Time. Generally speaking, we all have the same amount of time each day, 24 hours, to fill at our discretion. Time is precious. Time is something we tend to take for granted. Sometimes we don’t think about time until it’s time to do something, such as an appointment, or when time is running short, as in an approaching deadline. We speak of time in terms like Time to Eat! or Time to Go! Time to Quilt! (which of course is a quilter’s favorite time of day). Often time is generic as we speak of having the time of our lives. Time can be marked by specific increments, as in 0800 or 8 AM, or by the “time of day” such as morning or evening. Time can be elusive too as sometimes we feel like we have wasted time, or perhaps time feels like a whirlwind we are caught up in not knowing what comes next. We celebrate time with milestones such as birthdays or anniversaries. We mark time by seasons and years. Truly time is a cherished commodity. So what in the world does time have to do with “my time” to share with the Twilight Chic Blog Hop? Glad you asked! It’s Island Time with The Quilt Rambler ~ Let’s Talk Quilts!
Twilight Chic Time!
If you have been following this rambler you are aware that I am a certified instructor with Deb Tucker’s Studio 180 Design. I have been so excited about Deb’s first signature collection with Island Batik called Twight Chic. As a former ambassador with Island Batik, I’ve had sneak peeks of this line for several months and was thrilled to actually see the entire line at Fall Market 2018 along with Deb’s fabulous new patterns featuring this collection as well as a few favorites remade with Twilight Chic. It was a lot of fun last fall to be a part of the intro blog hop called Evening Elegance to have an opportunity to make two of Deb’s Blockbuster Blocks for inclusion in a beautiful quilt. If you missed that hop, here’s a link.
Design Time
The Studio 180 Design home office contacted me a few weeks ago to verify my participation in this blog hop and I have to say I’ve been marking time waiting for my turn to share with you my quilt design made with Twilight Chic fabrics! I didn’t have a plan yet…and I needed to request yardage… This is a good time to put in that little disclaimer or whatever ~ Fabrics were provided by Island Batik and Studio 180 Design (I do hate to brag, but us Texans do tend to strut a bit when things bless our socks off ~ time to be grateful and express my appreciation!) As I was saying… I didn’t really have a plan so I decided to keep it simple and design a quilt using the best selling Tucker Trimmer I® and what better than the quarter square unit, commonly called “hourglass” ~ ah ha you say, now you get the time theme!!
Time To Sew
Now that we’ve established the time factor, let’s walk through some of the sewing on this island beauty. The instructions to make the hourglass unit is included with the tool. I love how Deb has done all the math for us (saves me time – pun intended) as she includes the cut sizes for various unit sizes. With the Tucker Trimmer I® I can construction blocks from 1″ up to 6 1/2″ in half-inch increments whereas with the Tucker Trimmer III® block sizes go from 1″ up to 12 1/2″ also in half-inch increments. Both tools are an important part of my Tucker Toolbox.
The Tucker Trimmer I® is used to trim down slightly oversized units to precise measurements. In addition to basic trim down the tool is useful to construction half square triangles, combination units and quarter square units (hourglass) when using The Quilter’s Magic Wand® to mark stitching lines. Again, all the directions are included with the tool.
Time to Quilt!
Was that fast? That was fast! The time between piecing and loading on the longarm was only three days. Then again, there wasn’t much time for anything else ~ who has time to cook or clean, there are quilts to be made!
Time for Show And Tell
Finally! Time to take the quilt off the frame to take a little time to do a happy dance ~ it turned out better than I had planned. I enjoyed taking a little time to study the texture and visual effect the free-flowing formal feathers provided. If you take time to notice, all the hourglass blocks seem to be suspended in time and space yet they are joined together with the common connecting fabrics. My thoughts when I designed this revolved around making some sort of connection of my time here on earth. Sometimes I spin one direction, other times I spin in the opposite direction. I quilted my feather puffs spinning in different directions to convey these thoughts. And I took the time to enjoy the process ~ from the design to the piecing to the quilting.
Time to Bind
Trying to make good use of the fabrics provided, I decided to make a scrappy binding…to mimic the movement of the hourglass “pinwheels” I joined the small strips on the diagonal, trying to balance the colors as I connected the small scraps.
We interrupt this binding process for a short time to share a binding tip…..
Hate to admit that time is of the essence – it’s the midnight hour and my quilt needs to be bound for the photography….where oh where did the time go? I’ve used this little tip on more than one occasion and it really is a time saver.
This method may seem like it takes too much time but I promise it’s worth a try. The time-saving tip is two-fold. One, from the front it looks like the binding has been handsewn down on the back. Two, when I do have the opportunity to take the time to actually stitch I won’t have to pin (or worry about sticking myself with a pin! Ouch!). It isn’t hard to needle through like using quarter inch binding tape with the added bonus is this is not permanent as the glue washes out when the quilt is washed! You’re welcome.
Island Time
Oh, how I love island time ~ whether it’s time spent at the beach or just day-dreaming of the beach. Island time is more fun with Island Batik fabrics in Deb Tucker’s signature collection Twilight Chic.
One More Time Around the Block
Congratulations for taking the time to make it this far in the blog post (grin). I hope you have enjoyed the Twilight Chic week as much as I have. In case you missed any of the stops along this journey I’ve included all the links below near the end of this post. Good things come to those who wait ~ there’s a giveaway too! We’re still on island time…Relax and carry on, it’s almost twilight as our hop comes to an end…but in true rambler fashion….”But wait! There’s more!!”
My latest pattern is being released this month! Paradise Island is made with the Twilight Chic fabrics provided by Island Batik. The printed pattern will be shipping after Valentines Day however the PDF is available now as a download. I am so excited that the pattern showcases the tools by Studio 180 Design as well as Deb’s signature fabric collection. It is truly a joy to be associated with both Studio 180 Design and Island Batik.
