quilting

Batik Burst Finish

February 22, 2019

Batik Burst is finished, and I have you to thank for it. So many of you commented on which version you liked best. Thanks so much for helping me decide! Although I didn’t get replies to your comments on my blog post, I did try to respond to each of you by email. I hope I didn’t miss anyone.

So which version did I go with? Version 2 won out, hands down.

Batik Burst Finish - A wall quilt of my own design using Island Batik fabrics - piecefulthoughts.com

I’m late in posting today because I wanted to sneak out and get some outdoor photos before the next snowfall comes. I thought you might like to see the amount of snow we have here in Minnesota.

The bright fabrics for Batik Burst are Island Batik fabrics that I won from Carole Lyles Shaw (thank you, Carole!) during the Island Batik Getaway Blog Hop. The neutral fabrics and the backing are from my stash, and they complimented the Island Batiks beautifully.

The quilt measures 32 inches square. I used Aurifil threads for the quilting in bright pink, purple, orange and turquoise. The batting is Quilter’s Dream Select. I pieced the binding from the bright scraps.

Here’s that same photo above, but I’ve stepped back a bit. You can see how deep the snow is. Those little branches sticking out on the left are the tips of a hedge that is about 3 feet tall.

Batik Burst Finish - The quilt on the snow in our yard. That's about 3 feet of snow right there. - piecefulthoughts.com

Then I walked up to our court so you could see the pile of snow from the plow, a frequent visitor as of late. First the close up . . .

Batik Burst Finish - Another view of this little 32" quilt on our huge pile of snow in our court - piecefulthoughts.com

Now let’s step back a bit and put it into perspective.

Batik Burst Finish - The huge pile of snow from the plowing of our court, with little 32" Batik Burst for perspective - piecefulthoughts.com

That’s about a 6-7 foot pile. The forecast indicates more snow today through the weekend and first part of the week. Uffda. (That’s Minnesota-speak for we’ve had enough of this.)

Okay, let’s get back to the details of Batik Burst. For the quilting in the center, I did a simple diamond motif starting at the center and working my way out.

Batik Burst Finish - Quilting in the center, a simple diamond motif using Aurifil bright pink thread - piecefulthoughts.com

I used my walking foot for the quilting, as usual, and used a bright pink Aurifil thread.

For the star points, I used matching Aurifil thread and stitched triangular spiral in each star point.

Batik Burst Finish - Detail photo of the spiraled quilting in each star point using matching Aurifil thread - piecefulthoughts.com

In the neutral areas, I used a matching neutral Aurifil thread and quilted simple rays coming from a center point.

Batik Burst Finish - Quilting detail in the background of the quilt using a neutral Aurifil thread - piecefulthoughts.com
Batik Burst Finish - Quilting detail in the background using a neutral Aurifil thread, simple rays - piecefulthroughts.com

For the backing, I used a neutral fabric from my stash.

Batik Burst Finish - Quilt back photo, showing quilting detail and a peek at the pieced binding - piecefulthoughts.com

I played a bit with the locking stitch on my machine, because I really dislike burying threads. I don’t like the locking stitch; it leaves thread wads on the back of the quilt. Thank goodness they are on the back where I won’t have to see them.

I pieced the binding for the quilt using 2-inch strips from the fabrics in the star. I did lay out the binding around the quilt before stitching to avoid getting a binding seam at the corners.

There’s still quite a bit of fabric left over, and I have some ideas for using it up. Given the forecast, I should have plenty of time to play in my sewing room!

What are you working on this weekend?

Linking up today with Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Sherry at Powered by Quilting, Alycia for TGIFF, Sandra at mmm!Quilts and Tish at The Madd Quilter.

Wendy

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44 Comments

  • RicefordStreams
    February 22, 2019 at 8:54 am Reply

    I love your cheerful quilt on the wintry backdrop. And all your quilting looks great. Like you, I’m thinking about a project to keep busy during the next blast of snow and cold. And snacks—I’m thinking about hibernation snacks to keep me going. 😄

  • KJ
    February 22, 2019 at 8:55 am Reply

    That is beautiful. Your quilting looks great, too. Thanks for all the photos.

    When I quilt I do not use the locking stitch at the beginning, but I do use it at the end. This means I have half as much burying to do.

  • Laura M
    February 22, 2019 at 9:12 am Reply

    What a great idea about the triangular spiral. Lots fantastic. I agree about the “lock stitch” mess. I’m more likely to stitch a few very short stitches instead. Sometimes, I’ve found that I did not do enough or made the stitch length a wee bit long, so have left myself a “note” to try on a sample (to make sure my selection works and does not pull out) before I start. I love your bright quilt. Sorry about all the snow.

