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Island Batik Ambassador- November Project- Crazy Quilt Stocking- Part of the Creative Christmas Stockings Challenge

Blue Bear with Stocking

 This month’s challenge is called Creative Christmas Stockings and the Island Batik Ambassadors will all be making stockings and can choose whatever fabric they like from Island Batik.  Maybe some will do unusual piecing or appliqué; maybe some will make stockings in unusual shapes or small gift bags.  I can’t wait to see what the other Ambassadors are going to come up with this month. At the bottom of this blog, I have links to the other designer’s blogs so you can see what they made.

Creative Christmas Stockings
Creative Christmas Stockings

I wanted to make a crazy quilt stocking with a blue wintery theme. I chose the Mountain Gems line by Kathy Engle as my main fabric. Just look at this gorgeous collection of batik fabrics. The Mountain Gems collection may be found at your local quilt shop that carries Island Batik, such as Fabric Smart in St. Petersburg FL. You may find them online at www.fabric-smart.com or call them at 727-914-8850.

Mountain Gems
Mountain Gems

 

Mountain Gems fabric
Mountain Gems fabric

I chose to make a crazy quilt stocking using the Crazier 8 templates from Creative Grids and the Studio Stocking Die set from Accuquilt. Crazy quilting is where the shapes are cut at odd angles and then sewn together. Decorative stitches are then sewn over the seam lines, so they show, on the good side of the fabric. Blue Bear and Beauregard Bear are thrilled with their new stocking. 

Blue Bear with Stocking
Blue Bear with Stocking

 

Beauregard with Stocking
Beauregard with Stocking

 

 

 

The Crazier Eight templates were used to make crazy quilt blocks and the Accuquilt Studio cutter and die set were used to cut out the stocking shapes. The Studio dies look different from the Accuquilt GO! dies in that they are made of wood with steel blades and foam surrounding the steel blades. They are used in the Studio cutter, which is a more industrial and manual cutter that can cut up to 12 layers of fabric at a time. This is great for quilt shops or designers that need to cut a lot of fabric. If you would like to see a video of how I cut out shapes with an Accuquilt cutter, there is a video on my You Tube channel-Blue Bear Quilts. Here is the link to the You Tube video: https://youtu.be/3-hp6QzFkOo. In this video, I am using an electric GO! Big Cutter, as opposed to the Studio Cutter I used to make this stocking which is manual, but the concept is the same.

Creative Grids Crazier 8 templates and Accuquilt Studio Stocking dies
Creative Grids Crazier 8 templates and Accuquilt Studio Stocking dies

    

 

The great thing about the Crazier 8 template set is that you can cut out the shapes you need for an 8″ block from 10″ squares and you can buy the Mountain Gems fabric in 10″ squares. The squares need to be cut in half diagonally as you can see in the next photo.

10" squares cut in half diagonally
10″ squares cut in half diagonally

In the next photo, you can see how shapes A, B and C are cut out from one half of the fabric, with the Creative Grids Crazier 8 templates, and shapes D and E are cut out from the other half. This makes it easy to cut multiple layers of fabric at a time. The templates also cut off the dog ears which make lining up the pieces easy to sew and no trimming when done. A rotating mat is helpful when cutting out these shapes.

fabric cut with Crazier 8 templates
fabric cut with Crazier 8 templates

 

block sewn together
block sewn together

The photo above shows a Crazier 8 block sewn together. You sew shapes A, B and C together first and then sew shapes D and E together. Finally, you sew the two halves together. Next I sewed three blocks together to create a blocky stocking shape.

three blocks sewn together
three blocks sewn together

Then I applied byAnnies.com Fusible Stabilizer to the back, which was used to stabilze the decorative stitching that I would be putting on the front of the fabric. I had to make one of these for the front of the stocking and one for the back. The decorative stitching had already been done in this photo. And the next photo shows a close up of the decorative stitching I did using my Janome 6600.

stabilizer on the back
stabilizer on the back

 

close up of crazy quilt stitching
close up of crazy quilt stitching

Now that the crazy stitching is all done, it’s time to cut out the stocking shapes. I have my two crazy patchwork pieces, one is a mirror image of the other, and two pieces for a fabric lining. I lay them over the stocking die and crank them through the machine and perfect stocking shapes are cut out.

