I have wanted to make a bed quilt with favorite fabrics for the longest time. There is a pattern I designed a while ago that has been calling my name for a long time. Would you want to make it with me?
I have resized the Colorful Illusions quilt for a queen bed and am itching to make it. It now measures approximately 90″ x 105″ with 6″ blocks in the center and 5″ blocks on the pieced border. I originally designed it using the Timeless Treasures Tonga Fruit Punch batiks. Yet, I am thinking I will make it scrappy. What do you think?
This pattern is perfect for beginner quilters (you can see why as you view the blocks below). It does not require any difficult techniques and I think the project will come together easily. If we stick with it, we can make it in one weekend or two. I will make my blocks in between my projects and that is how I know it will take longer.
As you can see, the blocks are very simple and easy to make. The chain effect is achieved by rotating the center blocks left or right. The secondary design shows circles when you focus on the squares.
The original pattern is available in my Etsy shop with a 50% discount for the next 2 weeks, and you can download and begin collecting the fabrics. Click here to download the new specs for a scrappy bed quilt.
I have been designing quilts and writing a lot of patterns lately, with no new quilting project on the horizon. However, for the past few days, I’ve had the recurrent thought that it would be soothing to make a large quilt with many colors, repeating the same block for the center and another on the border. Then, I decided to see if you wanted to make it, too, and bam – I readied the cutting instructions!
“Soothing” is the major need to be addressed, and repetitive blocks work like that for me. Does it work for you, too, or do you get bored? If the latter is the case, using a cool fabric line you like, or raiding your stash to make it scrappy might counter boredom.
The quilt in the photo above is the one on my bed for the past few months. Similar colors have appeared in other quilts I made such as Spring in Cape May. The Scrappy Nine Patch quilt (look at the inspiration – book review – and progress by clicking here) has about the same measurements as the resized Colorful Illusions. As I want to make a bed quilt with favorite fabrics, which colorway would I choose?
Although I mentioned before that the bed quilt can take a while to make, the one above was finished very quickly because once I began making the blocks I refused to stop! Yeah, I can get in one of those moods, sometimes.
I have tons of batiks in my stash so that might be an option. I have also been collecting fabrics with dots. Ai ai ai. Whatever I decide, I must use fabrics that I already have on hand, with exceptions made for those that require more yardage.
So, this is the plan. Are you with me?
