Top It Off - Island Batik October Challenge - Bats on the Run

I've been sewing up a festive Halloween storm this month.  Almost every project I've worked on in October  has involved Halloween themed colors or prints, this next one is no exception!

For the October Island Batik Ambassador challenge we were asked to make a festive table topper or runner.   As an Island Batik Ambassadors, I was provided with fabric to create these challenges. Since we are in October, I opted for a Halloween project.

Part of this challenge was to incorporate applique.  I wasn't quite sure what spooky addition I was going add to my runner until I went to pick up my older Bernina from the quilt doctor and they had Accuquilt dies on sale.  I could not resist bringing home the Cat and Bat die.

I put some wonder under on the back of my Island Batik Fabric and ran it through the machine.  The bats came out perfect and ready to iron on.

This runner has 36 Quarter Square Triangles.  I used the two at a time method and started out with 3.5 inch squares and trimmed down to get a 2.5 inch quarter square triangle.

The purple fabric comes from the Island Batik Foundations Basics collection. 

It is called, Purple.  Perfect name.

For my corner stones I used 12 economy blocks, aka square in a square.

I paper pieced these because my triangles always get wonky on these and one corner always ends up too small.  With paper piecing I get perfect points and can trim down to a perfect 2.5 unfinished block. These Island Batik fabrics came from the Stash Builder Rolls I got in my first box in January.

These stash builders 5 inch strips x WOF and are perfect for scrappy quilts and small projects like this.  I recommend picking one up if you ever see them in your local quilt shop.  They are my "go to" when I am looking for a specific color for a project.

 Table runners are a great way to use the extra wide batting strips you have left over from previous quilt projects. I had the perfect size of leftover Heirloom Hobbs 80/20 with scrim for this project.   

I love this batting! It lays flat yet still has a nice fluff to it.

This bat filled runner got quilted with Orange and gray 50wt Aurfil thread.
I even used the gray on the black fabric.

I like how the grey thread gives more detail to the bats and quarter square triangle blocks.
Almost like a spider web shine.

If really you like this runner and really want to make one for your self, I created a pattern to help you out. The pattern is free so go ahead and test it out for me. I have stared at it a lot trying to catch any errors, but if some slipped by let me know and I can fix it right up.  

You can get the pattern by clicking Here:

If you are not into bats, you can change the colors and applique design for any holiday. You can even use Novelty fabric for the center squares if you are not a fan of applique.

This is the set up in town on Main Street.  It is pretty cool and a great spot to take pictures of Halloween Quilts, even if one of the witches is having trouble with her hat.


This is also my first finish for the 4th Quarter Finish-A-Long!
Wahoo!!

Thanks for stopping by!

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