Megan Best
Apr 29, 2021
This months Island Batik challenge gave the ambassadors free reign to create whatever we wanted. Meet Margarita!
Sometimes a free challenge is hard! This time I wanted to test out a new die I purchased from Accuquilt: The Glorified 9-Patch.
I designed the quilt in Electric Quilt.
I used some 5" strips from my Stashbuilder strips for the background.
Mixed with some springy summery colors:
A yellow from the Garden Gems collection.
A green from the blenders and a turquoise basic.
The 5" strips are perfect for use on the Go.
Look at how pretty this pile of cut pieces is!
I did some pin-free piecing. I feel like this was the easiest way to stitch the block.
It makes for some quick piecing of what looks to be a difficult block. I eventually want to make a much larger quilt with this block. I stitched the top on my Janome M7.
I brought a picture into my ProStitcher Designer Software to plan the quilting. I saw summer and bright and fresh in the colors, so I designed the motifs to reflect those images. Lemon/lime slices as well as a Margarita glass all remind me of summer.
I used 2 layers of batting, Hobbs Heirloom with a layer of Hobbs Tuscan wool on top. This gives the very best definition to quilting.
I added some piano keys to the outside border.
And some background fills to the centers and a liner design in the empty blocks to finish the quilting.
I think I may need to add some more back fills to make the Margarita glasses pop.
I added a binding from the yellow fabric to finish off the quilt.
Right after I finished the quilt, I took a trip to visit family and brought the quilt with me.
a day trip up to Truckee and Lake Tahoe California. The fabrics really shine!
Look at how the blue sky really pops the blue in the quilt. I did nothing to the pictures!
This quilt will be perfect for a table topper for a picnic.
One last pic, overlooking Donner Lake. I thought this quilt may have blown over the edge because of the super windy day.
I hope you enjoyed the REAL travels of this quilt. It is my first trip in 14 month.
It looks like there might be a future for this traveler!
Disclosure: The products featured here were provided to me free of charge by Island Batik and Hobbs.
Here is a list of all the Ambassadors for 2021.
Visit and follow them for great ideas in quilting for 2021!
Megan Best ~ Bestquilter
Pamela Boatright ~ Pamelaquilts
Elizabeth DeCroos ~ Epida Studio
Jennifer Eubank ~ Archipelago Quilting
Jennifer Fulton ~ The Inquiring Quilter
Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts
Joanne Hart ~ Unicorn Harts
Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts
Jane Hauprich - Stitch By Stitch Custom Quilting
Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood
Denise Looney ~ For The Love Of Geese
Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
Sally Manke ~ Sally Manke, Fiber Artist
Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine
Claudia Porter ~ Create with Claudia
Gail Renna ~ Quilt Haven Threads
Brianna Roberts ~ Sew Cute And Quirky
Michelle Roberts ~ Creative Blonde
Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
Andi Stanfield ~ True Blue Quilts
Jennifer Thomas ~ CurliCue Creations
Janet Yamamoto ~ Whispers of Yore
Its 2021 and we are still in the midst of a Pandemic. We really need to find some joy. The bright colors and act of creating with fabric can bring so much joy in a stressful time. I will continue to create in the next few months while I am at home not traveling and teaching. Follow me on Instagram to find more fun and colorful quilt projects (and some gardening and cooking too!). @bestquilter
# islandbatik #hobbsbatting #accuquilt #accuquiltgo #doyoueq #janome #juki #handiquilter