Fall is finally here and so is our October challenge. The theme this month is Falling for Accuquilt. Accuquilt graciously sent each Island Batik Ambassador their North Carolina Star die. Island Batik requested that we make any size quilt in fall colors. I chose Island Batik "Maple Island" 10-inch pre-cuts, designed by Kathy Engle. Maple Island reminds me of fall (greens) going into winter (blues). Oh, but what to make?
I chose to make a pillow. This isn't your small, ordinary pillow. This is your ginormous, famous card company movie watching, I am sick at home pillow. Hmmm, it can't get much better than curling up with a quilt and your really large pillow. Well, maybe curling up with your dog too and some popcorn. My pillow is 25" square. It took me the greater part of a day to cut out my shapes and make a plan.
I used my go to Aurifil 50 weight gray thread for piecing. I used Rice (Island Batik Neutrals) to supplement the Maple Island fabrics. Rice has a nice hint of blue, which coordinated with Maple Island very well. Accuquilt gives you the size to cut your fabric pieces out for each section, along with clear diagrams on how to put the block together.
When I was finished with my four blocks, I cut sashing at 1-1/4" from Island Batik Neutrals Almond. This is another nice neutral.
I then prepared my pillow top for quilting. I used a piece of muslin, Hobbs Tuscany Collection Cotton/Wool Blend batting and then my pillow top. I used Aurifil 50 weight #2612 Arctic Sky, a very pretty, light blue color thread for the quilting. The Tuscany batting made my pillow very soft and cozy.
When the quilting was completed, I trimmed up the pillow top and prepared the backing. I used Island Batik Spots - Hunter Green and a dark green 30" double slide handbag zipper from ByAnnie. I also used the Hunter Green for the binding.
Love Maple Island? Head on over to the following shops and order your very own fabrics!
Check out other projects by Island Batik Ambassadors:
Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany
Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts Reed Johnson ~ Blue Bear Quilts Victoria Johnson ~ Forever Quilting for You Randi Jones ~ Randi’s Roost
Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood Denise Looney ~ Quiltery – For The Love Of Geese Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine
Anorina Morris ~ sameliasmum.com Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique Claudia Porter ~ Create with Claudia Lana Russel ~ Lana Quilts
Elita Sharpe ~ Busy Needle Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail Sandra Starley ~ Textile Time Travels Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt