Life along the River batik quilt
There is no better “New Beginning” than a wedding! I used the Lake Life collection from Island Batik to make this quilt that will be a gift for my niece who just got married this week in Jamaica. The reception will be here at the end of the month.
The quilt is 56′ x 64″
I put flannel on the back of the quilt and also used Hobbs 80/20 batting so it should be a warm and comfy quilt. Perfect for them to use while watching television or they can take it with them when they go boating.
I had to wait a couple days after I finished the quilt for a day with no wind so I could take photos down by the river. The last thing I wanted was for my quilt to blow away and end up out in the river. The Mississippi is open with just a thin layer of ice along the shore. 
The Lake Life batik quilt is Sadie approved which is a good thing……
You could use fat quarters to make this quilt.
A fat quarter is usually 18″ x 22″. I made it a little smaller in case you wash your fat quarter. Follow this diagram to get enough pieces for 4 blocks from each fat quarter. It will take 14 fat quarters to make this size of quilt.
Cutting the pieces:
Use the following diagram to cut your pieces.
Sewing the block together – use a 1/4″ seam allowance
After you have made your half square triangles, use the following diagram to piece the block.
Because this quilt is going to a home with 3 cute dogs! I am sure they will enjoy it.
I also used the Lake Life collection of batiks in my Starboard quilt.
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Linda W
Love your color choices for this quilt. I live along the Shenandoah River in Virginia. grinnie1961 at gmail dot com
Deanna
I finished a batik quilt late last year and want to try another. Those lovely fabrics would be a great foundation to build from. Thank you for the chance.
Ashley F
This fabric is so beautiful! I have been sewing for years but just started quilting! I’m in awe of the talent I have found as I discover this world of quilters. This little bundle would be perfect for a small project (which is all I am comfortable tackling as I teach myself to quilt!)
Elizabeth McDonald
Beautiful quilt! You have used the fabric to great advantage.
Debbie D
Love your work! I like working with batiks, but i always gravitate to cottons
Kathy MacKie
Always love Batiks, thanks for the chance to win.
Karen W
Love your pattern! Thanks for the chance to win the fabric, too.
Betsy
Connie as usual you have created another beauty. In all honesty,how do you find the time?
bookboxer
This is the first time visiting your site – what a wonderful quilt this is. I have a friend who loves to use batik fabrics, and I would happily share you fabrics with her!
Tracee
Beautiful fabric, beautiful colors, beautiful quilt. I’m drooling, much like the adorable doggies!
Tamara Williams
Hadn’t visited your blog before. Nice! Love the bulldogs. Interesting pattern.
Linda Pearl
What a great way to interpret the theme of New beginnings; I’m sure that they are going to love having this to snuggle under. The colors are happy ones.
Susan
What a beautiful quilt – well, both of them are. When I saw the first picture, I thought, “Is that ICE under that quilt?” And sure enough, it is! A gift that will be treasured, I’m sure. Thanks for the giveaway and for sharing your beautiful quilt.
Michele@CrayonBoxQuiltStudio
That is a great design and I’m sure they will cherish the quilt for many years to come.
Julie Averill
I Love this collection and the quilt is beautiful.
Monica Richardson
Love the colors in your quilt.
Anneli
Beautiful the quilts you made! The batiks are so beautiful ! Thank you for the giveaway!
Pauline Perry
I enjoy your blog and really like your Life ALong the River quilt. Thanks for the chance to win some gorgeous fabric.
Mary C
Love the quilt. Thank you for sharing the pattern!
Nancy
Hi Connie, love the new quilt pattern. And of course the batiks.
KatieQ
Thank you for sharing the lovely pattern. I was delighted to open your newsletter. There are so many wonderful things to see.
Elaine
Love your blog and all that you do…love the giveaway too!
Tina
Beautiful quilt! Thanks for the giveaway
MoeWest
The colours of the batiks and the name Lake Life are a perfect match. Your quilt is very pretty and makes a lovely wedding gift.
Wendy Polsson
You come up with some great idesa. Love the batiks – wonderful colors.
carol
I have not used batiks before. These are appropriate for a wedding. Nice quilt.
AS
Just signed up for your newsletter. Thanks for the giveaway.
Sharon
Always love your quilts. Such great ideas!
Melody Lutz
You put those gorgeous fabrics into an awesome quilt!
Laura
This would be perfect for my Dad. If he could manage to sleep in his waders we’d never get him out of the river.
Nicole Sender
What a lovely quilt! Great colors!
lee
Your work is always wonderful and this is no exception! thank you and have a nice weekend!
