Island Batik Ambassador Challenge for January 2021 - Placemats

For this month's Island Batik Ambassador challenge we were asked to create a set of placemats!  I chose to use some of my leftover fabric from the Peacock Galore collection (designed by Claudia Pfiel for Island Batik's Spring 2020 collection) to create my placemats.  The fabric and all the supplies I used to make them were provided by Island Batik and their industry partners as part of the Island Batik Ambassador program!

Aren't they pretty?  I sure do love these bright happy colors!

I loved them so much that I had to make a matching runner!  It's really pretty amazing what you can make with 1/2 yard cuts of fabric (actually these were a little less because I had cut strips from them for my October project)  

I used seven different fabrics for the blocks and borders on the placemats and runners, then two more for the back of the placemats, and two for the binding.  I also used more of the Hobbs Fusible batting for this project.  I think I am addicted to it!  Just a good pressing and you are ready to go - no pinning needed and the backing stays perfectly in place.  

I quilted it using Spring Green (1231) 50 wt thread from Aurifil - so pretty!  Of course, I put in a brand new needle from Schmetz before I started to ensure that I would get the best stitches.  It's really worth the investment and helps prevent skipped stitches, I used to feel wasteful changing needles so often, but it really is worth it.  You can always save the used needles for doing foundation piecing, or other work that doesn't require a sharp needle for good perfomance.

I used my Accuquilt GO! cutter that I received in my 2019 Island Batik Ambassador supplies.  This little machine has been a lifesaver so many times - I really don't know how I got along without it!  I purchased the 8 inch Angles Companion set to go with the 8inch Qube that came with the bundle.  It sure makes cutting these a breeze!  It also makes them super accurate, with no dog ears to trim!  Always a good thing and it makes the sewing go so much faster.

I was so delighted with the results of this challenge that I decided to write it up as a pattern.  Peacock Paradise is now available in my Etsy shop for the great price of $5.00.  My pattern includes templates for that tricky triangle in a square unit, so you can make these whether or not you own an Accuquilt cutter system.  

I hope you enjoyed seeing my project and are following the rest of the ambassadors as well!

Thank you to Island Batik and all the wonderful industry partners for providing the material and notions used for this project!  

Make sure you keep an eye out starting tomorrow as the Island Batik Ambassadors start our first blog hop of the year!  Create for a Cause starts tomorrow!