Sew Preeti Quilts: Oliso Iron

Showing posts with label Oliso Iron. Show all posts

Sunday, December 14, 2025

Trillium Trail

Hope you are having a glorious Sunday. I have a bit of news. This is the current issue of American Quilter.

Look what I found inside!

My picture is from our Hawaii visit

Picture Courtesy - American Quilter

My quilt, Trillium Trail, is published in the January 2026 issue of American Quilter.

Backing is Island Batik Multi - Marbles

Designed in EQ8, and made with the Island Batik collection Enchanted Flutter, Trillium Trail finished at 60" by 80".

Enchanted Flutter

Orange Peel Units are appliquéd in threes forming the shape of the Trillium flower, alternating with Irish Chain blocks. A scrappy border completes the look.

Paul, the model

Grassy ground, shimmering lake and cloudy skies provide the perfect backdrop for the Trillium Trail. I took this picture at Lake Arrowhead Recreation Park, when we were visiting Luray Caverns this summer.

A book, a cuppa and a quilt = Perfection

I used Schmetz Microtex 80/12 Needle for both sewing and quilting. I secured the raw edge applique with stitches 1/8" from the edges, before piecing the blocks. The quilting is a 2" grid using my walking foot. I used Hobbs 80/20 Cotton/Poly Blend Batting.

Snuggleworthy Morning

A few more pictures!

Mayneview Bed & Breakfast, Luray

Quilting Detail

Scrappy Border Detail

Trillium Trail is also my submission for Island Batik's last challenge of 2025 - Ambassador's Choice.

Thanks to Island Batik (Lumin Fabrics) and Industry partners who generously provided the supplies to all Island Batik Ambassadors - Island Batik, Hobbs Batting, Schmetz Needles, and Oliso Iron.

In other news, I set up my colorful table at Gifts from the HeART holiday shopping market in Reston's Lake Anne Community Center. There were many people interested in my work but only a few buyers. It is a good thing that sewing/quilting is my hobby :-)

Gifts from the HeART, Reston

I am currently working on a t-shirt quilt for a friend who is a fan of Rock and Roll bands. Hope to complete it before the end of the year. Will share more pictures in January.

Work in Progress

In February 2025, I started a new job. The commute is long (1.5 hours each way) and working from home is not an option. I leave home at 6:30 and return at 6:30. 12-hour days mean that I have no time in the AM and no energy in the PM and weekends are slammed with everything else - grocery, laundry, chores and more.

I recently said to Paul that if I am invited to a social event, I thank the host. If I am NOT, I thank God!

For this reason, I chose to not apply for the 2026 Island Batik Ambassador Program. I will miss the community of my fellow ambassadors and the creative push that came with each challenge. But I will still be making quilts, writing blogposts, publishing patterns and sharing with all my favorite linky parties. I hope you will stay in touch!

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Sulaxi -Timeless Traditions Blog Hop

Meet Sulaxi.

Thank you, Paul!

Sulaxi is my response to the Island Batik Timeless Traditions Challenge and Blog Hop. This challenge requires us to make a Lap (or larger) Quilt using the assigned Summer 2025 collection with the following stipulation.

Use any or all of the following classic, traditional blocks! Use a minimum of 5 different blocks in your quilt in any combination and size of the blocks.

Four Patch Quilt Block
Nine Patch Quilt Block
Half Square Triangle Block
Quarter Square Triangle Block
Friendship Star Block
Flying Geese Quilt Block
Variable Star Quilt Block
Ohio Star Quilt Block
Nine Patch Chain Quilt Block
Pinwheel Mosaic Quilt Block

I received the collection Butterfly Ballet designed by Kathy Engle.

As usual I turned to EQ8. Several designs were made and discarded. Here is the final choice.

EQ8 Mock-up

This design uses the following five blocks.

Four Patch Block
Nine Patch Block
Half Square Triangle Block
Quarter Square Triangle Block
Flying Geese Block

Four Patch Blocks

Quarter Square Triangles

Flying Goose Blocks

Nine Patch Block

Blocks on the Design Wall

I forgot to take a picture of the half square triangle blocks. Can you locate them in the flimsy below?

Basting

The Quarter Star Triangles also make the Ohio Star Quilt Block in the center and the Half Square Triangles are used in the corners that form the Variable Star Quilt Block.

One could argue that I used 7 out of 10 prescribed blocks. But it is not about arguments. It is about the design and overall cohesion and Sulaxi is brimming with it :-D

The batting is Hobbs Tuscany Cotton Wool Blend in Throw Size (60" by 60").

Marked for Quilting

Sulaxi finished at 50" square. I am loving her bright fall colors and the festive vibes of a Diwali celebration.

Sulaxi

I used Island Batik Meringue for background. I used 80/12 Microtex Schmetz Needle for both piecing and quilting.

Shimmer by the River

Thanks to Schmetz Needles, Oliso and Hobbs Batting.

Thanks to Lumin Fabrics/Island Batik for this collection and foundation fabrics. I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

Below is the full line-up of the Ambassadors, the collections they’ll feature, and their post dates. Mark your calendar and get ready to be inspired!

WEEK 1

November 3:

Brenda Alburl, Songbird Designs

Susan Deshensky, Lady Blue Quilt Studio

November 4:

Preeti Harris, Sew Preeti Quilts (You are here ALREADY!!!)

November 5:

Brittany Fisher, Bobbin with Brittany

Denise Looney, Quiltery

November 6:

Renee Atkinson, Pink Tulip Quilting

Suzy Webster, Websterquilt

WEEK 2

November 10:

Kimberly Flannagan, Kimberly's Quilts

Solomae Stoycoff, Cuddle Cat Quiltworks

November 11:

Connie Kresin Campbell, Freemotion by the River

Gail Sheppard, Quilting Gail

November 12:

Jennifer Thomas, Curlicue Creations

Leah Malasky, Quilted Delights

November 13:

Carol Stanek, Stitch with Color

Sarah Pitcher, Pitcher's Boutique

WEEK 3

November 17:

Lisa Pickering, Lisa's Quilting Passion

November 18:

Connie Kauffman, Kauffman Designs

November 19:

Mania Hatziioannidi, Mania for Quilts

Tina Dillard, Quilting Affection Designs

November 20:

Kim Jamieson-Hirst, Chatterbox Quilts

Emily Leachman, The Darling Dogwood

We’ll launch the first two projects of the Island Batik Timeless Traditions Blog Hop next Monday, but the first week’s giveaway starts now! We put aside two Fat Quarter bundles of the Enchanted Flutter and Cherry Blossom collections that will be featured next week!

All you need to do is visit this post on Instagram and/or this post on Facebook and answer a simple question in the comments: Has a tradition ever inspired something you’ve made - a quilt, a gift, or a handmade project? (We’d love to hear how traditions influence your creativity.)

This giveaway ends on November 8th! Winners will be notified in comments the following day — please check your notifications on November 9th!

Monday, September 15, 2025

Nirali

Meet Nirali!

Nirali

Here is the story or TWO WEEKS AGO (imagine you are watching a thriller on Netflix).

Co-sponsored by Aurifil Threads, Island Batik's September Challenge is named Threaded Chaos, requiring us to make a crib-size (or larger) Crazy Quilt, using our assigned Spring 2025 Collection and Aurifil Threads.

When I made a Crazy Quilt the last time, we were not assigned a fabric collection. I chose solids so that the decorative stitching was better visible. This time, the fabric and threads were not up to us.

I received the Everlasting Collection, designed by Jerry Khiev.

Everlasting Collection - Selected Fabrics

Aurifil Threads - One 50wt, Three 40wt

I added some more Aurifil Threads from my stash.

40wt Quilting Threads

Back to the problem - Crazy Quilt. Since what (primarily) defines a Crazy Quilt is decorative stitching it is important that the decorative stitching is prominent.

I chose the stack and whack technique to make the blocks with two important rules

1. Use background fabric in each stack. This would allow the focus fabric to shine and also provide a blank canvas for the the decorative stitching to be more visible.

2. Add a strip of contrasting fabric when re-piecing the whacked units. This strip would be like a red carpet for the decorative stitch divas to parade on.

Adding contrast skinny strip

Almost Block

I patiently made all the blocks. Then I added the decorative stitches - one block and one thread color at a time. The blocks finished at 7" by 12".

Light Thread on Dark Fabrics

Dark Thread on Light Fabrics

I used Meringue as the background fabric. All decorative stitches were made using my Elna Excellence 730 Pro. Of course, some stitches worked better than others.

I used Schmetz Microtex 80/12 Needle for piecing and quilting. The batting is Hobbs Poly Down. I quilted in one direction only, using wavy stitches. The backing is Doughnut. The binding is Pistachio.

Here is the finished quilt, measuring 42" by 48". I named her Nirali, meaning unique.

Beauty in the Backyard

Thank you, Paul

Here are some close-ups so that you can see the decorative stitching.

Peachy

Hot Pink

Green and Glowing

Too much?

Just Crazy Enough?

Labeled

My Lovely :-)

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

Giveaway - If you'd like to win some free fabric (Island Batik of course), please leave me a comment on this post. I will pick two winners next week.

Thanks to Aurifil for sponsoring this Threaded Chaos Challenge.

Thanks to Schmetz Needles, Oliso and Hobbs Batting.

Thanks to Lumin Fabrics/Island Batik for this collection and foundation fabrics.

Follow Island Batik's Instagram and Facebook page so you may be picked as the winner for the drawing this week or the following weeks (during this blog hop). You need to comment on their instagram and facebook, to be entered into the giveaway.

WEEK 1

September 8:

Brenda Alburl Aurora

September 9:

Sarah Pitcher Berry Crush

Solomae Stoycoff Berry Crush

September 10:

Lisa Pickering Colorburst

Renee Atkinson Colorburst

September 11:

Connie Campbell Earth Essence

September 12: