Modern Batik Challenge: Scrappy Squares

• • 18 Comments

The products featured in this post were given to me by Island Batik, including Aurifil thread.

This month's Island Batik challenge was to go modern. I thought it was the perfect opportunity to play with my Planned Improv: Scrappy Squares technique in a larger scale.

I settled on a scrappy palette of pink, purple, navy, and turquoise, using the light Lilac fabric for my background. The Lilac was a limiting factor as I had only half a yard. (I ended up with about 8" x 10" of Lilac leftover.) Here are some of my feature fabrics:

The Planned Improv: Scrappy Squares technique revolves around starting with squares and designing the layout before cutting background pieces.

It's a bit of a puzzle. This one was more complicated than normal and I painted myself into a bit of a corner. No worries! I was able to finish piecing it with a series of partial seams.

This was my final seam of the quilt top -- the little partial seam right in the middle!

Once it was all together I had to contemplate quilting motifs. I chose Aurifil 50wt Light Lilac (#2510) for the background and Berrylicious Variegated (#4647) for the squares.

First I did some walking foot quilting to stitch in the ditch quilting in Light Lilac along the perimeter of the sections of squares.

Then I did a jagged stipple in Light Lilac all over the background. Finally, I finished up by quilting Berrylicious spirals throughout the square sections. The hot pink, turquoise, and white was the perfect companion to my palette! I chose a curvy motif to contrast the jagged quilting in the background.

I finished the quilt with a faced binding. I love how the squares and the quilting float all the way to the edge of the quilt.

The quilt finished at approximately 40" x 40". The batting is Quilter's Dream Cotton Select.

 

Thank you for visiting to see my Island Batik Modern Batik baby quilt!

Check out some of the other modern creations this month by Island Batik Ambassadors:

Myra at Busy Hands Quilts

Connie at Freemotion by the River

Tina at Quilting Affection Designs

Steph at Steph Jacobson

Bea at BeaQuilter

Anne at Sweetgrass Designs

Alison at Little Bunny Designs

Sherry at Powered by Quilting

Vicky at Vicky's Crafts and Quilting

 

I'm linking up to TGIFF and Needle and Thread Thursday.

I've also linked up to 2018 Q2 Finish Along linkup. See my whole Q2 list.

Related posts:

Aurifil Artisan Wholecloth Challenge Scrappy Pumpkin Quilt Block Tutorial Starstruck Pillow Seven Swoon Blocks

18 thoughts on “Modern Batik Challenge: Scrappy Squares”

  1. Your modern quilt looks amazing, thanks for showing the process of making it! I love the color combination you used and the quilting is perfect for this piece. I know the feeling of being limited with the amount of a specific fabric, but you nailed it!

    Reply ↓

    1. sarah

       Post author

      Thank you, Anita. I really enjoyed every aspect of this one. Even the challenge of limited yardage. ;-)

      Reply ↓

  2. Lisa Marie

    This is so cool! The combination of the curvy and angular quilting is the perfect finishing touch.

    Reply ↓

    1. sarah

       Post author

      Thank you, Lisa Marie. I find that I enjoy doing the angular quilting more. I think that means I need more practice with curvy motifs.

      Reply ↓

  3. Partial seams!! I've done them, but not often enough not to be scared of them! Your quilt is beautiful and is modern from top to bottom. Love the quilting too! All around perfect!

    Reply ↓

    1. sarah

       Post author

      Thank you, Jayne. The partial seams weren't too bad, but there were many of them. I'm glad that last one closed up on the first attempt. ;-)

      Reply ↓

  4. Elizabeth

    That’s a neat technique. Thanks for sharing some details. Do I see you used a faced binding edge?

    Reply ↓

    1. sarah

       Post author

      Thank you! Yes, Elizabeth, I did a faced binding on this one. I've done it on a few minis at this point, so I'm comfortable with the technique. For this one, I just couldn't get over the fact that I really liked the design of the quilt top going all the way to the edge and thought a dark binding (my only fabric options were dark) would compete with the design. This quilt will go into my trunk show when I lecture.

      Reply ↓

  5. Wonderful colors. I particularly like you random triangle quilting in the background. Also that quilter's dream gives wonderful definition to the quilting. Nice job.

    Reply ↓

    1. sarah

       Post author

      Thank you, Bonnie. That angular motif has become one of my favorites. I like that it has a more modern feel than a curvy stipple.

      Reply ↓

  7. The Berrylicious thread is such a great combination of colors and looks like it was made just for this quilt. It came together beautifully, Sarah, and I like the contrasting quilting motifs and how the combination of the quilting and piecing keep my eye moving across the quilt top.

    Reply ↓

    1. sarah

       Post author

      You are so right about Berrylicious. And I already owned it! I can't recall what (if anything) I've used it on previously. Thank you, Yvonne! I'm excited to share this one at my upcoming trunk shows/lectures.

      Reply ↓

    1. sarah

       Post author

      Thank you, Anja! I need to plan more time for the quilting step so I can make more thoughtful design decisions on quilting.

      Reply ↓

  9. I love a good faced quilt and you knocked it out of the park! Congratulations on the finish Sarah. Thanks for linking up on behalf of the 2018 global Finish-A-Long hosts.

    Reply ↓

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.