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.