Thursday, January 22, 2015

Welcome to the Island Batik Sock Hop on my blog!



Welcome to my hop with the Island Batik Sock Hop Blog Hop! We are going to party and there will be gifts!



If you have been following the Island Batik blog, then you know we are celebrating “Oldies but Goodies” in blocks and quilt collections.

Being an animal person, I had to choose a block with an animal name. I chose the “Duck and Ducklings” block which has been called by other names as well, but I like the Duck and Ducklings name. This is truly an old block as I found a picture and an article from the Kansas City Star. Read about it here: Kansas City Star


Now the fabric collection I chose is from my recently completed pattern, Bubblegum and it is called “No Particular Place to Go”. I didn’t think I was familiar with this song until I heard it and then I recognized it instantly. Just never knew the name. Listen to You Tube so you can hear it and I bet you will recognize it too. Chuck Berry is singing, so turn the sound up and get ready to rock!


Now that you are in the mood to rock  - we are going to rock around my block!

When I think of ducklings and ducks, I think of yellow and orange. Since our web footed friends spend a lot of time in the water the blue fabric in this collection is the icing on the cake (or the water in the pond)! Plus the multi color leaf fabric looks like marsh grass! This fabric line is just “purrfect” for my block. Here are all the colors in the collection!

Here is the block, so let’s cut the fabrics.




1. From the blue fabric, cut six blocks 3 ¼” x 3 ¼”.  


  

2. From two different yellow fabrics, cut one block each 3 ¼” x 3 ¼”.













 
3. Cut the yellow and blue blocks diagonally to make triangles.





4. From the blue fabric, cut four blocks 2 7/8” x 2 7/8” and from the multi color leaf fabric, cut four blocks 2 7/8" x 2 7/8". (blue blocks not shown).



5. From the spotted fabric cut one block 2 7/8” x 2 7/8”.



6. From the orange fabric, cut two blocks 5 5/8” x 5 5/8” and then cut them diagonally to make four triangles (ducks).




7. Place the blocks together as shown in the block diagram. Stitch the blocks together. I sewed the top corner units together first and then attached the two units together. I sewed the middle blocks together in a strip and then added the bottom unit. It goes together very quickly. I then squared it up to make a 12 ½” x 12 ½” square. (You may notice that my multi color leaf fabric block is in the middle and the spotted fabric blocks are on the sides.)The reason is this is my second block and I will tell you why I made two shortly. 




So what did I do with this block? I decided it would make a wonderful Kennel Quilt for an animal shelter. This is a wonderful program that helps animal shelters after disasters and is supported by The Quilt Pattern Magazine, Aurifil Threads and the Petfinder Foundation.

Have you heard about Kennel Quilts? If not, you can get all the information here.


A Kennel Quilt is 12” x 18” so I added a 1” strip (cut it 1 1/2") on either side of the block and then added a 2” strip (cut it 2 1/2")  next to it on either side. And now I have my Kennel Quilt top. 


To make the Kennel Quilt, place the quilt backing right side up on a flat surface. With right sides together, align the raw edges of the quilt top and the quilt backing. Place the batting on top of the quilt top, again aligning the raw edges. Pin in place.



Sew the top and backing together leaving a 10” opening for turning. Make sure to catch the batting when stitching. Backstitch on either side of the opening. 


Trim corners. Turn the quilt right side out. Carefully poke out the corners. Whipstitch the opening closed. Press.


Quilt in a simple pattern to keep the batting in place.

And here are my Kennel Quilts.
I will be sending these to The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region in Colorado. Kennel Quilts are like potato chips – you can’t make just one! That is why I made two blocks for two Kennel Quilts!





Last fall I made a Kennel Quilt from the Island Batik collection called "Rock Me on the Water".
I had used that collection in my quilt, The Right Connections.
Here is that Kennel Quilt.





I sent it to upper New York state to a shelter near Buffalo that was affected by the heavy snows in November. 


My plan is to share a picture in the next week or two showing a kitty from Colorado enjoying the lovely Kennel Quilt. She won’t know her Kennel Quilt is called Duck and Ducklings. She won’t know it is made from the Island Batik collection called “No Particular Place To Go”. But like the song, this kitty has “no particular place to go” until she is adopted and finds a forever home. Please opt to adopt!



I hope you have enjoyed my Sock Hop Blog Hop party. And if you did please leave a comment, as I am going to be giving away two of my Bubblegum patterns.


If your program won't allow you to comment, email me with your comment. I will be picking two winners using random.org.