  • My Sewful Retirement
    February 22, 2019 at 9:16 am Reply

    Wendy, your batik burst is beautiful! Your quilting is awesome — I love walking foot quilting. I cannot believe all the snow — I got cold looking at the pictures 🙂 Happy Sewing and stay warm this weekend!

  • rl2b2017
    February 22, 2019 at 9:39 am Reply

    Hi Wendy! Oooh-la-la this turned out just fabulously. I love the whole entire thing. And holy moly – that is a LOT of snow. Eek, I pray for a slow warmup and melting or there will be flooding issues. I promise I will not complain about our snow again (this year). We still have piles but because of the freezing rain it all has a shiny sheen to it. It just looks slippery. Anyway, back to this fabulous piece – great job all around. I don’t like those locking stitch knobs either, so I usually pull the threads, tie and bury. Although I try to use just one color thread so the stops and starts are at a minimum. Love this! ~smile~ Roseanne

  • Diann Bottrell
    February 22, 2019 at 9:57 am Reply

    That is so pretty, Wendy! I love how it turned out, and enjoyed seeing how you quilted it, too. Your star gives me an idea for some Island Batik scraps I won in a giveaway last year that I just haven’t been inspired by yet! And look at that snow – I bet you have had enough of it!

  • Terri L Gartman
    February 22, 2019 at 9:58 am Reply

    This turned out great! A finish is sew satisfying! Sorry for all the snow–all we are getting is periodic rain and wind–which makes walking the dog a challenge, but I will not complain when I see your snow piled up!

  • catpatches
    February 22, 2019 at 10:55 am Reply

    Your quilting looks great! Good use of those fabrics too. What a fun little quilt. Oy…all that snow. It would be fun for a few days, but a few months of it would have me planning a move to Arizona.

  • Gail
    February 22, 2019 at 1:26 pm Reply

    Love it!!!
    As for your threads: here’s a trick to try … before you start to stitch, bring the bobbin thread to the top –> hold the top and bobbin thread over to one side –> do your lock stitch –> take abut 5 or 6 stitches (or more) then cut off the starting threads … 🙂 no burying threads, no thread bunches at the back …:-)
    Oh – and did I say that I love the end result of your Batik burst? Yup, I do!
    Happy Quilting! 🙂

  • treadlemusic
    February 23, 2019 at 7:13 am Reply

    Yes…burying thread tails is wearisome to me, also. I, generally, take several small stitches close together to lock the threads. All my quilts have been for me or gifts, not juried quilt events, so no “points” in danger when I do that!
    I’m watching this “Minnesota Snow-in” event from the warmer climes of deep south Texas, where we reside Jan. through April. Our ‘up-north’ home is in the extreme southeast corner of Minnesota (a little town called Houston) and this next storm, today & tonight, looks to be a doozy-again! Be safe!
    Love this “finish”…..the quilting is just perfect! Hugs…………

  • JanineMarie
    February 23, 2019 at 2:14 pm Reply

    The finish is amazing as it is, but wow! Against that snow, it’s spectacular! That will be a fun documentation of the quilt as well as a winter we’d probably just as soon forget right now but will want to revisit in photos some other time.

  • thedarlingdogwood
    February 23, 2019 at 6:20 pm Reply

    Love it! The colors are great and I really like your original piece as the center of the star. Uffda is right! That is soooo much snow! (Also, it made my Minnesota heart happy to see the Uffda. People in North Carolina just don’t know what it means!)

  • Sandra Walker
    February 24, 2019 at 7:56 pm Reply

    Whoa! That amount of snow is even more than we’d usually get in Alberta, though some years it was about that. I just LOVE your quilt!!! How wonderful to see those gorgeous IB fabrics all grown up into this beauty of a squirrel! I’m so glad you won, and thank you for linking up such a bright and happy DrEAMi! squirrel to chase the winter blues (whites ha) away!

  • Preeti
    February 25, 2019 at 5:15 am Reply

    Seriously Wendy? You want to talk about snow?? In Minnesota??? Did you see Amy lately? What snow, what blizzard, said she 😀 On the other hand your Batik finish is gorgeous splash of color looking perfect against the wintery white background.

  • Kathleen McCormick
    February 27, 2019 at 9:39 am Reply

    I love the way it turned out. I use the locking stitch a lot, and just ignore it as for most uses its perfectly fine. I also do this – change my zig zag to a .3 length and 0 width. You get a very narrow set of stitch which works fine. I don’t think I have ever noticed that leaving a knot on the outside. Try it sometime – not for that show quilt but maybe a wall hanging!

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