End of Week Three The Ultimate Home Decor Blog Hop and Giveaway

In Ambassador Feature, Ambassadors, Blog Hop, Challenges, Fabric Collections, Giveaways, Images, Inspiration, Island Batik Updates, New Fabric Features, Projects, Promotions + Giveaways

Posted May 22, 2020

The third week of Ultimate Home Decor Blog Hop is over and we loved seeing the parade of dazzling runners, placemats, rugs, tree skirts, cushions, wall hangings and curtains made by our great Ambassadors with the new Island Batik collections and products from our generous industry partners, Hobbs, AccuQuilt, Schmetz Needles and Aurifil. Thank you for following along and leaving us amazing comments!

We thought you would love to revisit this week’s eye candy, so scroll down to see a roundup of delightful home decor projects! Make sure to click the links above the photos to learn more about each item. Plus, many of the Ambassadors are generously sharing some quilty goodies, and you don’t want to miss out on any giveaways!

Let’s get to it! This week’s projects featured the following Island Batik collections:

Smooch by Kathy Engle
Sundance by Kathy Engle
Whispering Feathers by Kathy Engle
Winter Forest by Kathy Engle

Pillow cover by Joanne Hart of Unicorn Harts

Seat Cushions by Jennifer Thomas of Curlicue Creations + Giveaway!

Cushion Set by Mania Hatziioannidi of Mania For Quilts + Giveaway!

Set of Baskets and Beverage Coasters by Sally Manke, Fiber Artist + Giveaway!

Table Runner and Napkins by Jennifer Strauser of Dizzy Quilter + Giveaway!

“Pierced” Bed Runner by Jennifer Fulton of The Inquiring Quilter + Giveaway!

Set of Table Toppers by Sharon Riley of Sew Riley Designs

Set of Placemats by Alison Vermilya of Little Bunny Quilts + Giveaway!

Let us know how much you like these brilliant home decor projects in the comments below!

If there is a quilt shop in your city, be sure to let them know how much you love Island Batik collections and Batik Foundations! Please, visit the store locator on our website to see which shops around you carry Island Batik:
https://www.islandbatik.com/store-locator/

Now, the fun stuff! For our fourth and final giveaway, we want to give two lucky people a chance to win a Fat Quarter pack of the new Island Batik Wonderland collection by Kathy Engle!

To enter for your chance to win these fabulous batiks, please follow the easy-to-use prompts on Rafflecopter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway ends on May 29th at 11:59 pm PDT. Two random winners will be notified on May, 30th and announced on June, 2nd. If the winners do not respond within the first three days after being notified, two new random winners will be chosen.

There is still time to get your last minute entry in for the chance to win a Fat Quarter Pack of Island Batik Smooch or Sundance fabrics by visiting End Of Week Two The Ultimate Home Decor Blog Hop and Giveaway!

Make sure to follow Island Batik on Facebook and Instagram, so that you always stay updated on the beautiful quilts and home decor items from the talented Island Batik Ambassadors and Designers:

Facebook: Island Batik

Instagram: @island_batik

Come back on Monday for more projects from Island Batik Ambassadors on Week Two of The Ultimate Home Decor Blog Hop!

There Are 91 Comments

I wish someone had taught me to use only good quality fabric. Some of my old quilts are falling apart. But I still appreciate all the wear we got out of them! Thanks for this awesome blog hop!

I wish someone had taught me how to launder quilts. Old quilts that are hand pieced and quilted require special care when they are cleaned. Newer machine pieced and quilted quilts can be machine washed on gentle.

Color values! I think I was quilting 15 years before I got it right!

I wish someone had taught me to quilt years ago. I have only been quilting a few years, but I wish I had been quilting from my youth. When I began quilting, I wish someone had taught me to use 100% cotton fabric. I bought a blend because it cost less and there is a big difference.

I wish I had learned how to machine quilt when I was younger.

String piecing!

I wish I had been told early on that there is no such thing as Quilt Police. The “rules” are null and void and should never have been promoted. If you like your project, that is ALL that matters. Too many people have had their love of quilting crushed because of people’s comments.

Don’t get upset about mistakes just go ahead and finish the quilt. Better to be done and on a bed then not done and in a closet. A judge once told me to go back to school, another judge told me it was her favorite and gave me a ribbon. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Relax and have fun.

I wish I had known that I work better if I make a list of the quilts I have in progress–that it’s easier for me to keep track of things, that I can organize or prioritize better if I have a list. I also never dreamed my list would be so long!

A careful 1/4″ really does make a difference Be consistent and constantly check your block sizes as they will change depending on how many seams are in the block and the thickness of the fabric.

I wish someone taught me how to sew a scant quarter inch.

I love reading these comments! I also wish that someone would have impressed on the me the importance of an accurate scant quarter inch…and to use starch when first pressing my fabric. Thanks for this chance! I am in love with Island Batiks!!

Beautiful designs and
I love the Wispering
Feathers collection!
Carla from Utah

I wish someone had taught me tips on free-motion quilting.

I wish someone told me how to finish my projects and now just start them.

I wish I had learned how to coordinate volors.

I wish someone would have told me about thread weights.

I wish I had found my quarter inch foot on my machine earlier – that and moving my machine’s needle position has really improved my piecing a quarter inch seam!(and spray starch!)

I wish someone would have told me to put a heavy weight on the far end of the ruler when making a long cut. This really helps to keep the ruler from slipping even the tiniest bit. And I also wish that someone had told me that you use the measurements on the ruler (not on the cutting mat) to measure and make cuts. Both of these tips would have saved a lot of frustration on my part. Thanks!

love your fabrics!

