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Thursday, June 23, 2022

Prickly Pear -- Island Batik's New York Beauty blog hop

Welcome to my stop on Island Batik's New York Beauty blog hop!  Each of us was sent one of the new Island Batik collections and tasked to feature the New York Beauty block.

I was sent I was sent Woodblock Bouquets, a signature collection by Kathy Engle for Carol Moellers Designs. Woodblock Bouquets has rich dark pinks, deep golds, and delightful greens and many floral motifs. Read to the bottom for a chance to win some of these lovely fabrics!

 

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



Now, while New York Beauty is on a lot of quilters' bucket lists, it was not on mine!  NYB blocks typically involve paper piecing and curved piecing, two things I try hard to avoid.  I can paper piece but I don't really enjoy it.  Curves, however, I avoid at all costs.  My first thought was to check Quiltsmart to see if they make a New York Beauty fusible interfacing.  And they do!  Quiltsmart takes traditional patterns that can be tricky and use printed fusible interfacing to take away some of the more challenging aspects of the pattern.  In my first few years of quilting, I made their Lone Star and their Double Wedding Ring (both pre-date the blog).  Their Liberty Crown is a New York Beauty block.

Using the Quiltsmart interfacing means I was locked in to the 12" block it makes, and I was locked into the specific arcs of their block.  This took some of the decisions out of my hands, but there was still plenty to customize, including fabric placement and layout. I chose the new neutral Muslin as my background and started with crowns made of the three dark greens in the collection.  When I played around in EQ, the green spikes made me think of plants and prickly leaves which went nicely with the idea of bouquets.  


Once I had the rings of the spikes/points/crowns all pieced, it was time to add the rings.  The rings are fused on and stitched with a zigzag using Aurifil invisible thread--so no curved piecing!!  While the spikes took a while to piece, the rings went pretty quickly. 

 

I had a layout I liked from EQ and I made blocks based on that design. While the greens were in the crowns, I used all the other fabrics in the collection randomly in the 3 sizes of solid arcs.  All twenty fabrics from Woodblock Bouquets are in Prickly Pear, which is how I thought of the quilt with its dark green spikes. Once I had all the blocks made and I started to lay out the whole thing, I realized I wanted to change the orientation of some of the blocks and therefore the overall layout.  Instead of two caterpillar-like shapes I originally planned, I liked the almost-circle like layout.  And I knew that continuous spiral quilting would look fabulous with the adjusted layout.

original layout

 

I quilted Prickly Pear with Aurifil 2000 Light Sand, which I also used for the piecing, other than when I used the invisible thread for securing the rings.  I have always used Schmetz needles and the super nonstick needles are great for working with fusible like the Quiltsmart interfacing.  The batting is Hobbs Heirloom 80/20.


While I never would have picked a New York Beauty on my own, I'm really happy with the finished quilt.  These challenges are so great, they make me try things I absolutely would have avoided otherwise.

 

Want a chance to win some Woodblock Bouquets fabric?  I have a pretty good amount of 8 of the fabrics left.  Leave me a comment to be eligible to win this bouquet of fabric.  You can comment about anything, but if you need a prompt, tell me what quilt block or quilt pattern you have reluctant to make. I will randomly draw a winner on July 1st. 
 


Island Batik is hosting a giveaway each week for the blog hop, check out this post for this week's giveaway, and come back tomorrow for the final giveaway of this hop.  Also be sure to check out my fellow ambassador Suzy Webster and see what she made with Woodblock Bouquets.  And visit all the Island Batik ambassadors for lots of New York Beauty inspiration!


28 comments:

  1. I like how the middle square catches your eye in your quilt. It is lovely. I would like to try more complicated blocks, I just have to push myself. I usually stay with something simple. petuniakr@aol.com

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  2. Love the movement in your quilt! I've made several NY Beauty blocks using paper piecing and definitely struggled with the arcs. I want to make a lone star quilt but am afraid of all the bias seams and points.

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  3. Well, you did an awesome job conquering your fears of curves and PP! I have the same kind of thoughts concerning the New York Beauty. I've always admired the projects, but just not sure I want to deal with all the fiddly-ness. Maybe someday I will as I know a good challenge is good for the brain! Bravo to you!