Giveaway Time
In addition, I am giving away a PDF version of Paradise Island on the link below
All Good Things Must Come to an End
It’s been a fun week ~ be sure and visit my fellow certified instructor (CI) Tina Dillard as we share the caboose on this twilight train….here’s a recap of the blog posts for #TwilightChicWeek ~ on behalf of all the CI’s, Studio 180 Design and Island Batik thank you for hopping around with us this week. We hope you will check your local quilt shop for the Twilight Chic collection that is shipping now. In the event your shop didn’t place an order for this line I’m listing links to a few of our CI’s who also run a quilt shop ~ they will be more than happy to assist you with your fabric purchases and/or patterns. In addition, please do visit Studio 180 Design for tools and patterns.
This is Karen Overton, The Quilt Rambler – scroll down for helpful links
TWILIGHT CHIC WEEK SCHEDULE:
Monday, February 4
Gaggle of Geese Tuffet with Sharyn of The Tuffet Source
Tuesday, February 5
Jackie O’Brien, If These Threads Could Talk
Gail Renna, Quilt Haven Threads
Wednesday, February 6
Deb Tucker – Twilight Chic Projects
Thursday, February 7
Bonny Peters, Cat Den Mountain Quilts
Friday, February 8
Debby Brown, Debby Brown Quilts
Saturday, February 9
Karen Overton, the Quilt Rambler
Tina Dillard, Quilting Affection Designs
Certified Instructor Shops – sources for Twilight Chic fabric
Cyn Wilde, The Quilters Cottage Fabrics, Richmond TX
Byran McCoy, Bolts And Quarters Quilt Shop, Parkersburg WV
Debbie Kalently, Quilter’s Obsession, Flagtown NJ
It’s always so hard to choose when there are so many beautiful quilts. Deb Brown’s King’s Pawn is probably my favorite. But I’m also partial to your Time quilt.
I have a hard time choosing a favorite. I love Quilting Affection’s Getaway – because of the illusion of curves. I love Debby Brown’s King’s Pawn because I love those stars. But I love the movement and the scrappy binding in your quilt.
I find it very hard to choose as I love anything made with Twilight Chic. Every day I say this is my favorite but as I go back and review all the blogs I find that I just love them all! I love the Studio 180 design tools all my blocks are the right size so there is no fudging to put it all together! Keep up the good work. Love following you!
The way Debby Brown used the blues with gold background made King’s Pawn outstanding.
I have loved everything, however, I think my favorite that I will do immediately is the tablerunners by Michelle Hiatt. Loved all!
Simply Yummy! I really like your new pattern and am so happy to purchase from a fellow Texan, as soon as I get my paycheck!
Really fun Karen!
I loved the Gaggle of Geese Tuffet by Sharyn! But, all of the projects have been gorgeous.
I can’t possibly choose. I would say that I really liked the tuffet and “Time”.
Oh crumb, I just found out about this on the last day??!!! I’m in love with both of your quilts and want to make both of them!!!
No problem – use the links and go back to visit everyone!
This fabric collection is so,gorgeous it’s hard to not love all the projects. I think Time is my favorite.
Thank you, Karen.
Using the Deb Tucker rulers and Technique Sheets has added joy to my growing quilting skills!
You have been such an inspiration to this quilter! 🙂
Love the bed runner. Something small but with great impact! Love this fabric collection!
I think King’s Pawn but they are all wonderful! I have been quilting over 40 years but have just recently discovered how wonderful Deb Tucker’s rulers are! Quilting just doesn’t disappoint–always new things to learn! Thanks for the giveaway!!
Thanks for joining us on the journey- enjoy those Tucker tools!
Hi Karen! I just love ALL the fabrics in this line. That basic one, Yoke, sure does go well with everything and what a fabulous neutral with a bit of visual interest when you look closely. Your quilting looks great, and I was just putting an hourglass block together for a color of the month SQL. I was wishing I had the 180 rulers when you showed how easily it was to trim the blocks (pretty nails too)! ~smile~ Roseanne
I’m going to make a Tucker convert out of you yet Roseanne ????
Paradise island…yummmmm.
Aw thanks – I like it ????♀️
I really love your Time quilt. Not only are the colors beautiful, but your quilting is beautiful as well!
Thank you ~ it was time well spent ???? as I enjoyed the process
Your Time quilt is stunning…..and I love your new pattern!!
Thank you????
Aw thanks Barb – appreciate you hopping along for the journey
I think a twilight Chic is the most stunning collection of Island Batik fabric ever. But wait……perhaps it’s the two quilts you made that showcase the fabrics so well. I’m in love with both fabric and patterns. Thank you for showing us the Tucker Tools. They’re on my wish List! Carol Andrews
My pleasure – I’m so thankful you enjoyed the week of showcasing Deb’s fabrics and tools
If I had to chose proubly king pawn …But the colors and what you all did with them..I love them all…..ty for sharing your talents with us….
I have loved all the projects, but your quilt is the one that makes me want to buy the trimmer ruler. It is a beautiful quilt.
Aw, thank you – and do get a Tucker Trimmer – you will never look back!
Wow, they are all great, but I must say I’m partial to yours!! Beautiful – and your new pattern is too!! I love stars!! Thanks for the opportunity to win some of this beautiful fabric and your pattern!!
It’s so difficult to choose but I would like to make the Tuffet. The fabrics are beautiful
I like the King’s Pawn as a hunter’s star has been on my list. These Chic colors are so rich!!
Be sure and check out Deb’s two books with Hunter Star patterns – you are sure to find one that is just perfect to check off that list!