I wish I’d known in the beginning about accurate cutting. It’s a wonder that my early quilts actually went together without serious problems. I also wish I ‘d known earlier about different battings. But I learned that one never stops learning!

My favorite quilting trick is 8 at a time HSTs. My productivity so much and I wish I had learned it years before I did.

Love the projects. Really like the winter forest fabrics

I wish someone had told how much fun quilting is! I waited a long time to give it a try and I’m so glad I did.

I wish I had learned about fabric and used better ones in some of my projects.

So many things would have helped in the beginning. I think sewing and cutting accurately is so important.
As long as you’re learning, it’s never too late.

So beautiful! I love all the new collections and it’s always fun to see what everyone creates. Have a lovely evening.

I love the baskets-all the fabric lines are gorgeous

I wish someone had taught me to read through the instructions completely before starting a project. If something doesn’t make sense, ask questions. Be sure to check the designer’s website if they have one for any corrections. too.

So gorgeous ❤️😍❤️

I wish someone had told me to keep a record and pictures of all the quilts I have made–you think you will remember–but you don’t!!

I wish someone had taught me about fabrics.

I wish I loved sewing fabrics as much as I love admiring, buying charessing, and cutting fabric!

I am self taught but wish my grandmas had lived longer. They were both quilters but died when I was a little tyke. I would have loved to learn from them!

I wish someone had told me just to relax and pick the fabric and colors that spoke to me and not to worry about matching the pattern exactly!

I wish I had learned how to cut triangles way sooner! I always hated the cut a square, draw a line method.

Great fabric. I wish I had better pictures of early quilts

I wish someone had taught me how to actually sew my quilts properly! I am self taught at this point, but I collect more fabrics than I actually sew!

I wish someone had told me that paper piecing means perfect points!

I wish someone had told me how much joy this brings.

The very important significance of pressing v.s. ironing to make a nice flat block. Consistency in piecing and squaring up your blocks. Love Island Batik fabrics.

That just like life, quilts do not have to be perfect to be loved. Thanks for the amazing giveaway.

I wished someone would have taught me to quilt much sooner !!!

Finished is better than perfect. And if you can’t see a mistake from a speeding car (as my grandpa used to say), then it’s fine.

Wish I had listened to my granny and started quilting earlier! I waited til I turned 60, now playing catch up!! Have a great Holiday weekend!!

I wish I learned to quilt younger – just starting after retiring

I wish that someone had started me out with “Measure Twice and Cut Once”. Also why it is important to know the grain of fabric and how to use it correctly. Took me a bit.

There are no quilt police! Do what works for you!

How to do binding easily

I wish that someone had told me how important it was to square up.

Wish someone taught me to quilt earlier. Learned from YouTube videos when I was 60 years old.

Love the pillow covers.

How to adjust the sewing machine needle.

Don’t worry so much about tiny mistakes, but fix the bigger ones. Pinning is your friend.

I wish someone had taught me how to do machine embroidery.

Love the projects. This has been fun to watch. And Island Batiks are my favorites!

I just wish there would have been rotary cutters, mats and rulers when I first started quilting.

Love your placemats and jelly roll rugs.

When we took home ec in school, we were taught to sew with 1/2 inch seams. Now that I have been quilting, learning to sew 1/4 inch seams can be difficult. Thank God I found a 1/4 inch foot.

I wish I had learned to press as you go and to square up blocks before sewing them together. It makes such a big difference.

Wish someone would have told me what great people quilters are, I would have started quilting sooner.

I wish some one would of taught to quilt earlier then I started,

I can’t think of any one thing! The best thing about quilting is there are always new things to learn and discover. Wish color catchers had been invented sooner, perhaps!

Where do I begin?!? Finish one quilt before starting another, don’t use cheap fabric, change needles often, use good thread. Should I go on? Thank you for another great blog hop!!

Batiks leave a wonderful visual texture

Wish I was told which way to iron the seams the first time so I don’t have to go back and re-iron. Which fabric is cheap Anna not great quality. Every quilt is made with blood sweat and tears!

I have learned so much through quilting and watching videos and reading blogs. I wish I had learned earlier about how to nest seams to minimize bulk.
duchick at mchsi dot com

I love the Wonderland fabrics! Gorgeous! I wish I knew to take a photo and record the details of all my earlier quilts for record keeping! Would be great to look back on!

I wish I paid attention to advice from experts.

Great project, hard to choose a favorite.

Great seeing all the projects made with the different collections.

Love all of the fun projects and my favorite has been the Pierced Bed Runner made with the Whispering Feathers collection! Love Island Batiks!!

I wish someone had spent some time talking about how to press instead of iron especially when dealing with bias seams!

I wish someone had shown me how to organize my scraps.

What an incredibly talented group of Ambassadors you have chosen! It’s a delight to see the variety and creativity in these projects.

Sundance or Smooch I can’t decide which is prettier, each in their own way. Love them!!!

I wish someone taught me that there is a 1/4″ foot and it works! 🙂 Still working on that scant 1/4″, but at least I’m within a tolerable margin of error with the 1/4″ foot.

Don’t spend time worrying about your quilting being perfect. It’s more important that you actually quilt!

I wish someone had gotten me into quilting years ago. It is such fun and you meet so many wonderful quilters. My favorite design of the Ultimate Home Decor is Smooch bu Kathy Engle.

That quality thread is just as important as quality fabric.

I am self taught, and I really wish I had had someone to get me started and teach me. The one thing it has taken years to learn on my own is how to piece accurately.