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