Sew Karen-ly Created...

If you have arrived here via a link (such as to a tutorial) click on "Sew Karen-ly Created" to return to the latest blog post. I invite you to my website to see a gallery of quilts and patterns available for purchase.
Comments are always appreciated, simply click the word "comments" at the end of each post to leave your message. Thanks for stopping by!

Monday 12 August 2019

Beat The Heat

Welcome to today's stop on Island Batik's "Beat the Heat" blog hop.  Although we can't actually help reduce the heat and humidity, we perhaps can offer some distraction by showing off the new Island Batik collections shipping to stores now.
We've had wicked heat and humidity this past month, so it was
nice to think back to January when the
first Island Batik Ambassador box arrived.


In that box were two parcels wrapped in paper marked "Surprise",
which we were to keep secret
until now.
Inside my parcels, was a collection called "Garden Party".  Designed by the Colourworx team, the collection  includes 20 different batik prints in saturated rainbow colours.
I received a sampling of the entire collection, plus an additional 2 yards each of a light and a dark.
Our instructions were: lap size or larger, with the goal of featuring as many fabrics from the collection as possible. The batiks headed for the laundry...
...and I headed off to the open EQ8 on the computer.  I wanted to use large pieces to show off the fabrics;  these are 8" squares, with triangle corners added to give a star shape. Alternate blocks with an X made from the cranberry yardage give the stars the appearance of floating.
The triangle point at the edges were pieced into the inner border to complete the star shape.
I auditioned many styles of borders, but in the end I went with my favourite piano key border, in 1" strips.  My quilt ended up a fair bit larger than this sketch, as I liked it so much I kept going.
  
To make the borders, I pieced 1" width of fabric strips of each colour together, then subcut them into 6-1/2" widths.  It made the piecing go really quickly to do it this way.
I decided to mitre the corners, and everything lined up perfectly.
This time, instead of basting on the floor as I always do, I decided to clamp it to my cutting table (which just happens to be in an air-conditioned room!) Polly was her usual helpful self when it came to basting...  The batting chosen is my favourite Hobbs Tuscany Wool;  you can see a bit poking out at the edge. It's Polly's favourite too, and the cut-off scraps go into a box for her which we call her nest, as she snuggles down inside to nap.
 The backing is a plain muslin from Mrs Pugsley's Emporium, for which Aurifil #2000 in 
50 weight was a perfect match.
For the blocks, I free motioned a flowery motif. 
The borders got a squiggly line free motion stitched across the seam, rather than in the ditch.
The alternate X blocks have the same squiggle stitched through their centres. As this is a bed quilt, I wanted it left soft and squishy.  The quilt is sized to fit a twin bed.
Hubby and I took it downtown to photograph at Amherst's beautiful Victoria Square.



A sincere thank you to Island Batik, Aurifil thread, and Hobbs Batting for supplying the products used.

As a small thank you for stopping by, at the end of the hop (after August 31/19) I will draw a name for two free pdf patterns. This giveaway is open to everyone, but please make sure you leave an email address in the comment where I can reach you. Make sure that you visit the Island Batik blog for a chance to win some fabulous fabric, as well as the links below to see gorgeous quilts:
Monday, August 5
Leanne Parsons 
Sherry Shish

Tuesday, August 6
Bill Locke
Lisa Nielsen

Wednesday, August 7
Sandra Walker
Terri Vanden Bosch

Thursday, August 8
Pamela Boatright
Kathleen McCormick

Monday, August 12
Karen Neary
Carol Moellers

Tuesday, August 13
Michelle Roberts
Laticia “Tish” Stemple

Wednesday, August 14
(Debora) Anne Wiens
Gene Black

Thursday, August 15
Tina D Dillard
Bea Lee

Monday, August 19
Joanne Hart
Carla Henton

Tuesday, August 20
Connie Kauffman
Vasudha Govindan

Wednesday, August 21
Vicki Schlimmer
Mania Hatziioannidi

Thursday, August 22
Gail Sheppard

Monday, August 26
Maryellen McAuliffe
Jennifer Strauser

Tuesday, August 27
Connie K Campbell
Joan Kawano


Sunday 11 August 2019

Get Ready To Beat The Heat!

We're about to start on the second week of Island Batik's "Beat The Heat" blog hop. Each week, Island Batik is giving away pre-cuts of one of the featured collections, and this week it's "Garden Party" by Colourwerx.  This collection just happens to be the one I worked with, so please drop back here tomorrow to see my quilt.  In the meantime, make sure you enter the Rafflecopter giveawa from Island Batik.
No photo description available.
Good luck!