Create for a Cause with Studio 180 Design - June Island Batik Ambassador Challenge

Create for a Cause Project

This month's Island Batik Ambassador Challenge is a special project. We received a Studio 180 Design - Deb Tucker Tool and a brief to create a bed sized quilt for a child in need. Deb Tucker initiated Quilts Across America to get quilts made for children and is working with Sleep in Heavenly Peace which provides beds for needy children. She aims to provide a quilt to go with every bed made by Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Such a great cause - to get children "off the floor, into a bed, and under a quilt!"

I received the Split Rects tool - It is a great way to make this angled block which is hard to make with traditional piecing and kind of a bother to paper piece.

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I  was amazed at how many different blocks/designs can be made with the ruler. 1st - it makes 8 different sizes of half rectangle blocks, from the tiny 1/2" x 1" to 4" x 8" finished with 6 sizes in between. But the real magic is how easy the tool makes creating the tricky angled block. It cuts the tight angle  You cut the pieces slightly bigger, sew them together, and then trim them down to size.  

I grabbed a wide variety of Island Batik fabrics and added a solid grey IB to keep things from getting too wild. After a LOT of sewing and trimming, I had a bunch of blocks.

 

I needed to decide how to use my blocks. I initially planned on using single split rectangle blocks arranged in rows like sawteeth or shark fins. 

And then I started experimenting with different arrangements with pairs of blocks creating triangles and then diamonds.

I finally decided on a zigzag diamond setting. But oh no, I had pressed all my seams to the patterned batiks and now I needed to press open almost 200 seams with lots of bias, But it did reduce the bulk at the points and intersections. After a lot of piecing/joining in vertical rows, etc. VOILA

Zigzag Diamonds

48" X 72"

Original Design

Sandra Starley 2024

 Batiks: Assorted fabrics from Island Batik (stash builder strips)

Batting: I'll be using Hobbs Thermore Poly Batting

Piecing Thread: Aurifil #50 weight

Quilting Thread: I'll be using Aurifil #50 weight

Needle: Schmetz Quilting Needles 

Split Rects Ruler: Studio 180 Design

Smart Iron: Oliso

***Fabrics provided by Island Batik, batting by Hobbs,  Split Rects Ruler/Tool by Studio 180 Design,  thread by Aurifil, and needles by Schmetz and  Smart Iron by Oliso. ***

Remember to visit my fellow IB Ambassadors and see the beautiful quilts they are donating to this great cause.

Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs
Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting

Megan Best - BestQuilter
Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts
Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts
Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany

Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts
Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts

Jane Hauprich ~ Stitch By Stitch Custom Quilting
Kim Jamieson-Hirst ~ Chatterbox Quilts

Victoria Johnson ~ Forever Quilting for You
Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs

Connie Kresin Campbell ~ Freemotion by the River

Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood
Denise Looney ~ A Quiltery
Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine

Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion
Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique
Lana Russel ~ Lana Quilts

Julia Schweri ~ Inflorescence Designs
Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail

Carol Stanek ~ Stitch with Color
Sandra Starley ~ Textile Time Travels
Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations
Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt