The Batik Fish Quilt

I started to make this quilt back in March 2024.  As you can see, it had quite a few pauses during its evolution.

In 2024 Angie Padilla had a Block of the Month featuring bright fish that I had started making.  I thought it would be fun to make another using more muted colours for Mick.  Spotty had fat quarter bundles of batiks so I bought a couple on special.  

I had fun playing with the patterns within the fabrics to make the fish appliques. To add more interest to the quilt I decided to self draft some fish blocks.  Using some pictures from the interweb as a starting point, I worked out a few.

Mick took this photo of me in the lead up to Scrub Stitchin’ that year as I was selecting the thread colours to take with me to stitch the applique on my first blocks.

Another batch.

At this stage it seems to have had a pause, as other shiny things took precedence.

It doesn’t seem to have come out again until July 2024, when I made some more blocks.

Oops, I made a boo boo on prepping one of these.  They were both supposed to be facing the left, but I accidentally made one face right.  Some judicious tweaking of the head made it look OK and is now one of my favourite blocks.  And, of course, there always has to be one going against the flow.

A progress shot at that stage.

Then another pause.

I finally completed the bright fish quilts in March 2026, so it would be time to get back to the Batik Fish.

Stitching down appliqué is the perfect project for Scrub Stitchin’, so I prepped the final blocks to take with me in April 2026.  

I love the way they come to life once the eye is added.

Mick had insisted that there be an angler fish included, so I had some fun devising a block that wasn’t too gruesome, but also not too cutesy.  I think I reached the happy balance.  I must say those teeth were the devil to stitch down.

Anyway, here I am stitching the last section of the last fish block at Scrub Stitchin’ earlier this year.  It was a relief to get them all done.

 In August this year I finally made a push to get it finished.  Making it my Main Monthly Goal helped.

The Design Curtain was used to work out a layout and then I stitched the blocks together.  I was considering that to be done for the top.

Mick, however, had other ideas.  He insisted that it would look a lot better with borders.  OK.  It is his quilt, so off I went to see what suitable fabric I could find.  Fortunately, our local quilt store has quite a selection of batik fabrics and two that worked were selected.  I must admit, Mick was right.  Just don’t tell him I said so.  LOL

Next, to select a backing.  I went out to Spotty to see what suitable wide backs they had, but none worked.  To my surprise, there was a batik that would work.  Not only that, it was one of the designs included in the fat quarter bundles I had purchased……and was on special.  It was meant to be.

Then it was time to get it loaded on Elly May and quilt it with the water design that I had used on the bright fish quilts.

It was completed in time to take to Baradine for An August Escape.

The size ended up larger than I had expected, so it will be added to the rotation on our bed.

I’m really happy with how it turned out, and more importantly, Mick loves it.  

This also means that I have completed twelve UFOs this year, which was my goal.  Any more will be a bonus.  Fingers crossed that will be the case.

QUILT INFORMATION

Measurements -78" high x 65" wide

Pattern - Fishy Business by Angie Padilla.  I added some self drafted fish.

Fabrics - Batik fat quarters from Spotlight plus extra fabrics that suited it from stash.  

Quilting Design - Waterflow by Leah Day for QCT6

Batting - Bamboo/Cotton

Backing - Batik from Spotlight

Thread - Glide - Cool Mint

My Main Goal for March

My main goal for March was to complete the little pouch designed by Anni Downs that was our project at Scrub Stitchin’ in 2024.

There’s nothing like a deadline and accountability to get me moving. If it wasn’t for making this my goal for March it would be sitting there until who knows when.

I worked the little stitcheries in January 2025 and then started the wool appliqué in August, but that is as far as I got.

I can’t say I’ve enjoyed making this project.  Part of that was the fact that there was a tiny mark on the main fabric.  There was plenty of fabric, but Murphy’s Law prevailed and I cut the pouch from the end with the mark.  Doh!   You can’t see it now, as I created a tiny bee to cover it.  One fortunate thing was that, purely by chance, the little trail now comes from behind the button.  It was meant to be.

In the end, just to get it completed, some of the hand stitching became machine stitching.  This was due to the incredibly wonky and crooked stitching that I was doing.  I just wasn’t happy with my work.

Anyway, it is done and I am now happy with how it has turned out. 

First layer unrolled.

Fully unrolled.

And the back.

I’m very happy to tick this one off the list. That is eleven UFOs completed so far this year.  My aim was to complete twelve, so I think I may have to revise that number to something a bit higher.

Batik Fish For Scrub Stitchin’

It’s time to start getting serious about what projects I’m going to take to work on at Scrub Stitchin’, which is just on a month away.  

The first project is to finish the applique for the Batik Fish Quilt.  I last worked on this project back in 2024, so it’s time it progressed.

Before I did anything, I thought it prudent to actually see where I was up to and to make sure I wasn’t going to replicate anything too much.  They are looking good together.  23 blocks down, ten to go, by my calculations for the size I want to make.

The most time consuming part of this is to work out the colours for each fish.  Yesterday, I traced the patterns, selected the fabrics and fused the papers to the fabric.

This morning I fused the fish to the backgrounds.  This it the fun part where you see them start to take shape.

The one thing that unites all the different fish in this quilt is the consistent eye.  What a difference an eye makes. I was watching this as I pressed and thought I would show a couple.

Yes, a fish, but no personality.

Let’s add the first layer.  Creepy and looks way too big.

Now to add the pupil.  Suddenly, it all works and the fish comes to life.  You could have fun with the placement of the eye and the pupil within the eye to give different expressions, but I’m just keeping it simple and consistent.

Now, let’s look at the block that Mick has been badgering me to add to the quilt.  He was quite insistent that there be an angler fish.  Considering that he has claimed this quilt, I thought I’d better see what I could create.  They are an ugly jolly thing.  This is the best I could come up with, that would be easy enough to applique, without being too cutesy.

First, with no eye added.

And with the eye.  That’s much better.  I can’t say I’m looking forward to stitching down all those teeth.

Once they were all fused it was time to select the threads.  There you go, all ready to take away with me.

Of course, there was a big mess while getting organised.  You’d think with all those threads that I would have everything that I need, but no, I have to go shopping for a couple, as they were just about run out.  Are threads on special this week?  No, that was last week…..naturally.  I will pop out and get the ones I need for this quilt and have a list of the other ones that are about to run out, so I can replenish them when they are next on sale.

Anyway, I’m happy to have one project all ready to take away with me.  Now to get onto the next one.

My March Wishes

I seem to have gone missing in action.  While we were away, we had surprisingly poor internet coverage, so I will finish my travelogue very  soon.  I will also do a recap of what we got up to during February soon as well.

Today, I will share my wishes for the current month of March.  We will actually be home this month and I have a lot I wish to achieve, so I need to get cracking.

Firstly, to my stitching wishes.  These are extensive, as I have so much I really want to get either completed or prepped ready for Scrub Stitchin’ next month.  We will be heading off early, so I really want to get things done this month.

MY MAIN MONTHLY GOAL

This time the main goal I want to complete is the Anni Downs Pouch that was our Scrub Stitchin’ project back in 2024.  For some unknown reason, I haven’t really been enthralled with making this item, which is strange, as I love Anni’s projects.  As I get more done I am starting to like it more.  Anyway, I really want to finally be able to take it for show and tell this year.  I still have to complete the appliqué and stitchery before starting on the construction.  It will be worked on at my stitching days and once the RSC blocks are done.  

RAINBOW SCRAP CHALLENGE

The colour this month is red and it is the easy, obvious thing to get out of the way first up.  I have my three projects that I am working on, which are pretty much prepped, ready to go.

BETTY’S SCRAPPY STRIPS

I have two more strips to make.  They aren’t due until June, but I want to deliver them to Betty at Scrub Stitchin’.  The outstanding colours are orange and red.  That ties in nicely with RSC, which is a bonus.

USING ELLY MAY

Having quilted quite a few quilts now, I am quite happy with how I’m going.  So far, I have only used the basic version of the software.  Now it is time to start using the next level.  The main reason for this is that the design that I want to use on the bright fish quilts is only available on the Pro version.  Nothing like a deadline to get you going.  I really need to throw together a quick and easy baby quilt to have a practise on first.

When I bought the machine I purchased a Superglide foot.  It read well and is ideal for quilting over appliqué.  However, I have since read that several people have had the foot break when using it.  I need to test that out too.  Apparently, the height above the machine bed that you position it makes all the difference.  

If all goes well, I should have (fingers crossed) another three quilts quilted.

KNITTING AND CROCHET

This month I wish to knit a blue beanie in the same pattern as the oatmeal one.  I have decided that I will keep that one for me, even if it is a little on the large size.  The blue one will be for Mick, to replace the one I accidentally shrunk.  This has a deadline, as I want to enter it in the local show.

STITCHING DAYS

I can work on the Anni Downs Pouch and the ribbing of my beanie at my stitching days.  The chart section of the beanie needs too much concentration.  I also have a secret project happening, which I can work on then as well.  Fingers crossed, I may have a quilt to bind as well.

15 MINUTES A DAY

If I am to get all that done I really need to do at least 15 minutes a day.  So far, I’ve done very little.  

Unlike last month, when my goals were rather vague, this month they are rather specific.  Hopefully, they will all be achieved.

NON STITCHING WISHES

1. Try a new recipe.

2. Read a book.

3. Have a fun day out. (I don’t really think this will happen in March.  We’ll see.)

4. Help at the church fete.

We’ll see at the end of the month how I go with everything.

I’m Swooning Over My Swoon Quilt

This quilt has been in the pipe line for a very long time.

Camille Roskelly released the Swoon Quilt pattern back in May 2011.  It kind of went viral, along with the various Bonnie and Camille fabric ranges.  I really liked it all and wanted to jump on the bandwagon.

Fast foward to January 2015.  I participated in a fat quarter swap and the fabrics I requested were, not surprisingly, Bonnie and Camille, with the Swoon Quilt in mind.  I received a variety from different ranges, but they all went well together.  I just had to add a couple more to make up numbers.

There were quite a few designs that were striped or directional and I didn’t want those fabrics to look broken up or going in different directions, so I tweaked the block pattern to suit the fabrics.  It turned out well.

Then, it all sat and waited.  I couldn’t decide what fabric to use for the background.  Procrastination at its finest.  Eventually, I found the one I used.  Not a solid white or grey, but with a nice low volume pattern.

I finally made a start in December 2021.  Then, I made blocks on and off during 2022, finally completing the quilt top in January 2023.  I even worked on it at Scrub Stitchin’ in 2022.  You can read about the progress here, here, here and here.  

While piecing the blocks, I had stitched extra half square triangles.  After the top was completed I even started to use those offcuts to start a Leader and Ender project.  Sadly, it hasn’t really progressed from this state.  I will get back to it one day.

Originally, I had considered using the Quilt as You Go method to construct the quilt.  However, after purchasing Monique I changed my plans and intended to quilt it “once I was good enough”.  Another that remained in the “To Be Quilted Queue”.

Now that I am comfortable using Elly May, it was time to finally finish this quilt.  The question was what design to use?  Having looked at lots of Swoon Quilts on line there ares some stunning custom quilted versions using rulers and free motion.  Very, very nice, but not going to happen on this one.  I just want to finally get this quilt finished and be able to put it on our bed. There were versions with swirls, florals and feathers, but none of them really grabbed me.  If not being custom quilted, I felt it needed movement, but the blocks need to be the stars of the show, not the quilting.  

Therefore, once again, I chose to use the Baptist Fan design, which creates a nice texture, with curves to counteract the straight lines, without dominating the quilt.  I’m really happy with how it turned out.  

I used yet another wideback that was sitting in my stash.  I’m really getting through them at the moment. This one worked well with it.

It is a rather large quilt and too big for my resident quilt holder upperer to manage, so I recruited a couple of ladies at my stitching group.

This is a nice fresh quilt to have on our bed in the warmer months.  It will get used straight away.

QUILT INFORMATION

Measurements - 80" high x 80" wide

Pattern - Swoon by Camille Roskelly.  

Fabrics - Bonnie and Camille from Fat Quarter Swap 2015

Quilting Design - Baptist Fan

Batting - Bamboo/Cotton

Backing - Wideback from Spotlight in stash

Thread - Glide - 10000 White

My February Wishes

February will have a bit more going on than January, so my wishes will be tailored accordingly. 

MY MAIN MONTHLY GOAL

My main goal for the month is to finish my Swoon Quilt.  The top was completed in January 2023. Another quilt that was added to the quilting queue for when I was brave enough to quilt it on Monique. The binding had already been prepared, but there was no backing fabric with it.  Fortunately, there was a suitable wideback in the stash. Now is its time to shine.

RAINBOW SCRAP CHALLENGE AND BETTY BLOCKS

The colour this month is Green.  It won’t take me too long to get these pieced.  I have plenty of green scraps to make the crumb blocks and to make Betty’s strip.

USING ELLY MAY

The Swoon Quilt is the only goal for the month.  It would be nice to do some more, but any will be a bonus.

STITCHING DAYS

I really don’t know what I will work on.  Now that my Christmas tree skirt stitcheries are done I have to made a decision. I’ll let you know at the end of the month.

KNITTING AND CROCHET

Once again, there are no plans set in concrete.  I have a few options that I will consider, but I do want to work on something.

SECRET STITCHING

I have something in the back of my mind that I think I would like to make, so would like to make a start this month.

15  MINUTES A DAY

Of course, I would like to work on something for at least 15 minutes each day.

As you can see, my goals are rather vague and fluid at this stage.  Hopefully, there will be plenty of progress to share as the month progresses.

NON STITCHING WISHES

They are pretty much the same as usual:

1. Try a new recipe.

2. Read a book.  I still haven’t finished the half read one sitting beside my chair.

3. Have a fun day out.

4. Finish my jigsaw.  It didn’t get finished in January.  It really needs to be completed so we can reclaim the dining table.

It is a short month and we will be heading away for a few days, so we’ll see how we go with everything.

Wensleydale Quilt is Finished

My main goal for January was to complete the Wensleydale Quilt that I started at the beginning of November as a part of the Quilted Chicken stitch along. I finished the blocks at the end of December and then pieced it into a quilt top on New Year’s Day while joining in on a Chooky Zoom sewing day.  My goal was to have it completed, but that was dependent on whether or not I felt confident enough to quilt it on Elly May.

It had been hanging, patiently waiting, on the design curtain until Tuesday.  After successfully having quilted three largish quilts I was ready to tackle this one.

I wanted to use the Baptist Fan design, as I had done on the William Morris Quilt, but smaller.  I also got brave and used different coloured threads on the top and the bobbin.  The gold looked great on the top, but not on the backing.  The warm grey looked great on the back, but flat on the top.  As there wasn’t a great deal of contrast between them I was game to give it a try and it worked well.  Phew!

The backing I used was a fabric I had actually put aside to use on the William Morris Quilt, as it is a William Morris design from the V&A that was at Spotty many years ago.  I had bought six metres, so still have a little more left over.  Anyway, I thought I would like to use the better backing fabric on this quilt, so swapped the backings.  The next choice was the binding.  The colour of the binding on the William Morris quilt suited this one as well, and fortunately, I had bought enough at the time to be able to use that fabric here.  Win, win.

We took the quilt outside for the quilt holder, but it is actually a bit too wide to successfully display.

He still did a great job.

I’m so happy to have this quilt completed in just three months.  It had been on my wish list, but not a priority, so it is really a bonus to have it done.  Now to wait for winter to put it on our bed.

QUILT INFORMATION

Measurements - 74" high x 66" wide

Pattern - Wensleydale by Jen Kingwell.  Foundation paper pieced.

Quilt Along - Quilted Chicken, who also has a PDF cutting list for FPP.

Number of Fabrics - 300 different fabric designs in top, plus backing and binding, all from stash.

Quilting Design - Baptist Fan

Batting - Bamboo/Cotton

Backing - V&A William Morris fabric from Spotlight many years ago

Thread - Glide - Cleopatra on top and Warm Grey 4 in bobbin

Binding - Ochre Homespun left over from William Morris Quilt.