Friday, October 9, 2015

You Can Quilt! Building Skills For Beginners Blog Hop

























Welcome to the blog hop for You Can Quilt! Building Skills for Beginners.  Marlene is an ambassador for Island Batik and has organized a blog hop with the other Island Batik Ambassadors.   Island Batik has provided the Ambassadors (and me!) with fabrics from their New Fall/Winter lines of fabric debuting at Fall Quilt Market.  Over the next four weeks we will each highlight one Skill Builder Set in the book and make the three quilt blocks in that set with our Island Batik fabric.  It will be a great opportunity to get a really good look at the book (and the new fabric lines).  I hope you will follow along and check out all of the posts.



I am kicking it off with Skill Builder Set 1: Learning the Basics.
This Skill Builder Set covers all of the basics: cutting, tips on sewing accurate 1/4" seams and pressing.  The three blocks in this set are all very basic, but give beginning quilters the chance to practice those basic skills before moving on to more complicated blocks.  The blocks were also chosen because they introduce chain piecing, sub-cutting and experimenting with value.


I was given a choice of fabrics from Island Batik's new lines and I choose the Jersey Shore line.  I love the bright colors!  To be honest, I have never really worked with batiks, so this was a new experience for me.  I wanted to make my blocks into a finished product (I don't need any more orphan blocks floating around!) and decided to make a table runner for my friend who just moved.  She loves batiks (perfect) and is decorating her kitchen and dining room in blues and green (perfect).




I edited the fabrics to blues and greens and got cutting.  These blocks come together quickly.  The batik fabric had a different feel than "normal" quilting cottons and I loved the way it pressed - nice and crisp.  


In no time I had the blocks finished and was ready to join them.  I like how you can see the different blocks, but the table runner is still cohesive.

I used some of the leftover fabric for the backing so the table runner would be reversible.


I quilted it with a small leaf and swirl - it seemed like the right motif with all the blues and greens.  Now it is all ready to go to it's new home.  A quick project, perfect for a beginner, that could be made with any of the blocks in the book.


We would love to give you the chance to win some fabric and a copy of You Can Quilt! Building Skills for Beginners.  For a chance to win you can enter with the Rafflecopter below.  You can also enter to win on each of the Ambassador's blogs throughout the blog hop. 
At the end of the blog hop we will randomly choose 4 winners.  Each winner will receive a copy of You Can Quilt! and a bundle of fabric.  There are two fat-eight bundles of Island Batik's Sweet Georgia Peach and two fat-eight bundles of a variety of Cotton and Steel prints that I used to make this Skill Builder quilt.  When we email the winners they will be able to indicate which bundle they would prefer on a first come, first serve basis.  Good luck!
Unfortunately, this giveaway is only open to US residents.
If you would like to purchase a copy of You Can Quilt! you can get a signed copy from Marlene or myself.  It is also available through AQS (as a hard copy or e-book) and Amazon.


I hope you have fun visiting the other posts during the next few weeks!  It will be great to get to see all of the blocks made up in Island Batik fabric.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Oct. 9  -  1, Learning the Basics - Leila Gardunia  sewnbyleila.blogspot.com
Oct. 12 - 2, Half Square Triangles - Tammy Silvers  .tamarinis.typepad.com/
Oct 14 -  3, Quarter Square Triangles - Connie Kresin Campbell conniekresin.com
Oct. 16 - 4. Flying Geese - Maryellen McAuliffe teachpany.blogspot.com
Oct 19 -  5. Wonky Blocks - Christine McCrann Martinez madeinscraps.blogspot.com
Oct. 21 - 6. Improvisation - Connie Kauffman  kauffmandesigns.blogspot.com
Oct. 23 - 7. Foundation Paper Piecing - Joan Kawano moosestashquilting.blogspot.com
Oct. 26 - 8. Curves - Marlene Oddie  kissedquilts.blogspot.com
Oct. 28 - 9. One-Patch Blocks - Bea Lee beaquilter.com
Oct. 30 - 10. Applique - Barbara Gaddy bejeweledquilts.blogspot.com
Nov. 2  - 11. Inset Seams - Pamela Boatright  pamelaquilts.blogspot.com/
Nov. 4 – 12. Challenge Blocks - Linda Stewart Pearl onequiltingcircle.com
Nov. 6 – 13. Finishing – Marlene   kissedquilts.blogspot.com

