The Color of Valor

Island Batik's April Challenge requires us to make a lap-sized (or larger) quilt using the timeless Drunkard's Path Quilt Block, making sure that the technique used is curved piecing and not applique.

Naturally, many ideas were considered and discarded. I am saving them to a very long list of possible future quilts.

In the end, I chose the quilt block - Moon Over the Mountain. I have been fascinated by this quilt block for a long time. I looked for tutorials and found few but none of them appealed to me.

It was time to design it myself.

Thank you EQ8

Next, I auditioned a few different fabric collections, also in EQ8.

Petal Poetry (I have a huge crush on this one)

Botanical Dreams

Shadow Blooms

They all looked lovely. But I wanted more than that. I wanted energy and passion. I decided to go for yellow orbs over rust/orange/red mountains.

Fabric Pull

I ended up using fabrics from Modern Opulence, Celebrate, and Fire & Ice collections.

Block Construction

Design Wall

Basting

And here is my first finish named Rising Suns.

Rising Suns

The background and binding is Island Batik Solid Black. I used Black Heirloom Batting from Hobbs and Schmetz 80/12 Needle for both piecing and quilting. I used Walking Foot to quilt squiggly lines. The variegated thread adds to the sizzle.

Walking Foot Quilting

Variegated Thread

The bright orange shades made me think of Saffron, one of the colors in India's national flag. India's national flag is named the Tricolor, so named for the three major colors. Saffron for sacrifice, White for Peace and Green for Prosperity. Saffron is symbolic of renouncement - giving up everything for the one cause, making the ultimate sacrifice for the country.

Labelled

Now that I am an American, I associate Red, White and Blue as the colors of valor. Is there a universal color for valor? Or does it mean different things to different people?

As I was mulling over colors, an off-color incident made me seethe. Not that I could do much, but I channeled my thoughts into prayer while I busied my hands to make another quilt.

Pinned

Work in Progress

I chose nine different  yellows and nine different blues. The background and binding is Solid White. I used Hobbs Bleached White 80/20 Batting. I used Schmetz 80/12 Needle for both piecing and quilting. I used Walking Foot to quilt squiggly lines. 

Backing is Frosting, Labelled

Here is my second finish. I have named it Doblest, which means Valor. 

“Any fool can fight a winning battle, but it needs character to fight a losing one, and that should inspire us." 
_William Butler Yates

Both quilts finished at about 53" by 51". I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar. Should you have any thoughts about color, valor or this block - Moon over the Mountain, I'd love to hear from you.

One Collection - Two Quilts

Have you seen the Petal Poetry fabric collection by Island Batik from Lumin Fabrics?

Seriously, drop everything and go find this collection.  If you know me, you also know that I love the bright reds, shiny golds and vibrant oranges. So when a collection that is NOT red/gold/orange/pink but still catches my eye, you know it has to be super special.

How special?

Well, I designed two separate quilts, one traditional and one modern, and they were both published in two separate magazines.

Let's Dance was published in Quilter's World.

Let's Dance

Designed in EQ8, Let's Dance finished at 60" square. 

EQ8 Mock-Up

I love patterns with secondary designs. When seemingly simple blocks come together and the secondary pattern emerges it is magical. Do you see the purple stars?

There is a mistake in the mock-up. I am glad that it stayed right there and did not travel to the quilt :-) 
Can you spot it?

Every fabric in this collection is beautiful and the pieced border was one way to show them off. Here are a few more pictures.

Quilters World Summer 2025

Published!

Dance with me!

Brighton was published in Make Modern Issue 63.

Paul, the model

I wanted to make a simple (modern/minimalist) quilt to really show off these fabrics. When the design gets complex, the fabrics will play second fiddle. When the design is simple, the fabrics truly take center stage.

On my bed

Brighton was also designed in EQ8, making sure that I used each of the 20 fabrics in the collection and no two blocks are the same. 

Walking Foot Quilting

Also used Island Batik Solids - Black, White and Light Grey for binding. The batting is Hobbs Cotton and it shows off the quilting lines beautifully.

Brighton

Thanks to Island Batik/Lumin Fabrics for generously providing the fabrics.

Thanks to Hobbs Batting for sending me the batting.

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In other news, I completed the red blocks for April, using all Island Batik scraps. 

April is Red

I will be sharing with Angela's Linky party on Saturday.

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The two winners for Austin Quilt Pattern are #2 (Peggy) and #12 (Sushma). Emails have been sent.

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I am currently finishing my Drunkard's Path Quilts. Yes, I made two. I made one and then I HAD to make another because...well, you'll know when you see it. That blogpost is next.

Fabric Pull for Drunkard's Path Quilt

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

Wishing you peace in these times of turmoil. As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

TGIFF + Pattern Release + Giveaway = Party!

Welcome to TGIFF – Thank Goodness Its Finished Friday on my blog – we open Thursday evening and close Saturday at midnight to allow bloggers from all over the world to post their finished quilt projects. 

Austin was first published in the Make Modern Magazine Issue 60.

It is now available in my Etsy Shop as a standalone pattern. 

Designed in EQ8 and made with Island Batik fabrics from the Peppermint Sprinkles collection, Austin finished at 60" by 80". It is a perfect size for charity quilts.

Austin

Austin is a modern take on the Quilt of Valor theme. A longitudinal design is reinforced by long borders (only on the sides) and walking foot quilting in one direction. Using just four fabrics plus the background, Austin relies on simplicity for his appeal.

Walking Foot Quilting

The detailed directions include step by step guidance and colored graphics show the dimensions of each cut fabric for easy reference.

Crushing on You

Priced at $11, you can get Austin at a discount of 25% ($8.25) for one week. Sale ends Thursday, 4/10/25. 

Labelled

Two lucky readers can get the Austin pattern (or any other pattern of your choice) for free. Please leave me a comment on this post, telling me your most (or least) favorite thing about Spring. If you show up as Anonymous, please include your email address so that I can reach you. I will pick the winners next week. 

Hullo Handsome!

Do you ever look at a quilt and wonder - how would this look in a different colorway? I often do :-)

I recolored Austin using two different Fabric collections. Here is one. Check the Etsy listing to see the other colorway.

Austin in Petal Poetry

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In other news, I made some super fun braided placemats to promote Kate Colleran's new book.

Using Island Batik scraps and the mini braid tool, I cut lots of small units.

Cutting Braid Units

Kate's book has 13 projects in varying levels of complexity.  Take a look.

Making Braids

I chose a black background, of course. It makes all these warm colors pop and sparkle!

Finished Placemats

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Angela has announced the RSC color for April. It is Red. Here are my initial picks. 

Island Batik scraps

Plenty of mediums and darks. I think I need a couple more lighter values. What do you think?

Now it is your turn. Join the Party

The rules are simple – share your quilting finish for this week. The linky party is open from 6 pm on Thursday, April 3rd through midnight on Saturday, April 5th.