Island Batik August Challenge
This months Island Batik Challenge is to feature the Deb Tucker’s Studio 180 Design I received in box 2. It made me a little nervous because I am not one to follow directions or big on cutting fabric. It wasn’t bad at all though.
The tool I received is the Tucker Trimmer I as well as the Quilters Magic Wand. With this you can create 7 different units (sections within a larger block), 3 being basic units, the HST, QST and Combination Unit. Lately I’ve gotten pretty proficient at the HST and QST so I decided to make a quilt with the Combo Unit.
From Deb Tucker Studio website:
Details
- Ruler size: 7” x 7”
- Eleven unit size options from 1” finished to 6” finished in half inch increments (trim sizes 1½” to 6½”)
- Step by step illustrated instructions for making half square triangle, hourglass, and combination units. Now available to download!
- Instructions and illustrations for left hand trimming
- Charts for easy conversion of other pattern instructions
- Free online videos for unit construction and tool trim down (see below, also on YouTube)
- Free bonus block pattern
- Numerous companion patterns available
The guidelines for this challenger were to make any size project and must use at least 16 units, made with a Studio 180 Design tool.
The guide that comes with the tool provides directions for making all three basic units and includes 8 blocks that can be made using them. As I said though, I wanted to make a quilt using just the Combo Unit. So I pulled some larger scraps to test my ability.
The Quilters Magic Wand makes marking your 1/4″ stitch lines simple.
Stitch and cut lines drawn.
Stitching complete.
I pressed seams open for this half to avoid excess bulk.
My finished block and more confident.
The fabric I chose to use is Island Batik Smooch – designed by Kathy Engle. Dark and light coordinating fabric with the 10″ squares.
I even played with the monochrome feature on my cell phone.
Chose light, medium and dark squares. 
With the help of Steve, one of my sisters and Maryellen from Mary Macks Blog, who all liked the bottom layout best it was decided.
120 units in all.
Next I added 2″ finished strips for the border that I cut using the AccuQuilt 2″ strip die, I also love it for cutting my binding.
I hope someone I know has a baby girl soon.
For batting I used this, Hobbs Tuscany Silk Blend which adds a little more loft that I am used to. It quilted up well with no issues and I didn’t have to play with tension which is always good.
You really went the extra mile…or two…with all those triangles. Love your design and fabrics!
Thank you Sally
I will be featuring this in this week’s Creative Compulsions.
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
Thank you so much Michelle, it’s one of my favorite finishes.
Hi Denise, what a lovely quilt. It’s great seeing the tools in action. They looked rather useful and easy to use. Your quilt is great. Congrats! Thanks for linking up to Free Motion Mavericks. Take care.
Thanks Andrée. This challenge really had me nervous because it was something new. But after I started I realized it was not new to me, it was just a new more detailed ruler.
Love your quilt. It’s beautiful!
Thank you so much.
Such a lovely quilt. This will make some little girl very happy! Love your quilting on this. That batt makes it show up nicely. Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.
I like the loft of the silk batting.
Hobbs Tuscany Silk is great for hand quilting, too, and it has such a soft, luxurious drape when it’s finished. I love your pinks and greens in this quilt; it reminds me of pink water lilies floating on a pond. Not that I’ve actually seen water lilies in person in decades…
Someone else said watermelon but waterlilies on a pond are more visually appealing to me. Thank you for stopping by.
Thanks for linking up with Long Arm Learning! And now, of course, all of the expectant moms you know will only be having boys… 😉
Lol, my sons friend is having his first child which I just learned is a girl. I’ve already invited them to pick out a quilt and I hope she chooses this one. Now that I know there’s a LA linky party I’ll try to include something in my Monday posts related so I can link up. Thank you for the party.
Beautiful quilt in Smooch (one of my favorite collections!). Your post was so informative, too. Made me want that tool, too!
Thank you Jennifer, I wondered if I had provided enough info.
That’s really a pretty quilt! Looks like a handy tool, too!
Thank you. When time allows I’ll play with it a little more, for the combo blocks works like a charm.
Hi,
Awesome quilt…love all the colors in this quilt…so pretty!
Have a great day!
Thank you and you do the same.
Such pretty fabric, and such a pretty quilt! I can’t believe you’re done, and I haven’t even started…
You know, this went so quick once I built the courage to try the ruler. After my test block I felt like an expert. Now I need to build the courage to start the September.
Pretty quilt! I really like your design, perfect baby quilt!
Thank you Pamela
What a fun quilt and those tools are terrific to use. A little more loft and no tension sounds like a good thing from the silk batting. I haven’t used mine yet. Not sure I would want it for a baby quilt due to the washing….what do you think?
It says you can machine wash, gentle and cold. The new mother I have in mind is the perfect person to follow to these directions, you would just have to know her to understand. I think it will be a good fit. The tool, yes I was amazed. The directions were so clear.
Very nice!
Thank you. Hopefully today or tomorrow I will be able to stop by and catch up on your making.
Very pretty, and I’m honored to be one of your support designers, lol. Great fabric, and so glad you now have a new tool to use.
Hey I have to give credit where credit is due, I valued your input.
Great quilt!!! And 120 units!!! 🙂
I love the fabric line you used … and the combinations … I really, really, really like it!
Thank you Gail. Yes 120, I had so much fun making what was required I kept going.
So pretty, Denise!
Thank you Michelle
I have a few Tucker tools in my drawer of rulers. I made a hunters star quilt with one, and it made the process easy. I really like how precise your blocks turned out, the quilt is pretty too, the colors remind me of watermelon slices.
In my mind I was making the ruler more difficult than it was, you know that fear of the unknown? Now that you mention it they do look like watermelons, lol.
I love seeing new tools! I rarely buy new ones, but love seeing them in action! Pretty little quilt! Love the pink/peach colors!
Me either, I am kind of a minimalist when it comes to sewing tools and try to make do with what I have. Or repurpose something, like binder clips to hold blocks and fabric together. Boy I’ve sure been missing out on this Tucker Trimmer.
So sweet! This will be a perfect baby quilt! I love the Smooch line. Looks like this is a versatile tool!
Since I wrote up this post I did find out someone is having a girl, yay. but I will hate to see it go. The tool is great.
Hi Denise! I’ve seen several of the Deb Tucker tools around but that skinny ruler looks pretty darn handy. Your quilt and fabric choices are just fab – what a beautiful quilt. I sure hope someone has a baby girl soon – she will love being wrapped up in this beauty. ~smile~ Roseanne
The rulers are marked for easy squaring, the Tucker Trimmer is anyway. It left no guessing, wish I had tried it sooner and I’m pretty excited to see what the other ambassadors do with the ruler they received. Thank you for stopping in today.
Of course, I forgot. Thanks so much for linking up today. ~smile~ Roseanne
Lol, glad to see someone else has repeated blonde moments. Even if we aren’t so blonde anymore.
I recently used some silk batting for a piece and was very pleased with how well it quilted. I love your quilt.
Thank you Gene. I think I received this last year too but I don’t remember the fluff it created. It’s really nice for baby quilt.