Lost Canoe is my September Island Batik Ambassador challenge. The theme for the challenge was Child’s Play and we were challenged to make a juvenile-inspired quilt using the AccuQuilt Block-On-Board (BOB) dies given to us.
Disclosure: The fabric, batting and the AccuQuilt die used in the project were given to me by Island Batik and their partners, Hobbs batting and AccuQuilt, as part of Island Batik Ambassador program.
The block I got was Crossed Canoes. The die cuts all pieces needed for one element of the crossed canoes block. The crossed canoes blocks is a traditional block, and from my quick google search, it has been around since the late 19th century. It is usually pieced using templates or foundation paper-pieced – definitely not an easy block. Cutting the pieces using the AccuQuilt die made it so much easier. I don’t think I would’ve made this quilt without the AQ die. The die cuts all the pieces for a 4.5″ block at once. I stack together 6 pieces cut approximately to a size slightly larger than the outline of the block on the die and cut them all at once.
A Crossed Canoes layout using EQ8 
Another layout using EQ8
I quickly drafted this block in EQ8 and started playing with layouts. Designing with EQ8 is so much fun. In fact this is my absolute favorite part of making a quilt. I started with simple layouts but with different coloring schemes like the images above. But when I turned the block on point, I really loved the unusual secondary patterns. Can you see the Crossed Canoes block in the image below? Experimenting with different fabric placement, I came up with this layout that looks nothing like canoes and has a cool 3D illusion. It looks like I lost my canoes 🙂
Crossed Canoes on point – Can you see the Crossed Canoes block?
I picked two pairs of fabric that have a light-dark relationship for the 3D effect. Rather than using a single background (grey), I used white for the horizontal “canoes”. I think it enhances the 3D effect. They look like colorful drums stacked on top of each other.
I wanted to emphasize the 3D look. So I quilted some straight horizontal lines in the white areas and vertical and slanted lines for the colored blocks. I quilted a tight spiral in the grey background areas. In addition, I stitched in the ditch around all the blocks to add definition. For the batting, I used Hobbs cotton batting – super soft and shows off the quilting very well. The backing is pieced from various Island Batik leftovers from other projects and a few 5″ stash-build strips.
Pieced back using Island Batik leftovers and 5″ strips 
I actually said ‘Oh my GOD!” when I clicked on your email in my inbox… but it should be, “Oh my VASUDHA!!” You are a goddess of quilt design, and this is a shining incredible example. Love it!
Wow, great use of the die! And I love the name!!! I did lose the canoe and needed your drawing to help me find it 🙂 This is fun!
Delightful! I couldn’t find the “canoe” block until I read what you wrote. Now I “can” see it, but the 3D block design is much more obvious to me.
Love the 3D effect, you did a great job!
Beautiful quilt! I really like the way you used your color placement1
Stunning and such a different approach…I love it! Your quilting just adds to the dimensionality of it and the back is totally awesome too. Great quilt!
Holy moly, Vasudha! I’m SO glad you highlighted the block in the one photo as I could not see it at all. WOWEE! This is so darn cool. That is what is so fun to me about reading friends posts, and that is seeing the different versions and layouts of one block. I read another post for this same block this morning and I never in a million years would have known you both had the same die. Love, love, LOVE what you did here (and I still see Chinese takeout containers! HAHA!). It is beautiful. Thank you for linking up. ~smile~ Roseanne
This is totally awesome! Great colors, great design, and awesome quilting.
beautiful!!
What a great use of design and fabrics. Your lost canoes look like take-out food boxes to me. Love the 3D look.
Wow, just wow!!!
I would never have guessed that the pattern was crossed canoes. It looks amazing.
WOW!! I never would have guessed that was the canoe block! I love how you manipulated the colors in this one!!
I’m with Alycia – I wouldn’t have guessed this was a canoe block. Well done!
I love seeing how you came to that design. And I am in awe of that name you gave your quilt! The final quilt looks gorgeous and I hope you enjoy your finish xo Melanie
Those canoes certainly got lost! I love how you have used the secondary pattern to make something fun and unique for this challenge. Thanks for sharing on Colour & Inspiration Tuesday.
What a great illusion
Really love how you got the 3D effect with this. Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.
Vasudha, you have created a completely different look, using the traditional block. I am sure someone else would have claimed it as a new block pattern and most of us would have believed it too, because it is hard to see, unless you showed it to us. Your creativity is remarkable. On second thoughts, you combine your engineering experience with your artistic talent in a most beautiful and unique way. I am awestruck, yet again!!!
this is just amazingly perfect, any chance you would offer a pattern? also for those of us without a die cutter?………………….please…………………..
Who would ever have thought “crossed canoes” could look so cool, except if they were real, of course. Love the originality! Terrifically fascinating quilt
Hi Vasudha, what an amazing quilt! The canoes are certainly the secondary design in this quilt. It really is stunning.
Pingback: Meet Island Batik Ambassador Vasudha Govindan! – Island Batik