fabric on Studio cutter and die
fabric on Studio cutter and die

One needed to be laid on the die right side up and the other wrong side up. The same thing would be true for the lining fabric, but its is not as crucial with batik fabric as both sides look good. 

cut out stocking an reverse
cut out stocking an reverse

I also made a pieced cuff for the stocking by sewing strips on both sides of another piece of fabric and then cutting out the cuff with the other Accuquilt die that is part of the set. 

pieced top of stocking cut out
pieced top of stocking cut out

Unfortunately I forgot to take photos of sewing the stocking together. You start by sewing the interior curve of both the outside pieces, and the lining, from the top of the cuff down to the top of the curve. You then sew the top of the exterior pieces to one side of the cuff and the top of the lining pieces to the other side of the cuff. Next, you flip them right sides together and pin all the way around and leave a small opening. You sew 1/4″ all the way around, except for the opening. Finally you turn everything right side out, stitch the opening closed, and then stuff the lining into the stocking. 

I hope you have enjoying reading how I created this Christmas Stocking. Stay tuned for next month when I reveal a lone star quilt.

The supplies I used to make this project were provided by:

Island Batik Mountain Gems fabric.

Aurifil 50 wt cotton thread

Schmetz 70/10 quilting needle

byAnnie fusible stabilizer

 

 
 
Island Batik
Island Batik
Schmetz Needles
Schmetz Needles
Aurifil Thread
Aurifil Thread

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are on TikTok, be sure to follow me there for more quilting antics. (Look for Blue Bear Quilts)

Blue Bear and Beauregard Bear hope you like their stocking. Please let them know how much you love them by writing to them in the comments!

The other amazing Island Batik Ambassadors are also posting their November Challenge stockings.  Check out their projects by clicking on the links next to their names to be directed to their blog posts.

Gail Renna, Quilt Haven Threads

Michelle Roberts, Creative Blonde Gifts

Sandra Starley, Textile Time Travels

Jennifer Thomas, Curlicue Creations

Brenda Alburl, Songbird Designs

Jennifer Fulton, Inquiring Quilter

Lisa Pickering, Lisa’s Quilting Passion

Suzy Webster, Websterquilt

Denise Looney, For the Love of Geese

Gail Sheppard, Quilting Gail

Preeti Harris, Sew Preeti Quilts

Connie Kauffman, Kauffman Designs

Megan Best, Bestquilter

Maryellen McAuliffe, Mary Mack Made Mine

Elizabeth DeCroos, Epida Studio

Jane Hauprich, Stitch by Stitch Custom Quilting

Emily Leachman, The Darling Dogwood

Andi Stanfield, True Blue Quilts

Leah Malasky, Quilted Delights

Claudia Porter, Create with Claudia

Mania Hatziioannidi, Mania for Quilts

Reed Johnson, Blue Bear Quilts

Pamela Boatright, Pamela Quilts

Anorina Morris, Samelia’s Mum

Brianna Roberts, Sew Cute and Quirky

 

Make sure to follow Island Batik on social media. Be sure to check out the Island Batik Blog.

#islandbatikambassador #islandbatik #iloveislandbatik #byannie #aurifil #aurifilthread #schmetzneedles #Janome #creativegrids #Accuquilt #Bluebearquilts





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Patterns Designed For Accuquilt

Storm at Sea Life Medley Quilt

Over the years, we have created a number of patterns for Accuquilt. I thought it would be fun to share them all in a post. They are all available on their website as a free download. The patterns on their website may be found here: https://www.accuquilt.com/patterns.html

The first pattern that we created for Accuquilt was Hexagon Illusions and it was made by cutting larger hexagons from an ombre fabric and then cutting smaller hexagons from the same section of the fabric and rotating them 180 degrees and appliquéing them onto the larger hexagons.

Hexagon Illusions
Hexagon Illusions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elephant Cuddles was the next pattern and it was made from Minky.

Elephant Cuddles
Elephant Cuddles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holiday Northwoods Medley Placemats are created with a reverse appliqué technique.

Holiday Northwoods Medley Placemats
Holiday Northwoods Medley Placemats

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lilac Table Topper uses the die that cuts perfect 1″ finished squares.

Lilac Table Topper
Lilac Table Topper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall Frolic Table Runner was made with beautiful Jinny Beyers Denim fabric from RJR Fabrics.

