PATTERN REMIX: PATRIOTIC THISTLES

Okay, okay…I promise this is the last bit of red, white, & blue for awhile….I think. 😉

Around the 4th of July, we posted on social media and made a BLOG POST showcasing some of my favorite patriotic quilt patterns, as well as a few recolored designs, or “pattern remixes”, as we like to call them.

One of the patterns, HARVEST THISTLES, stood out in all its patriotic glory! I received several emails, messages, and comments on it…so here we are to explore the pattern a bit more and see some “real life” progress of the blocks being made! Sometimes we want to see the process and not just the finishing quilt, right? Speaking of process… later today on IG, you might want to go over and see a fun little process REEL of this guy.

THE ORIGINAL: HARVEST THISTLES

HARVEST THISTLES, available in PAPER or PDF, was originally designed to coordinate with my HARVEST MOON fabric collection. It is a wonderful scrappy rendition done in oranges, greys and blacks.

As is often the case for me, this was inspired by a vintage quilt find that I fell in love with on the spot. It was one of those designs that I just could not get out of my head until it was down on paper. It can be made super scrappy like the pic above or as a striking two-color quilt. [see the black version with a single orange block on the original pattern as an example].

And because we couldn’t leave well enough alone, we took it one step further, and used 3 colors for the remix: red, white, and blue, of course!

THE REMIX: PATRIOTIC THISTLES

This mock-up features creams from my upcoming LINEN CUPBOARD collection, due in stores this November, alongside a STITCHED collection red “X” cross hatch [20434 14]. The background is a blue eyelet from FRUIT COCKTAIL [20457 43] and also coming in the EYELET collection that will drop at the same time later this year in November.

Again, this is only a mock-up…and any reds/creams or blue background will produce a similar effect. The blocks featured below use the blue eyelet from FRUIT COCKTAIL, with a few creams and a red floral from the FRESH FIG FAVORITES collection. (See what I mean? That’s 5 different Fig Tree collections already mentioned! The fabric possibilities are endless, as long as the colors are close in hue).

BLOCK PROGRESS

The HARVEST THISTLES pattern does have a small bit of applique, in the form of leaves. This is the perfect beginner applique project due to its non-complex shape. We are using the starch method of applique for ours, which is my favorite technique. We have a dedicated blog post, including supplies needed and step-by-step instructions. Find that HERE.

You’ll also notice the striking half-square triangle (HST) border. It’s so worth it – I promise!

Only a few more applique leaves to make, and some slow hand-stitching is on the docket for the weekend! We will certainly share more once the top is assembled and quilted. I think it will be a wonderful addition to the THISTLE round up.

Thanks for stopping by the blog! Next week, we will shift into AUTUMN…my very favorite season.

See you then,

-Joanna