Summer
Pets and quilts just go together, don’t they? I guess because they are both so cuddly!
Linda S
Thanks for the pattern. It is lovely and I am sure your niece will love that quilt!
dragonfly9716(at)yahoo(dot)com
carolyn montgomery
your quilts are beautiful.
Rebecca
I live along a good size creek that is pretty snowed over. Great time to sew! Thanks for a chance at some new years fabric
Beth T.
What a striking setting for your quilt photo! We just had a ton of snow here in Oregon–I wish I had thought to take all of my quilts outside and photograph them on the snow, just for the beauty of it. Next time. It will break up the cabin fever. 🙂
Kristine Clay
The quilt looks so friendly and warm! What a sweet gift and thoughtful selection for the icy climate. Thanks for sharing and I’ll definitely check out the pattern!
Terri Bohling
I love the pattern for new quilt. Thank you so much for the tutorial!
Emily C
Very pretty
Karen (Cloud 9)
I always enjoy seeing your creations. I like making scrap quilts and can always use additions to my stash.
adele
Connie,
Gorgeous quits…love that fabric collection!
Delaine
I love your Life Along the River quilt, and the pups are so cute! Thanks!
Debby E
Oh I just love your quilt – thanks so much for the pattern. And your colors are perfect! Thanks so much for the chance to win 😉
Debby E
samtaylorcjsmimi at yahoo dot com
Maryellen McAuliffe
Great quilt and a great way to show the gorgeous colors in the group.
Barbara Gaddy
Love your quilt……
Mindy ZW
Just discovered your blog….love the quilts and fabric.
VickiT
This looks like a great pattern because it looks like it would be so hard to make, but your comments tells me differently. Sadie says so too, so it must be. Now, why wouldn’t you want that to blow into the river Connie? Don’t you want to go swimming in the icy water? LOL
Thank you for the free pattern.
bea
another great quilt! and cute dogs- slobbery messy dogs! LOL
Karen Fisher
I follow you on FB and absolutely love all your quilts. But this one has grab me. LOVE the greens
Chris
Your quilt is wonderful. I love the colors.
Nancy
Wow, you can see the water flowing in your quilt with the grayish batik…beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
rachell reilly
wonderful! Island Batik never fails to please. And that quilt should be so cozy and comfy. 80/20 batting is my favorite to use.
reillyr2(at)hotmail(dot)com
Lori Morton
Love Love LOOOOOVE your Quilt!! & Thank you for sharing the Pattern!! 🙂
Thank you for chance to win some of this beautiful fabric too… 😀
Pam
Your quilts just sing Connie! I agree with Sadie! And your photos are also beautiful. Thanks so much for the lovely post, and the great giveaway.
Kathy E.
Connie, I love everything you make and this quilt is no exception. It is a gorgeous wedding gift and will be cherished forever. I live along the Mississippi too, and never thought of taking photos with a quilt near the ice. You’re a brave girl and it made for awesome photos!
Brenda Ackerman
Good Evening Connie! Both of these quilts are gorgeous! Thank you for sharing the pattern and offering this wonderful give away!
Vicki H
Your niece will love the quilt. Thanks for the pattern.
Nancy Myers
Thank you for sharing the pattern for free. It is lovely. And the giveaway is very nice, too.
Beth strand
Beautiful! They’re a lucky couple!
Joanne Bates
Your quilts are all georgeous and so is your sweet SADIE. I love seeing pictures of her on your quilts.
Thank you for the free pattern. I would love to be a winner.
Anita Jackson
Great! I need a quilt idea for a beachy kind of couple. They love fishing, she loves the beach. I have a little over a year so a quilt is definitely achievable!
Judy
Both of your quilts are beautiful and that is a great picture of the dos.
Mary Furber
What a great quick quilt pattern. You have to look to see the repeat. Thanks for sharing it.
Maria
Both are lovely quilts! Love the fabrics and the colours! Beautiful!
Sherry
This Lake quilt is such a lovely and thoughtful wedding gift. Sadie is adorable. Your gift of Island Batiks is very generous. Happy Quilting…
Jenn
Love the quilt pattern and the choice of fabrics, so pretty!
SaraF
Beautiful quilt and the newlyweds will love it. The colors are so fresh.
Tac
Enjoy your blog. Thank you for sharing this fun quilt.
