Paper pieced lap quilt-island Batik
Island Batik-Pieced to Perfection Blog Hop
Today is the first day of the latest blog hop hosted by Island Batik, to showcase their latest collections shipping to shops this month. You can visit the Island Batik Blog to view the full schedule, sneak peaks of the collections being presented, and find a shop near you who carries Island Batik fabric.
The challenge this month was to make a paper pieced or EPP lap quilt or larger using the fabric collection we received. You will find quilts created using commercial patterns and unique one of a kind designs in this blog hop.
The collection I received was Blushing Garden designed by Kathy Engle for Island Batik, 20 half yard cuts and two coordinating fabrics. Isn’t it yummy. Blushing Garden makes me think of a tropical getaway with luscious sprays of floral. How I wish my Orchids were blooming.
Some of the products featured on this site were provided to me free of charge by Island Batik, Hobbs Batting, Aurifil , AccuQuilt, Deb Tucker Studio 180 Designs and Schmetz Needles.
Paper pieced design
Since I am not a fan of hand sewing my design is foundation paper piecing. Because I couldn’t come up with floral design I liked, this design is an existing one I’ve been working on. If you are new to fpp or interested in learning, visit my YouTube challenge where I shared how to’s from my last quilt along.
Blushing Garden really made my design take on a form of its own. And, coordinating Aurifil Thread 50wt and Schmetz Needles are a staple in my sewing room. My personal opinion, Schmetz Quilting Chrome Needles are so nice for paper piecing, they penetrate the paper better which makes pulling papers easier. Aurifil has a wide range of colors and weights available and did you know they also have a thread for longarm quilters?
For this design I only used 3 sku’s and I wish I’d had the time to make a larger quilt. If you follow me you know I have sold a house, rented a house and purchased a house, all in a 2 1/2 month time frame. That is a lot of packing and unpacking and cleaning. Most of my sewing room is in a storage unit and I can’t find anything, lol. Including a nut for the carriage of my longarm that was just brought to the new house and finally setup.
None the less, I hope you enjoy the design and it inspires you to create something of your own with Blushing Garden. Come back to see what I make with the remainder of the collection. Oh, visit Elita at Busy Needle Quilting who is also sharing her finish today.
It is not quilted now, but there is a plan. It will begin with Hobbs Heirloom® Premium 100% Wool.
Aren’t the colors yummy? The shade and green backdrop really show just how rich this fabric is.
Denise…Could you tell me what size Quilting Chrome Needles you use for your paper piecing? The 75/11 or the 90/14?
Great question! I prefer the 90/14 with 50wt cotton thread when stitching through multiple layers, mostly joining the pieced templates. The Microtex Sharp Chrome 80/12 is really nice to piece the templates, they seem to stitch a straighter line and it leaves a clean hole in the paper and batik fabric. The papers also seem to tear more easily using the Sharp.
Hi Denise, the colours in this collection are amazing. What a great quilt top you made.
Thank you so much
Gorgeous and so rich looking. Good luck with the move and renovations. It will be worth it. I wish someone had told me how much room I would need for stash when I first started sewing and quilting. lol I really need a larger craft room.
I understand the struggle. The home we just sold, my room was 10×11, I had my longarm in my office and was filling another room.
Love your quilt. I enjoy FPP and have learned that ironing the seams open with a little starch or sizing helps keep the layers flatter.
Thank you. Starch is my friend too 🙂
Love this design!
Thank you
This is an amazing quilt, Denise! Love it!
Thank you Brenda
Such a gorgeous quilt!
What i have learned about quilting that I wish someone had told me when I first started sewing was the importance of pressing your seams!
Thank you
Beautiful design and quilt.
Thank you
what a stunning piece, will there be a pattern? i hope so
Thank you. It will be a bit before I can write a pattern, there are a few design flaws that need to be corrected. We just purchased a home at an auction that is in need of repairs, lots of cleaning and a storage unit that needs to be moved in. Check back in a couple of months.
Gorgeous….just love this circle & wedge design
Thank you. Would you believe me if I told you there were no curved pieces?
I really can’t think of anything that I have learned that I wish I had been taught early on. Maybe that is because I am 81, I started sewing when I was 8, and I made my 1st quilt 53 years ago.
Wow, that’s amazing!
Thank you
oh but this is gorgeous. thanks for sharing I love the pinks
Thank you
Wow! That is a cool design, Denise! And you know I feel your pain about the moving. My quilting frame is up with no missing pieces, but it’s still not right. Three test quilts and it’s still got a bump in the middle ~ Ugh! I hope you find your piece and finish setting up your studio soon. Have a great day!
Thank you. There is still a lot of my sewing stuff in storage so it will be a while before its completely finished. Thankfully, what is here will be put away before the rest makes it. Wonder what is causing your bump? Have you tried brushing out the tracks and cleaning your wheels? For my tracks I use a hard wax, it’s in storage too.
This one is wonderful. I love the design of those fabrics. Your colors fit perfect together. When I first started quilting I would love that someone told me about the notions that could serve me better than just scissors.
Thank you, and me too!
Wow Denise! That is so gorgeous! You did an awesome job. I really love it.
Thank you so much.
I do love this design and amazed you got anything done with moving 2x! Now for the prompt…maybe a little more on scrap management would have been nice to know early in my quilting career!
It has been a real struggle, I felt in limbo at the rental and couldn’t find anything.
Beautiful design! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for stopping by.
Blushing Garden is a gorgeous design! I love paper piecing but dont do much of it lately; especially since I got the gocutter. How big is this piece? I’m wondering if it is a decent christmas tree skirt size like 48-52 ” across??
Thank you. With the border it is 60″ square.
I realized how important accurate seam allowances are when I first began quilting–garment sewing is a little more forgiving!
I love your design. It showcases the fabrics so nicely. Thanks for sharing amidst all your moving!!
Thank you Bonnie
Oh holy cow Denise, this is so unique and stunning!! Glad you found a house to buy and can settle in now;)
Oh me too! In the house we sold I had a 10′ x 11′ sewing room, my longarm in my office and AQ dies in another room. The new room is roughly 12′ x 16′ and I am no longer cramped. Thank you Vicki.
Your quilt is beautiful even without being quilted! The colors are so vibrant and alive! The center even lays flat in the center despite all those seams! I can’t believe you had time to make this lovely quilt while unpacking and organizing your new home, happy stitching!
Thank you. There is some pressing and paper pulling that needs done, it will help lay that heavy center a little flatter.