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  4. NYB blocks are my favorite blocks. One of my first quilts was a NYB. Your quilt is gorgeous and you did a great job on the blocks. This might be my favorite of all your quilts, but I think that of so many of yours - haha!

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  5. I love the change in layout. Well done. And Bravo for facing the challenge head on. I want to make some quilt blocks (maybe a whole quilt?) for quilts for survivors.

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  6. So well done The quilting is so nice! I struggle with curves!

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  7. Hello Emily from Stash Bee years ago, I love your adaptation of design and construction for your New York Beauty. What a great way to work with your strengths to achieve a goal! I also love the colors of these batiks. I have been postponing a Wedding ring quilt: it seems overwhelming.

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  8. Your quilt turned out lovely. I don't think I would ever take on a Baltimore Beauty block, let alone a whole quilt!

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  9. Lovely. A NYB is on my list, likely a small version just to say I did itt. :)

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  10. what lovely fabrics. they look like they were a log of fun to play with. your quilt is gorgeous. I love the movement thanks for sharing and for inspiring

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  11. NYB is one of the quilts on my list to make! Maybe at the beginning of next year. I have three quilts to finish ASAP.

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  12. Love this! What a great name! I'd never heard of Quiltsmart before...

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  13. I love everything about it, especially that you conquered it!! I once tried to make a few blocks and while I did ok with the pp part I didn't like the curves.

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  14. Fabrics were beautiful and so was your quilt.

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  15. I also would love to do the double wedding ring quilt, but don't know where to start. I have never pieced curves. I love your quilt and really love the layout you chose. I think the colors really pop against the background. Also, lovely flowers that you photographed the quilt with!

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  16. I am reluctant to do any quilt with curves such as New York Beauty, but seeing all the beautiful quilts from this blog hop, I am tempted to try. Your quilt is a sweet simple design and I love it.

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  17. Your quilt is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing the process, and thanks for sharing this beautiful fabric! I love batiks. I can't think of a pattern I'd be unwilling to make, but I tend to stay away from ones that look like they would take years to make.

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  18. This is a strinking quilt. I love the design. I can't think of one I don't like but applique isn't my favorite.

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  19. Your quilt came out so pretty, Emily! Fusing the curves sounds like a good idea I'm going to save for next time. Have a great day!

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  20. Looks great!! You do awesome work. Love the spiral quilting!

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  21. I have been reluctant to make a double wedding ring quilt. Love your quilt. I enjoy PP, and have always like the New York Beauty quilts. Guess I need to add one to my bucket list. Nancy A: SewingGranda@gmail.com

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  22. Emily your Prickly Pear quilt has to be my favourite of the gorgeous quilts in this hop. I love the way you have showcased these gorgeous fabrics. I’m amazed at what you all have done with a “traditional” block. Like you, I’ve shied away from curved piecing but have done many Drunkard’s Path and Dresden Blocks. After seeing the information on Quiltsmart (which I’d never heard of) I’m ready to tackle a Wedding Ring and New York Beauty myself. 😉. Thank you for the tip and for a chance to win some beautiful IB fabrics.

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  23. I have hesitated to try a Mariners Star quilt, although I love the design. I know I should just dive in/ Thanks for asking the question. wordygirl@earthlink.net

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  24. It's gorgeous, Emily!! And I love the photo setting. It is perfect for this quilt!

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  25. Fantastic quilt! I could never go with so much white for any quilt I keep (my kids are monsters) but It sure does make it pop in such a beautiful way! I started quilting maybe 20 years ago, then stopped 14 years ago when I had to trade my quilting room for a nursery. I got back into it with a vengeance this year. I've already made 6 quilts (3 baby) in the last year. My wonderful man got me a new to me quilting frame which is so much fun! I am terrified to do so many things (I will anyway eventually, because quilting is so gratifying) but I think applique and curved piecing are the most daunting things in my head right now! And then I see quilts like this that make me want to do it until I can make it look this good.

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  26. I love this! It is fun when you can come up with something you just don't expect and love it. I love the way the NYB blocks move and the negative space is really fun, too. Another great quilt, congratulations Emily!

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  27. I love your version of this gorgeus block. The IB colours suit the pattern so well. Thanks for sharing

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