Friday, July 23, 2021

It's Never Too Early - July Island Batik Ambassador Challenge 2021

 If you want to make a project for Christmas, July is truly not too early to get started, and this is something all of us Island Batik Ambassadors know for sure!  Our challenge was to create a project for a holiday celebrated at the end of the year and since I had some pretty reds and greens, I decided on a Christmas project.  The fabrics I used are from the Holly Holiday line designed by Kathy Engle for Island Batik.  


My inspiration was to create a star block that would look somewhat like a poinsettia flower.  After coming up with my block, I decided to add pieced setting squares and triangles to make a table runner. I love playing with designs in EQ8, I could definitely spend hours!


Now it's time to work with the fabric!  
I'm happy with the blocks - I love the gold pinwheel in the center.  It doesn't really literally look like a poinsettia flower, but it does give the impression with the colors and shapes.  And the green corners are so pretty!

I considered skipping the corner blocks, but I felt like the runner was a little blah without them.  Sometimes a runner with pointy ends is nice, but this one is getting square corners!


Corners added and a green border - pretty!  I used the last scrap from my heirloom cotton batting from the first ambassador box because it was just the right size, but in hindsight, this would have been a great choice for the bleached cotton I got in the most recent one.  Either way, Hobbs batting is a winner!  I'll be using the bleached cotton in my August project, anyway so I'll let you know what I think of it when I get there.
 

I used a Schmetz Microtex Chrome size 80/12 needle and Aurifil 50 wt thread for the quilting.  I did a meander using white thread on the white fabric, then did a curved outline in matching thread on the red, gold, and green, with a swirl on the green border.  I really how it looks, and am really glad I had thread in these basic colors!


Isn't it fun and festive?  I decided that I needed to write up a pattern for this runner, and I just got it all tested and ready so you can get an early start on your holiday sewing, too!  It will be available at a 25% discount in my Etsy shop until the end of July,  so be sure to get your copy right away.

Christmas Flower Table Runner

Love the fabric I used?  Holly Holiday is the name of the line and it features lovely bright reds and deep greens, plus a cute red and green check.  Some of these fabrics have been delayed in shipping, but should be arriving at local quit shops soon (the shop I work at is waiting patiently, as I am sure many are).  If you love classic Christmas colors, you will want these!  I can't wait to use this in December :)




Thanks again to Island Batik, Schemtz Needles, Aurifil thread, and Hobbs Batting for their wonderful products that helped me make this project!  






p.s.  Did you see the unboxing post and giveaway for the Second shipment of Island Batik Ambassador goodies?  If not, check it out here...

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Love the table runner. Love Island Batik material also. Vistied there store in the St Kitt it was amazing Also visited Art Fabrik the owner gave me a tour of her studio and some sample fabric pieces. I LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF BOTH SHOPS

Jennifer Thomas said...

Great table runner! The blocks really do look like Poinsettias to me with the gold centers. I'm loving Holly Holiday, too. The golds are so beautiful. Have a fabulous day!

Anonymous said...

I really love everything about the table runner. I love the gold and the green, which add so much. You are really talented!

Kathleen said...

Great job on this challenge. That is a perfect table runner for the holidays.

Emily @ The Darling Dogwood said...

I love this! What a fun block, and it is so pretty with the gold pinwheel in the middle. Pretty!