Lynne Stucke
It amazes me that a river that runs as swiftly as the Mississippi can ice over. But, on reflection, I guess it shouldn’t, as the Missouri ices over completely in Great Falls, MT — even the water fall. Must have been a ‘blonde’ moment. Thanks for your blog. I always enjoy it! (lynnstck[at]yahoo.com)
Dolores
What a lovely quilt. I love the mixture of colours and batiks are always nice.
Julie H
Beautiful quilt and pictures, thank you for the pattern.
Michele T
Beautiful quilt and photo shoot location!!!
Annmarie
Your batik quilts are lovely. Thanks sew much for sharing the River pattern.
Pam Geisel
Love both quilts, they really say “River.”
Marj
I like the idea of strips that are 5-6 inches wide. It make for a more useful cut of fabric than most precuts.
Becky T
Love the way those colors worked with your pattern!!!
Mary
That is beautiful, Connie, and in my colors too! That is a fabulous gift and I know they will ALL love it.
Kathy Luehrs
Thanks for the pattern love it and the fabric is perfect for it
Cindy
Loving another one of your quilts. I’ll never get my Want to make list done at this rate! jadahlgr at yahoo dot com
Janet T
Your quilt is very pretty! Flannel on the back of a quilt makes it so soft and cuddly.
Dawn F.
I have never put flannel on the back of a quilt, but what a great idea to make it extra soft and warm! I might have to try that sometime. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Pat Evans
You always have such great quilts and runners. Thank you so much for making some of the patterns free. The greens and golds of this line work so well together.
Lisa Marie
Wonderful! Thanks for the pattern!
Kathi Clower
Love the quilts you have made… and I love your patterns a LOT… very easy to understand and follow when using them! Thanks for the chance to win some awesome batik fabrics!!! I have a batik quilt to make coming up and these would fit in quite nicely 🙂 Kathi
Quilting Tangent
Pretty quilts, thank you for the pattern.
Cheryll
Dear Connie, what a beautiful quilt, your niece is one lucky young lady. As always, your skill with pattern and color is outstanding. Thank you for sharing.
QuiltShop Gal
Great quilt tutorial that looks fun and fast. Beautiful fabric too!
QuiltShopGal
http://www.quiltshopgal.com
Allison in Alabama
Lovely quilt and Sadie is very nice letting it go to three other dogs!!!! LOL I am sure they will enjoy it!
Liz Dyer
I love batiks! My last two Quilts were batiks and I’m running low. Thanks for the free pattern and the chance at the giveaway.
Allison Evrard
Your quilt is beautiful. Thanks so much for the pattern.
Lori Smanski
your quilt is lovely. your niece will love it. I love it when it is pet approved. My Shadow kitty is the one who is quality control/approver in our house. Have a great day.
Patti A.
Thanks so much for the pattern and the chance to win.
Constance P.
I love patterns that are engaging, intriguing, yet deceptively simple, and Life Along the River is one of those. I can picture it in several fabric combinations. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
Deb M
What a fun quilt! Thanks for linking to Craftsy for the free pattern!
Miriam
Your quilt is fresh and summery on these icy days. It spoke to me of laying back in a flat bottom boat and looking up at the sky through sun filtered leaves. I can see making this. Love that it’s Sadie approved. Beautiful collection from Island Batiks!
Anna
Connie wow you got some pretty colors to work with.And the quilt it lovely. ….. happyness04431@yahoo.com
Nancy
Love your quilt, thanks for the giveaway
Linda
I do believe I’ve found a use for those 7″ blue squares I bought years ago. All the blues and some scraps strips I’ve been collecting ought to look pretty nice together. Great design! Looks fast and easy – which is just my speed.
Joyce Carter
Connie, your quilt is so beautiful. I really love the colors and the design. Thank you so much for the giveaway.
Nancy
Gorgeous fabric and quilt!! I am slowing growing my batik fabrics and really need to win this giveaway!! Thanks for a great pattern.
Darlene H
Nice tropical feel with the fabrics. Good job.
Colette
Lovely quilt. You always have such lovely photos.
Cindy
Lovely design. Thanks for the pattern.
Debbie Clarke
Love the design and the name is just perfect. Great job on this Connie.
Lisa Stacey
Hi, I love your Quilts and the way you use the Island Batiks fabrics. Thanks for the giveaway!
Debra from Frugal Little Bungalow
Pretty quilts and cute dogs are alway a perfect combo in a blog post 🙂
Renea Yarolim
Beautiful quilt. Thanks for the giveaway and for the link directing us to the free quilt pattern.
Georgia
Really enjoy reading your blog and seeing your lovely quilts, especially when they are pictured with the Mississippi River in the background–