were also allowed to request coordinating threads from Aurifil to make this project.  That was great.  I got 6 colors that went really well.  Aren't they beautiful!  And they are all 60 weight which is my favorite.  I loaded up a bobbin in each color. This was getting exciting!

I thought long and hard about what kind of thread painting to do.  I kept going back to doing something like Zentangle with the great colored threads.  Maybe something on white.  I looked at loads of pictures and drew up some of my own. Then I got to thinking about an attachment I'd gotten for my machine many years ago and had only used twice.  It's called the Circular Embroidery Attachment. It makes different sized circles and you can use all the fancy stitches on your machine!

It really is very easy to use.  It attaches with a single screw.  You put the fabric on the pin at the left and the pin can be moved to the right and left to make the size circle you want.

I've mentioned in earlier posts how I love Hobbs Fusible Batting.  I used this batting in the project.

I had to experiment awhile to see how to  make the blocks and what would work.  I made the blocks in the same way you make a Quilt as You Go project.  

I took my center white square and cut another square a bit larger for the backing.  I cut the fusible batting as large as the whole block would be after the borders were attached.  I pinned the white block on the front and pinned the other white block in the same place on the back and then pressed them with the iron.  You make the bottom block a bit bigger in case you didn't get it perfectly squared up with the front- ask  me how I know!

The first thing I did was baste around the white block on the top.  This was an important step in that it stabilized the block.  I then had fun sewing circle after circle, after circle!  It was really fun to use the different embroidery stitches.  I must have used about all of them!  I used each of the pretty Aurifil Threads a couple times in each block.  I used Schmetz Chrome Microtex needles that worked very smoothly with all the embroidery.

The greatest thing I found out was that the design was the exact same on the back as on the front!  Since I used the fusible batting and had stabilized the block, I didn't need to use any additional stabilizers.  They recommend you use a stabilizer- but I didn't need it.

I only needed to make a wall quilt for this challenge, but with the project being reversible, I couldn't resist making a larger lap quilt.

After I had all of the center blocks sewn, it was time to add the borders.  This was done like a regular Quilt As You Go project.  Lay your border strip on the top and bottom (same color strips) and sew the strips on and press them back - front and back.  With the fusible batting, once pressed it was stable and ready for the next border strip.  I had a small black and white inner border and four bright colors in the outer borders. Very easy!  I did a simple straight line quilting in the border strips.

Once all the blocks had the borders sewn on, I did a final trim to size.  Then it was time to lay them all out and sew the sashing strips.  The back sashing strip was 1/4" wider than the top strip.  I laid the the bottom strip on the back along the side edge of the block and the top strip on the top side edge of the block and sewed a 1/4" seam.

Then the top sashing was pressed back and sewn to the next block.  Then you turn the two blocks over and turn under the sashing and hand stitch it to the other block.  You do this for block after block.  Then do the same thing to join the rows.

I have to admit there was a lot of hand sewing and many, many, many thread changes in this quilt, but over all it went together pretty quickly.  I did a very simple curved quilting over the small sashing strips to help stabilize the joined battings in the middle.  Then add the binding and it's done!

Pretty neat that it's reversible!

It was interesting that I was given some of the same fabrics for my It's In The Bag Blog Hop.  It looks nice in a bag too!

Many thanks to Island Batik, Aurifil Thread, Hobbs Batting and Schmetz needles for suppling the products for this challenge.

The winner from my September drawing for two stash builder bundles was Kathleen.  Congratulations! The fabrics are on the way to you!

 

Azure & Arrows in Love of Quilting

My pattern Azure & Arrows has been published in the Nov/Dec 2020 issue of Love of Quilting.

Azure & Arrows

Designed and made by Connie Kauffman

37 1/2" x 37 1/2"

(photo courtesy of Love of Quilting)

The fabrics are from the line Faded Blue Jeans by Kathy Engle for Island Batik.  They are lovely shades of blue with a great mixture of prints.  And yes- they do have a faded blue jeans look!  Great name for the collection.

This quilt has a lot of movement and things going on.  You can easily see the arrows in the design, but can you see the wrenches?  And do you see the four stars in the center?  I actually began the design with the four stars and went out from there.  I added some buttons for added embellishments.

Blog Hop- Last Week

This is the last week for the It's In The Bag Blog Hop.  I hope you've been following along with all the great bags the Island Batik Ambassadors have been making.  Each post has been so informative on creating the ByAnnie bags and the Island Batik fabrics have been amazing. 

There are only two bags yet to see this week so be sure and check them out.  You can also go back and see all the bags in the last 3 weeks by clicking here.

Don't forget to enter the Island Batik fabric drawings on their blog this week

Don't forget you can enter my drawing also until this Friday.

Have a great week!

First Light - McCall's Quilting

 My quilt First Light has been published in the Nov/Dec issue of McCall's Quilting.  I used the beautiful fabrics from the Sundance Collection of Island Batik fabrics designed by Kathy Engle.

First Light
14 1/2" x 14 1/2"

Designed and made by Connie Kauffman

McCall's Quilting Nov/Dec 2020

                                                    Photo courtesy  of McCall's Quilting 

It's In The Bag Blog Hop -Take A Stand Bag

The September Island Batik Ambassador Challenge is called - It's In The Bag

Who doesn't love a new bag?  By Annie patterns can help you make something wonderful!

                        

This was s a great challenge.  I've wanted to make a By Annie's pattern for a long time.  In the second Ambassador box we all received a bundle from Annie's that contained everything we needed to make one of her bags.  How great is that!  My bag pattern was for Take a Stand.  Here are photos of what all was in the kit - the pattern, Soft & Stable, zippers, mesh, hardware, etc.  And of course- a selection of Island Batik fabrics.  So exciting!