89 comments:

  1. The is just the book I need, hope to win. Love your table runner.
    patsystitch@gvtc.com

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  2. I wouldn't have thought to put three distinct blocks in one table runner but yours turned out great! sjvonfumetti at yahoo dot com

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  3. Your table runner looks wonderful with the different blocks.I love the colors, especially since green is my favorite. Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to learn how to piece curves. This is so hard for me and never looks good.

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  4. Nice runner! I would like more paper piecing skills.

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  5. How fun that you turned it into a runner!

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  6. I am teaching a very good friend to quilt. she has recently left her career and has free time.
    I think she is becoming obsessed and I think she needs this book!

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  7. Since I've never had any formal quilting lessons, this would be a very informative book to own. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity. lv2bquilting2@comcast.net

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  8. Love your table runner. I'd like to learn more about putting colors together.

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  9. I'm not very comfortable with curved piecing, so I'm looking forward to that tutorial.

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  10. The runner is so pretty! Great fabric choices and blocks. I'm an IB Ambassador (nice to meet you!) and my bucket list of new skills was completed recently with more experience with paper foundation piecing. I guess I need to do a string quilt now. I've also conquered EPP this year. Thanks!

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  11. I would like to learn curved piecing. I've done it some, but my skills need improvement.

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  12. I need to learn paper piecing. I know it is supposed to be so easy, but my mind won't comprehend!.

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  13. I'd like to learn portholes! :)

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  14. Beautiful table runner and fabrics. So cheerful.

    I think I want to learn it all. For me, I'm wanting to improve my precision piecing skills.

    QuiltShopGal
    www.quiltshopgal.com

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  15. I Would like to learn paper piecing....Its very intimidating to me...happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  16. Y seams are my special torment!! Plus it would be nice to have something other than headless geese and pointless stars!!!

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  17. I am fairly experienced but can always get better. I do however want to do more chain piecing. I also want to learn FMQ. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.net

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  18. To get more accurate blocks, I've noticed a lot of pattern designers are having you make oversized block segments then trimming them to the correct size...it would be nice to have some tips and techniques to convert older patterns to this method.

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  19. how fun. your table runner is gorgeous. I would love to learn Dresden and circular
    quilting dash lady at Comcast dot net

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  20. I love batiks and your table runner is very pretty! :) I would love to learn curves.
    craftyccain@gmail.com

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  21. I'd like to learn more about curved piecing. Your tablerunner turned out great, love the colors!

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  22. I would love to research all of your methods covered in the book to determine if there is a quicker/better way to do them with more current tools. Thanks.

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  23. I would love to research all of your methods covered in the book to determine if there is a quicker/better way to do them with more current tools. Thanks. sharion - setillery@sbcglobal.net

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  24. I would like to learn more about changing block sizes.

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  26. Im interested in learning how to sew curves.

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  27. I need to learn to sew curves better and do inset seams

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  28. I need to master not cutting off my points. I keep trying but would love a tut on it!!

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  29. Love your table runner! I am interested in doing curves. Thanks

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  30. Love the table runner. Beautiful fabrics

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  31. I want to learn more about how to press the seams on a block so the intersections don't get too thick. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

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  32. I've never tried curved piecing but would love to learn how.

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  33. I have still not tried needle turn applique - and my machine quilting is only with a walking foot.

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  34. I want to learn inset seams. And even though I've quilted for many years, I would love a way to get an accurate 1/4 seam so my blocks come out the right size.

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  35. I would like to learn paper piecing. cknapp3626(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

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  36. I am interested in learning how to sew curves - always a challenge! Thank you for the nice give-away.

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  37. I want to learn to quilt really good on my home machine

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  38. I want to learn to quilt really good on my home machine

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  39. I also want to learn to quilt on my home machine! But also want to learn curved piecing & paper piecing too. Thanks for chance to win your Give-a-way! :)

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  40. I haven't done much curved piecing. I'd love to learn more about that! Thanks!

