Welcome to Day 2 of the Studio 180 Design Chromatic Blog Hop! This week five Certified Instructors will be sharing projects we’ve made with this gorgeous fabric designed by Deb for Island Batik.
We were each asked to pick a BlockBuster from the free downloadable BlockBuster library and make it our own using these stunning rainbow fabrics. Studio 180 releases a free block at the end of each month. You can find all of the blocks through the end of 2022 here on their website. The 2023 blocks can be found on their Facebook page.
I chose to work with BlockBuster #46 Thorns and Thistles. Once I chose my block I received my fabrics. I love the gorgeous greens, blues, and reds that I was given to work with. I chose an Island Batik basic for the background.
I chose this block because I could really dig into my Studio 180 toolbox. I love that I can make so many different kinds of units that are the same size and as I sew them together everything is precise! This block uses the Corner Beam®, V Block®, and Four Patch Square Up® tools.
I began working on my block at our annual Studio 180 Design Certified Instructor Reunion. Each year we get a chance spend a few days with our fellow CIs. It’s a great time for comradery and collaboration. As I was working, I got a great suggestion from fellow CI Brian McCoy to incorporate the Square Squared® tool as well.
I chose to work with the darkest fabrics at the center of the block and the lighter fabrics on the outside edge. I knew I wanted to have the beautiful multicolored dark fabric as the border.
I got to work on my units, starting with the Corner Beams®.
I can’t imagine making these units any other way. The tool makes it easy!
I continued with my V Block® units and the Offset Four Patch. One of the great things about Studio 180 Design tools is the number of things you can do with them. Technique sheets make the tools into superheroes! The Offset Four Patch technique sheet works with the Four Patch Square Up® tool.
Once I finished with my units I laid out my block. The original block had the center as a plain square. That’s when Brian suggested adding a Square Squared® unit to the center. What a difference it made!
Pressing your projects as they are put together is an important step of the process. I use several different tools to get the best pressing results. I love my clapper, Magic Quilting and Crafting Spray, and my Strip Stick. I realized as I was putting the final block together that certain seams should be pressed open, and others to the side. I let the units and the block determine what worked best.
Once I had the block completed I added two borders. I love how my finished project turned out!
Do you have a favorite fabric from this collection? I can’t pick just one.
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! The blog hop continues tomorrow with my good friend and business partner Tina Dillard of Quilting Affection Designs.
You can find all of the different stops on this blog hop at the links below. Chromatic is arriving in shops now, so be sure to look for it at your local shop!
Monday October 16th – Amy of Amy’s Quilt Room
Tuesday October 17th – Diana of Murgaboo Quilts
Wednesday October 18th – Tina of Quilting Affection Designs
Thursday October 19th – Nicole of Heart of a Quilter
Friday October 20th – Phyllis of Tucker University
Saturday October 21st – Studio 180 Design wrap up including two brand new quilts!
