In The Summertime

It's finished! Just in time to help you kick back and enjoy summer living!

Awhile back I showed you these gorgeous Hoffman watercolour batiks, and I've been having a grand time playing with them,

The happy colours are perfect for a pool party, or a get-together at the beach; flip-flops were a natural subject choice.  I used a sand-coloured print batik for the background which had diamonds scattered across it, much like pebbles on a beach.  The flip-flops don't tessellate but, as pattern editor Cheryl Coville playfully suggested, they "nestle-late" from one to the next! They are done using raw edge fusible applique, outlined in a blanket stitch with blue 28 weight Aurifil thread.

A wavy swirl was quilted with that same thread in each sandal using a stencil from Mrs. P's.

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The border is really the fun part, all easy-to-do, gentle free hand curves to make the waves.

Here's what it looked like before I cut it into smaller sections.

I was excited to try my new  12 weight and 28 weight Aurifil cotton threads for the quilting and they are BEAUTIFUL.  It's like adding embroidery embellishment and quilting all in one step. 

In the bobbin is Aurifil 50 weight cotton Mako; the needle is a Schmetz size 16 Topstitch.  I had to reduce the top thread tension a bit to balance, but you can see the back of those heavy threads here, and thread tension was not a bit of issue.

. I switched back to the 50 weight through the needle to do the pebbling on the "beach", using a silver- to- white Aurifil variegated for this.  Perfect!.

Check out these cool coasters!

One single flip-flop!

Also included in the pattern are directions to turn the design into a nap-sized beach blanket:

A mail-order print version of this pattern is available from my website  or ask at your local quilt shop.  You can download a pdf version here.

A big thank you to Cheryl Coville for help in proofing these instructions!