Sunday, September 24, 2017

Island Batik Back To School Hop and Give-away!

Hi, and welcome back to school.  Today's my day on the Island Batik Ambassador hop, and I'm pleased to introduce you to some wonderful new fabrics, the collection called Cherry Berry.

Click on Cherry Berry to see the fabrics.  I'll wait while you ooh and aah over the colors and designs. Did you see the cute kitchen tools, and all the fruit prints, and that gorgeous pink with grapes and leaves?  No?  Go look again.  Yes, there are even polka dots.  So, go call your favorite fabric store and tell the you need Cherry Berry now.  It's shipping as you read.  I'll wait...

Are you back??
I love going back to school!  I loved being a student, and loved being a teacher.  I've taught all levels, from kindergarten to college (yes, I have friends who still call me Professor). and love getting new pencils, crayons, and folders.  I loved that line in "You've Got Mail" when Meg's character says she wants a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils.  All those years as a teacher, I also loved getting apples, and collecting apples and also going apple picking.  So, I chose to use the Accuquilt GO! Apple core die and make something with all the fabrics in this collection.  Bright and fun and scrappy.  

The die comes with directions for a basic 41 by 50" quilt, and there's a tutorial on the Moda Bake Shop  that measures 51 by 57.  I think I cut out about 140 pieces, planning to do 11 by 15 rows, and picked randomly from the pile.  I did try to not have the same colors or fabrics touching, but with scrappy, it doesn't matter as much.  My collection included 20 SKUs, plus 2 more for border and binding.  I'm not sure if I'll add a border to this, or just cut the edges straight, or use a bias binding and keep it curvy.  That part of the quilt isn't talking yet, lol.  I've named it Apples From the Teacher. 

But as a teacher, I always need to include my version, my directions, and how I did it.  I'm not big on pinning, except when adding gathered things or sleeves, or long seams.  I've been sewing since I was little, and got my first (hand-me down from mom) full size machine when I was 7.  (Ahem, more than 45 years ago).  I made clothes and doll dresses, and worked with tons of curved pieces.  I think it's really funny when someone says you need to pin something every centimeter or less.  That's really not necessary.  I've also done tons of Accuquilt curved shapes, like the Drunkard's Path, and recently, the Double Wedding Ring.

Here's my lesson: Limit the pins, use a stiletto or your fingernail to help make sure the edges line up. You may want to pin the beginning, the place where the notches line up, and the end.  Or not.  Just go slow, and use a good seam guide.  I recorded a video of me sewing on my vintage Singer 15-91, so you can see it works.  If you're using a more modern machine, just adjust the speed so you have the most control, and use a good 1/4" guide. Please notice I use my right hand to guide the fabric on the bottom, and left to guide fabric on the top.  I adjust as it goes through the machine.  

Here's the video.


Here's a few photos of my top so far.  Life happens while deadlines loom, so I don't have this quilted, and may still add a few rows.  I do love nice size lap quilts, and this one is just so fun and pretty.




So, I'll let you know when this is done.  I do occasionally finish something, lol.  

So, thanks for visiting for the Island Batik Back to School Hop.

Island Batik has a give-away using Rafflecopter.  


The other Island Batik Ambassadors have more to share and to give away.

WEEK 1
Tuesday, September 5 – Country Dozen
Cheryl Lynch Quilts • Inspired Layers
Wednesday, September 6 – Bonsai
Little Bunny Quilts
Thursday, September 7 – Sakura
Masterpiece Quilting

WEEK 2

Monday, September 11 – Fresh Pick’ins
KISSed Quilts
Tuesday, September 12 – Lotus Blooms
Kathys Kwilts and More
Thursday, September 14 – Rise & Shine
Den Syende Himmel • Sally’s Quilting Corner
Friday, September 15 – Diner Days
Ark Angel Creations • The Quilt Rambler

WEEK 3

Monday, September 18 – Seas the Day
KISSed Quilts • Whispers of Yore • Needle & Foot
Tuesday, September 19 – Vineyard
The Inquiring Quilter • Inchworm Fabrics
Wednesday, September 20 – Abalone
PamelaQuilts • Yellow Cat Quilts
Friday, September 22 – Captain’s Anchor
Purrfect Spots Designs • Beaquilter

WEEK 4

Tuesday, September 26 – Lobster Bake
Seams to be Sew
Wednesday, September 27 – Solstice
Bejeweled Quilts • heARTs Creations
Thursday, September 28 – Sour Apple
Seams Like a Dream • Kauffman Designs
Friday, September 29 – Zen
Lizard Creek Quilting • Quilt’n Party
And I have something, too.  I'll be sending a lucky comment writer a sweet little something.  I have a really hard time picking to give my gorgeous Island Batik away, but you'll be happy with a small prize.  It may be strips or a charm pack or some FQs or some 5" rolls, and a copy of my first published pattern, featuring Zen, which you'll see later this week.  You'll have to wait and see.  So, I do hope you're following my blog, either by email or bloglovin, and you also follow my Facebook page.  Let me know and you may be my lucky winner.  This will close Saturday, Sept 30 at midnight. NY time.  
Please also share this with your friends!  Thanks for visiting, and go find some Cherry Berry and some apples for the teacher.