Fall Frolic Table Runner
Fall Frolic Table Runner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cleapatra’s Garden Gate featured the Cleapatra’s Fan die.

Cleopatra's Garden Gate
Cleopatra’s Garden Gate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you ever heard of crumb quilting? That was the technique used in Spring Medley Mug Rugs. You sew small scraps of fabric together and then apply fusible webbing before cutting out the appliqué shapes on the die. Accuquilt also supplies the embroidery files as a free download on their website.

Spring Medley Mug Rugs
Spring Medley Mug Rugs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fun at Sea Life Medley is a great quilt pattern for showcasing your appliqué shapes.

Fun at Sea Life Medley Quilt
Fun at Sea Life Medley Quilt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With that same die, we also created Storm at Sea Life Medley.

Storm at Sea Life Medley Quilt
Storm at Sea Life Medley Quilt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Antique Americana was made using the very versatile Hattie’s Choice die. This patriotic quilt is perfect for the 4th of July, Veteran’s Day or a Quilt of Valor.

Antique Americana
Antique Americana

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A perfect quilt for a hot summer day would be Orange Cream Soda. It features the Studio Setting Triangles dies.

Orange Cream Soda
Orange Cream Soda

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A modern take on the Glorified Nine Patch block resulted in Sherbet Dreams.

Sherbet Dreams
Sherbet Dreams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall is Coming is a great quilt for fall which uses Kimberly Einmo’s Solidish Fabrics from Timeless Treasures Fabrics.

Fall is Coming
Fall is Coming

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love Letters also used Kimberly Einmo’s Solidish Fabrics from Timeless Treasures Fabrics. This would be a great Valentines quilt.

Love Letters
Love Letters

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the mood to create something scary? Then you might want to make the Boo! Halloween Medley Table Runner.

Boo Halloween Table Runner
Boo! Halloween Table Runner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ahoy Mate and Let’s Go Sailing were created using the GO! Nautical Medley die and is the perfect pattern and die for all of you water lovers.

Ahoy Mate Table Runner
Ahoy Mate Table Runner

 

Let's Go Sailing
Let’s Go Sailing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Retro Twist Wall Hanging was made with the Starry Path die. This is the perfect wall hanging for your mid century modern home.

Retro Twist Wall Hanging
Retro Twist Wall Hanging

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Go! Yuletide Gnome Wall Hanging is a great decoration to make for the holidays. Who doesn’t love a little gnome?

 

Gnome

Yuletide Gnome Wall Hanging
Yuletide Gnome Wall Hanging

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your kids will love the Deco Dino Table Runner.

Deco Dino Table Runner
Deco Dino Table Runner

 

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned for more fun and inspiring designs we create for Accuquilt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Busy Summer

Kaleidoscope Quilt

It has been a very busy summer, designing new quilt patterns, teaching classes, attending a Niece’s wedding, designing quilt patterns for magazine submissions and entering a contest.

We entered the Accuquilt Block Design contest again this year. They should be announcing the winners very soon. Here are a few of the blocks that I entered this year. Thank you to everyone that voted for my blocks. I appreciate it very much!

X Marks the Spot
X Marks the Spot

Snow Cones
Snow Cones

Sea Glass
Sea Glass

Blue Diamond
Blue Diamond

Big Star Grid.
Big Star Grid.

 

Before attending a wedding, we went to a family farm, in Northern Minnesota, and I was able to walk across the Mississippi River, in Itasca State Park. This is where the great river originates and it is very narrow and shallow, enabling you to walk across. I would not try that in New Orleans where it is deep and wide. I also saw amazing sunflower fields and llamas.

Reed at start of Mississippi
Reed at start of Mississippi

Crossing Mississippi
Crossing Mississippi

Llamas
Llamas

Sunflower Field
Sunflower Field

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Niece got married this August in Stillwater, Minnesota. It was beautiful wedding at a flower farm and the rehearsal dinner was on a riverboat.  I also went to the Como Park Conservatory, which has amazing floral displays.

Niece and husband
Niece and husband

Stillwater Riverboat
Stillwater Riverboat

Lights at Wedding
Lights at Wedding

Wedding Bouquet
Wedding Bouquet

Hot Air Balloon
Hot Air Balloon

Como Park Conservatory
Como Park Conservatory

Very large hibiscus
Very large hibiscus

 

 

 

 

 

 

Butterfly at flower farm
Butterfly at flower farm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I taught a Quilt-in-a-Day class on Kylee’s Kite at Bear Patch Quilting Company in White Bear Lake Minnesota. Everyone had a great time. Several students brought in their completed tops from this year and last year.

