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Friday, March 19, 2021

Scrapbuster Express: An Island Batik Challenge

The Island Batik Ambassador challenge for March is scraps, or scrap busting.  I *love* scrap quilts and make a lot of scrappy quilts.  Oddly enough, that made this challenge even more challenging.  I think since I make a lot of scrappy quilts naturally, I felt like this one had to be different or special.  I finally came up with an plan that I think is really fun.  I give you the Scrapbuster Express.


The products featured in this post were given to me by Island Batik, Hobbs, Aurifil, and Schmetz.  


I have AccuQuilt's train die and it's really fun.  I decided to make scrappy trains and surround the trains with super scrappy pieces sashing.  All the pieces in the borders are 2 1/2" (unfinished) squares, also cut with the AccuQuilt.  There are so many different fabrics in this!  I kept out pink and purple, as this is likely to be a donation quilt and I know a lot of places will not give a quilt with even a little pink or purple to a boy.  Beyond that, there's a little bit of everything in here!

I used the neutral Coconut as the background for the train blocks.  The binding is black with circles in it--there were several strips of the same print in my stash builder rolls, and those rolls are perfect for cutting in half and using as binding. I did both piecing and quilting with Aurifil 2000 Light Sand, though I admit that the bobbin thread varied.  Scrappy quilts are great for using up those not-quite-empty bobbins of Aurifil thread in various colors.  I used Schmetz super nonstick needles; they are great with the fusible from applique shapes; there is no gumming of the needle at all.  The batting is Hobbs heirloom 100% cotton.

trains in progress

My favorite part of this was not part of the original plan.  When I cut the trains, I had an engine that was too close in color to the caboose of another train, and with them going different directions, that was too much same together for me. I cut another engine, no big deal.  But the other engine was already cut and had fusible on the back.  So the next morning, I asked my son if he had anything that needed a train on it.  He brought me a plain sweatshirt and I appliqued the train on it.  The train die has a square to be used as a window.  When I went to make a window for his engine, I remembered that I had some penguins from a Glacier View fabric, so I fussy cut a penguin to drive the train.  He loved it.  Thought a penguin driving the train was the best thing ever.

Lucky for me, I had enough penguins to put them on all the trains!!  So each train has a penguin conductor driving and more in the caboose.  It's a fun touch and it makes me smile every time I see the penguins in the train. And the penguins were leftover from this tree skirt I made last year, so they still fit the scrap theme.

Penguin Conductor


It's always fun to play with Island Batik scraps!



12 comments:

  1. You hit that challenge out of the park! Very fun, bright and scrappy, the very best kind of quilt. The sweatshirt is really fun too. What's not to like about a train driving penguin?

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  2. Cute!!! Love the penguin engineer and passengers!!! And the bright colors!

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  3. So cute! Penguins on trains! A bright, cheerful quilt!

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  4. So cute! & the Penguines are precious.

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  5. Great job on this and how great you had enough penguins to make this the penguin express! Fun finish and fun use of scraps!

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  6. How adorable is that quilt! Great job.

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  7. I love your Scrapbuster Express Emily! So fun and colorful. The penguin drivers are too cute! As is your son's sweatshirt. :)

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  8. OMG, those trains with the Penguin conductors are inspired! My favorite trains EVER!! With all the Quilts for Kids quilts I make, I’m going to have to get that train die (already have the cutter)!

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  9. That is just adorable and the penguins just add to the charm!! I love the scrappy borders! Some little boy will be so happy to receive this quilt!

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  10. A penguin driving the train is the most natural thing - really. Compared to most other animals, they stand upright and confidently look ahead. Love this quilt. So cute, so adorable and absolutely one-of-a-kind. I just have one tiny itty-bitty suggestion - having your son model it... or at least the new t-shirt :-)

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  11. I loved watching every step of this! What fun to have the penquin in the drivers position!

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  12. So cute, Emily. Especially the penguins and the sweatshirt. I'll bet your son love wearing that shirt! Have a great day!

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