Welcome to the Studio 180 Design Exuberance Blog Hop! This week we’re showing off the latest collection of fabric designed in conjunction with Island Batik. Several of my fellow Certified Instructors and I were given precuts of this bold and vivid fabric collection to work with. I can’t wait to share what I decided to do with my 2 1/2″ strips.
Is there a tool out there as versatile as the Tucker Trimmer? It comes in three different sizes and does so much more than make half square triangles. It’s the tool that is never off my cutting table and I own eight of them between the different sizes. There are nine different Technique Sheets to help you expand your bag of tricks with this tool. From the basic units that come with the instructions to trimming down large Lemoyne Star and Wedge Star blocks, you can’t beat this fundamental tool.
When I first got my pack of 2 1/2″ strips of Exuberance I thought I would make Lemoyne Stars. I love to make these gorgeous blocks and the fabric seemed like the perfect match. But then I taught a class on the Curved Log Cabin Technique Sheet and I quickly changed gears to making four blocks using my strips. The great thing about this fabric collection is the grouping of colors. I divided my strips into four different piles; light pinks, dark pinks, light blues, and dark blues. The pack came with two strips of each color, enough to easily make 7″ finished blocks.
I used an Island Batik basic neutral called Egg White as my background. It was the perfect compliment to my strips. When making curved log cabin a good strong contrast between the light and dark colors really makes for striking blocks. The bright blues and pinks really pop against this lovely neutral.
I got to work sewing my blocks, starting with a pop of orange for my center square to tie all of my blocks together. These types of blocks are so easy to chain piece and they went together very quickly. If you’ve ever tried to make a log cabin or a curved log cabin project you know how hard it can be to make them with precision piecing. I was so excited when the Technique Sheets for the two types of blocks were released! I love the look of them, but after working with Studio 180 Design tools for so many years I prefer Tuckerizing any units I come across whenever possible.
To make the rounded look of curved log cabin you work with narrow strips and wide strips. After adding two wide strips and two narrow strips to a square you trim down using the Tucker Trimmer and the Technique Sheet chart. The process is so simple and the units are the perfect size after each trim down round!
Continue adding strips and trimming down until you get the size of finished block you want to work with. I chose to make 7″ finished units which made 14″ finished blocks when sewn together. I made four total blocks and added a 2″ border to my finished project giving me the perfect size quilt to use as a wall hanging. I really love how the different fabrics in this collection played so well together and gave me a scrappy but coordinated finished quilt.
I finished off the project with some of the leftover 2 1/2″ strips in my pack to make a scrappy binding. My favorite width for binding is 2 1/2″, so everything I needed to make this great piece was right at my fingertips.
I just love the way this turned out! Do you have a favorite grouping of fabrics in my quilt? I think I’m partial to the lighter pinks, but really all of the blocks are stunning. This is one that I will be hanging on my wall for sure. It’s a great way to brighten up my sewing studio and the colors are definitely representative of the name – Exuberance!
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today to see what I chose to do with my fabric. You won’t want to miss what my fellow Certified Instructors are doing this week with their precuts of Exuberance. I’ve linked all of their blogs for you here along with the dates they are posting. And you definitely won’t want to miss the wrap up on the Studio 180 Design blog on Sunday and Monday of next week. There will be lots more projects using Exuberance, along with a fantastic free pattern that will surely get the paw print of approval from your furry friends!
I hope you enjoyed my Curved Log Cabin project! Feel free to follow me here and on Facebook to learn more about my classes and projects I make with all of the Studio 180 Design tools. And make sure to stop by all of the other blogs this week for even more great inspiration with Exuberance!
Sunday March 26th – Introduction at Studio 180 Design
Monday March 27th – Diana Mann of Murgaboo Quilts
Tuesday March 28th – Tina Dillard of Quilting Affection Designs
Wednesday March 29th – Karen Overton, The Quilt Rambler
Thursday March 30th – Phyllis Fay of Tucker University
Friday March 31st – Amy Costabile of Amy’s Quilt Room
Saturday April 1st – Raija Salomaa of Quilter’s Treasure Chest
Sunday April 2nd – Wrap up at Studio 180 Design
Monday April 3rd – A special free treat from the people at Studio 180 Design