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  41. I have not had the pleasure of sewing with batik's in my 10 plus years of sewing/quilting and would love to give them a try. I think your table runner is very pretty. Thank you for sharing and for this great give away opportunity! Have a wonderful creative day! brend_ack@yahoo.com

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  42. I love batiks and how the table runner with 3 simple blocks turned out so well. I've pieced a fair amount but really am a beginner when it comes to machine quilting--skipped the hand-quilting. I need all the tips I can get for that. The book would be great!

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  43. I am a new quilter and this book looks like a perfect companion to the guides and loving encouragement my grandmother is giving me.

    determineddebby at gmail dot com

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  44. Improvisation is always a good thing to learn.

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  45. I want to learn it ALL! I have never made a quilt, though I am working on blocks right now. I love Island Batiks.

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  46. I'd like to learn binding-I have a top here that needs finishing!

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  47. I would like to learn how to applique small pieces to where you can tell what it is!
    sewfabrics@outlook.com

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  48. Like the table runner. I would like to learn to resize blocks.

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  49. I would like to learn more paper piecing techniques

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  50. I would like to learn more about curved piecing.

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  51. Free motion quilting. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  52. I would like to learn how to needle turn applique, and how to applique small pieces.

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  53. This is lovely. I would like to Lear how to appliqué x

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  54. I would love to learn how to sew hexies by machine. I have a ton of hexagons pre-cut and would like to know how to use these other than paper piecing.

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  55. I would like to learn Appliqué' and English Paper Piecing. Looks like a great book!
    j_dobler@msn.com

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  56. I need practice on raw edge appliqué.

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  57. Paper piecing has been on my list of "to learn" techniques for quite a while. I just need to sit down with a great tutorial and do it! I love batiks too and yours are so pretty together...your friend will love it!

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  58. I am a beginner and need to learn all the techniques. Love the colors and would probably put them in a wall hanging.

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  59. Great series, we can all learn something new.

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  60. Great series, we can all learn something new.

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  61. Y seams are always a challenge. Good instructions would be appreciated.

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  62. How to get started on quilting. I just don't know where to start and how to keep the quilt tight when quilting on a home machine. Y seams can be challenging as well. Improv quilting is on my to do list.

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  63. I would like to learn more about machine quilting.
    Dmac5958ataoldotcom

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  64. I would like to learn more about applique.

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  65. I would like to learn more about free motion quilting. I do it but can always use suggestions and practice!

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  66. I am a beginner at doing my own FMQ and want to learn more. So much of what I know is self taught so I'm sure there are many back tp basic tips I can pick up from this hop.

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  67. I would like to learn to hand applique.

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  68. Applique! I think it is called interfacing applique, you sew then turn inside out.
    cork@pa.rr.com

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  69. I would love to expand my paper piecing skills as I've only tried basic EPP x

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  70. Piping and prairie points... Nice runner...very dreamy and calm.

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  71. I am really wanting to learn curved piecing as well as learn new ways to do things. Im self taught in a lot of techniques, good to smooth those out

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  72. I would like to learn more about machine applique, seems so much quicker than doing it all by hand!

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  73. I am a beginning quilter and so I would like to learn everything. What I am struggling with right now is consistent quarter-inch seams.

    senstrings at yahoo dot com

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  74. I think learning Y seams would be good. jarvenpa1ne at gmail dot com

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  75. Wow - great list of skills to master! All would be great - since you ask for just one though I'll pick curves! Thanks for the chance.

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  76. I have not tried English Paper Piecing, although I have done the other kind, so that is skill I would like to build. MPaula

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  77. Lovely post and I always like to make runners reversible as well as using up those scraps. A skill I would like more improvement on is needle tun applique.

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  78. I'm new to this, but I would really love to learn how to applique pieces.

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  79. I would really like to try my hand at paper piecing!

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  80. I would like to learn applique. Your table runner is wonderfull!

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  81. I would like to learn applique. Your table runner is wonderfull!

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  82. I would like to learn foundation paper piecing.

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