Quilt with squares and bright colors - a free pattern!

I just came home from a walk with Toby the dog. What beautiful flowers and greenery we walked through! When we returned, it occurred to me that I have not yet shared with you the free pattern I recently designed: a quilt with squares and bright colors, the bright colors from outdoors!

Aren’t these colors fantastic? They are from Chameleon, a new Basics collection by Blank Quilting. Quilt #1 uses one fat quarter bundle plus yardage, measures 56” x 72”, and the blocks finish at 4″. Totally doable on a weekend as you only need to work on the gray blocks on the quilt center, and on the border blocks.

The free quilt pattern instructions show you how to cut the fat quarters to get all the squares you need, and a diagram shows you which colors to put where on the paper pieced blocks. No guesswork…

Paper piecing is very relaxing and fun to do and we can stitch certain blocks much faster than we would otherwise. The results are points that always meet, which are essential for our patchwork. I have been using this technique on many of my recent designs: you can see it on Add Fireworks – my most recent patriotic quilt pattern – and on Flights of Whimsy. The latter is a perfect project for you to get your toes wet and eventually get totally hooked on paper piecing.

The Chameleon hues are vibrant and the textures are to die for, going from fern foliage to reptile skin. Bold colors and organic textures combine to create a traffic-stopper of a quilt, don’t you think? It looks like we used pinking shears to cut the border, and then appliqued it to the black fabric.

The blocks on the quilt center (the crisscross ones) are easily paper pieced and alternate with 4-1/2″ squares of many colors. The border blocks use the stitch and flip method and come together very quickly.

If you have never worked with the stitch and flip method, here is a quick rundown:

Stitch and Flip method:

Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of all the small squares.
With the right sides together, place one marked small square on a corner of a large square and stitch on the drawn line. Repeat with the opposite corner of the same square.
Trim seam allowances to ¼” and press open.
Repeat with the other corners of the square.

That’s it!

Although I have made quilts with solid fabrics, I’d much rather work with tone-on-tone fabrics because of the texture they invariably add to the project. The squares on this quilt showcase this collection in all its glory, and the crisscross design on the other blocks is a cool departure from just adding neutral squares as a background which we often see on quilts with squares and bright colors.

Whether you prefer modern or traditional quilts, the Chameleon line will work equally well with both. My stash needs lots of yards of these fabrics as I can combine them with a variety of favorite prints.

I am thinking these beauties would make wonderful totes, pillows (particularly if your room decor is neutral and would need pops of color), as well as complementing other fabric collections such as Woodland Fantasy and Gypsy Dreams.

The trick to that border is the fabric placement on the block above… The trick to the success of this design is the fabric collection. Period. Amazing textures and colors guarantee a masterpiece.

Yes, you could make this quilt with prints but the WOW factor will be more subdued. My vote is for Chameleon but, then again, I am totally biased!!!

Chameleon is shipping to stores this month, so be on the lookout for it. Download the pattern, get the fabrics, and enjoy a weekend of high vibration!