Here's some close ups of what was in the package.

The Aurifil thread came in the Ambassador box, not in the kit.  Doesn't it match great!

The Island Batik fabrics were chosen by Annie - we didn't have to make any decisions.  Her choices are spot on!   My fabrics are from the Mandala Magic Collection designed by Jackie Kunkle of Canton Village Quilt Works.  This is a Spring 2020 Collection and will be  in stores soon.                    

                    

Zippers and hardware (rings, swivel hooks & sliders).  My bag had a bonus- enough of everything to make 2 bags - one of each size!

Mesh and beautiful fold over elastic - both which I've never used before.

By Annie's Soft and Stable foam stabilizer, 1" polypro strapping and a solid base for the large bag.

All of these items are available at her website ByAnnie.com.  This Soft and Stable is WONDERFUL for making bags!  Be sure and try it out.

By Annie's patterns are very detailed, but wonderfully laid out in step by step instructions.  Each piece has a label to keep you organized.  I laid out my pieces for each bag separately.

The main body pieces are quilted however you like.  She suggested straight line quilting, so I quilted one bag with straight lines and the other bag with diagonal lines to see how it would look each way.  I think I liked the diagonal best.

I have to admit that zippers still intimidate me.  Her instructions are very good.  I forgot to mention that with the pattern there was a coupon for a free online video to help with making the bag.  That was very helpful- especially if you are visual learner.  Sometimes worded patterns can be confusing.  Annie has loads of online videos that are wonderful.  Such a great bonus!

I have never used mesh before.  I never thought about how you would cover the top edge.  Annie's fold-over elastic is SUPER easy to use.  It is very pretty and both the mesh and elastic come in many colors on her website.

Side panels and main panels.  After many steps it is all coming together!

The zippers on each side were easy- now for the top zippers

The large bag came with an acrylic piece for the base.  That makes it super sturdy and you can even carry a small sewing machine in it!  Notice the great mesh pockets on each side. And NO exposed seams anywhere!

Here are the two bags completed.  The larger bag measures 12 1/2" H x 16"W x 8"D

The smaller bag measures 8 3/4" H x 12"W x 6 1/2"D

They each have a long carrying strap with an adjustable slider.

The small bag fits inside the larger one.

The larger bag will fit an iron or small sewing machine.  Notice how the bag opens fully when unzipped.  That can be very handy.

Here it is with my small Gem Gold sewing machine zipped inside.

I just had to take a photo of the bags with my petunias.  I thought the colors  looked good together!

The smaller bag has a companion project called Running With Scissors.  Yesterday Ambassador Emily Leachman made this great project.  It is a zippered case that you can open up and actually fold over the top of the smaller bag above so that all your tools are easily accessible.  Check out Emily's blog for more information on that project.

This is the second week of the blog hop - go back to my last post to see the listing of all the Ambassadors and what day they are posting and what fabrics they are using.  Don't miss a day!

Be sure and go to the Island Batik Blog this week of the blog hop to enter for a chance to win one of two beautiful fabric bundles - Lemon Grass and Mandala Magic

Leave a comment below to be entered into my drawing for two stash builder bundles of Island Batik.  Tell me if you have ever made a ByAnnie's bag or any other kind of bag.  I will draw a winner with Random.org. at the end of the blog hop.  USA entries only due to postage.

*Thanks to Island Batik, Auriful thread and ByAnnie/ for the supplies to make this project.

It's In the Bag Blog Hop- Starts Tomorrow!

The It's In the Bag Blog Hop starts tomorrow and runs for the next four weeks.

The Island Batik Ambassadors are all making a projects from ByAnnie.com.  She has something for everyone – from handy zippered handbags, duffles and backpacks to laptop carriers, sewing supplies organizers and classy travel bags! New Island Batik collections from the Spring 2020 Collections from the second Island Batik Ambassador boxes will be featured. We hope that you will follow along to see all the amazing creations and get inspired to make a beautiful bag for your next adventure, big or small!

The full list of Ambassadors’ names, collections they will be using in their projects, and their post dates are as follows:

September 8:

• Janet Yamamoto
• Suzy Webster

September 9:

• Michelle Roberts
• Gail Sheppard

September 10:

• Sharon Riley
• Alison Vermilya

September 11:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 1 and Giveaway

September 14:

• Sally Manke
• Gail Renna

September 15:

• Mania Hatziioannidi
• Emily Leachman

September 16:

• Connie Kauffman
• Leah Malasky

September 17:

• Vasudha Govindan
• Joanne Hart

September 18:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 2 and Giveaway

September 21:

• Carolina Asmussen
• Sandra Walker

September 22:

• Jennifer Fulton
• Pamela Boatright
• Jennifer Strauser

September 23

• Denise Looney
• Maryellen McAuliffe

September 24:

• Megan Best
• Jennifer Thomas

September 25:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 3 and Giveaway

September 28:

• Carla Henton
• Carol Moellers

September 29:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 4

Each Friday Island Batik will be posting round-up's and having fabric giveaways.

To celebrate the start of It’s in the Bag Blog Hop, Island Batik is giving away two fabulous Fat Quarter bundles of Buttercup and Floralicious collections by our very own Kathy Engle!

Go to the Island Batik Blog to enter the drawing - starting now!

Check the Island Batik Blog regularly so you do not miss a thing!

My day for posting is the 16th.  I can't wait to show you what I've made!