And Island Batik will be giving away two Fabric bundles. You can sign up for that here!
Be sure and visit the other Island Batik Sock Hop Blogs!

I also hope you will join the Kennel Quilt Team to help animals in shelters.

Thank you Island Batik for letting me join the hop!

Nan

47 comments:

  1. I have never seen this block and I really like it, especially made from the batiks. I love your Kennel Quilt - I have made 2 quilts for my dog for her doghouse when it gets colder and she loves them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Dee and thanks for making quilts for your dog. I am sure she loves them.

      Delete
  2. What a neat block and your Kennel quilts are precious made in the Island Batiks fabrics! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I commend your efforts with the kennel quilts and love the dimensional stacked look and bright colors of the bubblegum balls quilt. I've never worked with curves… are they challenging?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nancie, they can be a little challenging.This was my first attempt and I really enjoyed it. They are easier than they look.

      Delete
  4. Love the idea of kennel quilts. Perfect for when you need a quick project or when everyone you know has been given a quilt. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love the block in the fabrics and colours you chose, Nan!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well done, Nan! Your post is informative and colorful, and your kennel quilt is adorable.
    -Isobel

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for showing us this block and your kennel quilts. So cute!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is such a fun block! Great instructions - thank you for sharing. :) Kennel quilts are such a great idea - need to give one a try!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Katie, I hope you will make some Kennel Quilts and don't forget to share pictures. Thank you.

      Delete
  9. I love your block. And I never heard of kennel quilts before so I may just have to make some for my local shelter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine, I hope you do make some Kennel Quilts and if you do please share a picture! Thank you.

      Delete
  10. Your blocks are really beautiful and make the cutest kennel quilts. Thank you so much for sharing and for the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your Duck and Duckling Kennel quilt turned out beautifully. I know the kitties enjoy a warm bed and safer footing in the kennels.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love the name, Duck and Ducklings. It goes wonderfully with the blues, greens and Duck colors.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Nan, as always your pattern and fabric choices are purr-fect! Thank you for sharing yet another wonderful pattern with us, and the addition of the kennel quilt pattern is great. I know Miss Kitty will appreciate it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Joanne, we all know how kitties love quilts and having their own special ones make it so neat!

      Delete
  14. Great blocks! Great idea on the kennel quilts, too. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your kennel quilts are beautiful and for such a worthy purr-pose. Great use of those gorgeous No Particular Place to Go batiks. Those are purr-fect!

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a great block and idea to use for animals. I'd seen something similar to this before, but it wasn't as nice as this is as it had no batting.

    Thank you for the wonderful tutorial. I really love the bright colors in this fabric collection

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you - I hope you can make some Kennel Quilts!

      Delete
  17. Wow!! loooove your Kennel quilts!!! Way cool! Thanks for sharing your Tutorial with us! :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. This was awesome, thank you so much for sharing. I think I'm going to try some of these. I'm new to quilting so this would be a nice smaller project with a great purpose. Have a great day! dawnm1993(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dawn, this is a great project for a new quilter. It is small enough and if you make mistakes or colors don't match, the kitties don't care. They just want a soft place to make biscuits!

      Delete
  19. Great quilts - what a fabulous idea!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you - hope you will make some Kennel Quilts.

      Delete
  20. Bless you for making beautiful comfy beds for four legged furry kids living in shelters, that need a good night sleep. Absolutely beautiful. Thanks for the tutorial too as I will definitely use it to make some shelter beds too. And your quilt pattern is lovely, but also a design that would show off beautiful batiks.

    QuiltShopGal
    www.quiltshopgal.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for making some Kennel Quilts for shelters. Our furry friends need all the help they can get. And yes - the Island Batiks are lovely and a delight to work with.

      Delete
  21. wow your kennel quilts are fantastic. thanks for showing and sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  22. You are so awesome to help our best friends.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Great looking kennel quilts! Thanks for the giveaway, love the bubblegum pattern!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Great block and I love the colors you chose. Thanks for sharing and for the chance to win a copy of your pattern.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I really love the idea of the kennel quilts. What beautiful fabrics. Thanks for the chance to win.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Well, I didn't need any new projects! LOL BUT, now, I have to make kennel quilts for the grand puppies! Just see the influence your great blog post has!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. We have 2 rescues and they are the lights of our lives. Mmmmm, I think they need a kennel pad! Lucy and Chloe will love them as they are always on the other quilts in the house.

    ReplyDelete