Kylee’s Kite

Kylee's Kite class
Kylee’s Kite class

Student's Kylee's Kite
Student’s Kylee’s Kite

Student's Bear in My Watermelon Patch
Student’s Bear in My Watermelon Patch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can’t reveal the quilt designs for the magazines yet, or several new patterns I developed with QT Fabrics. However, I can show you the Northwoods Holiday Medley Placemats that were designed for Accuquilt and the pattern is available as a free download on their website https://www.accuquilt.com/go-northwoods-medley-holiday-placemats.html 

Northwoods Holiday Medley Placemats
Northwoods Holiday Medley Placemats

I can also show you our latest pattern, Kaleidoscope, that was designed with QT Fabrics. This pattern is available on our website, Craftsy, and coming to a quilt shop near you soon.

Kaleidoscope Quilt
Kaleidoscope Quilt

It is going to be a busy fall writing patterns and making a sample quilt for QT Fabrics that will be displayed at quilt market this November, utilizing a new line of fabrics for them.

 

Also, Blue Bear will be teaching on a cruise in 2020. We are very excited about this and hope to be able to provide you with details soon. When it is this far out, it will give you lots of time to plan and save for a quilting cruise. We are so excited to have the opportunity to quilt and cruise with you! Stay tuned.

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Drumroll Please! Announcing the Grand Champion Prize Winner of the Accuquilt Block Design Contest.

I entered several blocks in the 2017 Accuquilt Block Design Contest. By popular vote, these two entries were the most popular.

Here were my other entries:

 

 

But the Grand Champion was my Purple Rose. It will be unveiled on the billboard outside the Accuquilt headquarters in Interstate 80 for an entire year. I am in the process of designing a quilt and a pattern for this block, which will be available in our shop.

 

I also entered this contest in 2016 and here were my entries from that year.

 

But the one that won Fan Favorite was Not Your Grandmother’s Flower Garden a.k.a. What Happens When Grandpa Tells Grandma No More Trips to the Fabric Store.It was designed with the Accuquilt Dresden Plate Die and Kaffe Fassett fabrics.

As a result of winning Fan Favorite, I was honored with a trip to Julien California to spend a week with Eleanor Burns, from Quilt in a Day, at her Fall quilt retreat at Camp Cedar Glen in the mountains. It was a wonderful time for which I am forever grateful.

Here are some photos from that trip. 

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Blue Bear’s Etsy Shop is now live!

Blue Bear is so excited to tell you that his Etsy shop is now live. He is just getting started putting products in the shop, but so far there are patterns, books, kits, and fabric yardage.

Check it out at this link:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlueBearQuiltKits?ref=hdr_shop_menu.

Here is a photo of what the shop currently looks like.

Blue Bear Etsy Shop
Blue Bear Etsy Shop

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Happy 4th of July!

 

Happy 4th of July America. This is a patriotic home in Whitefish Bay Wisconsin.

 

Patriotic House Whitefish Bay
Patriotic House

 

Blue Bear is taking some time off to celebrate with his family. He has been working on several new patterns to be released soon. A couple are patriotic and use fabrics designed for Quilts of Valor. Another is a bed runner that he is designing.

Here is Sparklers on Liberty Square.

Sparklers on Liberty Square
Sparklers on Liberty Square

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Blue Bear’s Accuquilt Contest Block

Grandma's Nectie Garden
Grandma’s Nectie Garden

The bear has entered a quilt block design contest and would love to win for the exposure that it would give him as a new quilt designer. He would love it is you would help him by clicking on the link below and voting for his block. He tells me that you can vote every 24 hours until 4/22. Silly bear. Even though, he does seem to be a pretty good designer.

You need to confirm your email once, but you will not be put on their email list unless you check the box to opt into their emails. He wants me to ask you to ask your friends to help as well. Pesky bear, but it is a pretty quilt block and we would like for him to design some more.
Blue Bear and his friends thank you so much for your assistance!
Update: Blue Bear won the Fan’s Choice Award. Thank you everyone for all your help and your votes!