This month's Island Batik Ambassador challenge was to make a Christmas Stocking.
Disclaimer: The products used to make this stocking were given to me by Island Batik and industry partners.
I was inspired to use the Emperor's Treasures strip pack and the dark coordinate, Merlot, that I received in my Island Batik Ambassador second shipment for 2022.
Though the purples and lime green are not very traditional Christmas colors, I love the rich look of them paired with the dark purple Merlot coordinating fabric. The first thing I did was cut 2-1/2" strips of the dark purple and sew them together with some of the strips from the Emperor's Treasures pack.
Next, I sub cut crosswise 2-1/2" strips, and sewed them together to make this checkerboard pattern.
I made a quilt sandwich with Hobbs fusible batting and more of the dark purple Merlot fabric for the lining. I wanted the quilting thread to stand out and add to the design so I used this beautiful Light Yellow 1135 thread from Aurifil.
I am making this stocking for Mariah, my son's fiancé. I decided to use the embroidery unit on my Janome Memory Craft to personalize the stocking with her name. I used the same Yellow Aurifil thread and Schmetz needles for her name as I used for the quilting.
I don't have any Christmas decorations up yet, so I took this photo outside in an evergreen tree. I love the way this project came out!
Christmas Stocking Stats:
Fabric: Emperor's Treasures strip pack and Merlot by Island Batik
Thread: Light Yellow 1135 by Aurifil
Batting: Fusible by Hobbs
Needles: Schmetz
I still have a lot of strips left from the Emperor's Treasures package, and I have another project in the works, pairing them with the other coordinating fabric. It's coming along nicely. I'll be showing that one soon, too.
For maximum Christmas Stocking inspiration, check out what all the Island Batik Ambassadors are making this month. Here's a list:
Note: This is an affiliate link. Clicking this link will not affect the purchase price. However, if you do make a purchase, I may receive a commission. Thank you.
Hello! Welcome to day two of the Island Batik Ambassador Studio 180 blog hop. This is my quilt, Beeswax.
Disclaimer: The products used to make this quilt were given to me by Island Batik and industry partners.
This month's challenge was to make a quilt using the ruler we were given in the second Ambassador shipment, paired with a new Island Batik fabric collection that also came in the second shipment.
I received the Beehive Buzz fabric collection by Kathy Engle. Isn't it fabulous? These fabrics are sweet as honey! This project is the second quilt I made with this collection. I've also sewn a catalog quilt. I'll share that with you in a week or two. The Beehive Buzz fabric collection should be hitting the local quilt shops now.
The Studio 180 ruler I received was the Four Patch Square Up. When I opened up this ruler I thought, "I don't need a ruler to make four patch units. I've made so many in the past. I'm an expert." Haha! Boy was I wrong. My past four patches were acceptable, but the four patches I made with Deb Tucker's ruler were nearly perfect!!! It's an outstanding tool, I'm not much of a ruler girl, so that is saying a lot.
To make the four patches, you cut your fabric into strips, pair them together with opposite sides facing and then sub cut into strip set pairs. So easy!
After sewing the strip sets together, you use the ruler to trim them down to the correct size. Look at the points on this four patch! Plus all four squares will come out perfectly equal (as long as you are cutting correctly). The ruler makes it easy. It was quick, too. I used a spinning rotary mat to easily trim all four sides of the units.
I made a lot of four patch units.
I also used the Wing Clipper ruler by Studio 180, which I already had in my collection for this project.
The Wing Clipper makes Flying Geese units.
I put together the Four Patch units and the Flying Geese units to make 12 Beeswax blocks, pieced with my favorite Schmetz needles, of course.
I used my Prairie Spirit Alpaca pressing mat to press all those seams super flat before sewing the top together.
Then for the quilting, I used the Hobbs Tuscany Collection Cotton Wool Blend. This makes a super light and super warm quilt at the same time. Just right for the upcoming Autumn front porch sitting sunset watching time of the year.
I used gorgeously matching yellow Aurifil thread for the quilting.
Quilting, quilting, quilting.
Here it is, all quilted with a loopy meander.
I used a two yard cut of this beautiful fabric also from the Beehive Buzz collection, for the backing.
I made the binding from a light black dotty fabric. I love the dots.
Beeswax folds.
Beeswax
Quilt Stats:
Finished Quilt Size: 40" x 52"
Block Size: 12" x 12"
Fabric: Beehive Buzz by Island Batik
Batting: Tuscany Wool Cotton Blend by Hobbs
Thread: Aurifil
Needles: Schmetz
Designed in EQ8
Giveaway time! Visit Island Batik's blog to enter their weekly giveaway during the blog hop. This week they're giving away bundles of Bee Kind and Baroque. Click here to visit the Island Batik blog.
I'm having a giveaway, too! I've cut some 5" charms from my remaining pieces of Beehive Buzz. To win, leave me a comment below (scroll all the way to the end of this post), and to make it fun, comment your favorite flower. What do you like to see the bees pollinating? Giveaway open to USA residents only. Please make sure I have a way to contact you, should you be the lucky winner. The winner will be determined by random drawing at the end of the blog hop.
It's only the second day of the Island Batik Ambassador Studio 180 Blog hop. Here's the complete list so you don't miss a thing!
Note: This is an affiliate link. Clicking this link will not affect the purchase price. However, if you do make a purchase, I may receive a commission. Thank you.
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