I’m making a quilt as a wedding present, I need to finish it by the end of February so I’m putting other projects to one side to concentrate on it. The happy couple asked for a bright and cheerful quilt in reds and oranges…not my usual palette as many of you will realise!
I chose a fat quarter bundle in reds and selection of yellow prints too. The pattern is called Radiant by Cosy Quilt Designs, I’d seen a couple on facebook and loved the effect. It’s actually a pretty simple quilt to make, just a set of squares in red and blue and another set in yellow and cream. They are then stitched across the diagonal to make two squares of half triangles.
The finished squares are meant to be 9″, I trimmed them to 8.75″ to square off any imperfections in my blocks! There’s 64 blocks altogether so it seemed to take forever to get through the pile of squares, but at least I know they should all go together nicely.
All I had to do was arrange the blocks in the pattern! I very quickly decided to just concentrate on the red block fabrics and pretty much ignore the yellow. I love how the pattern works out, you get a sort of Wow feeling as it appears in front of you with every square you put down. The one fabric I did hesitate over was the plainer looking red, it is a Kaffe Fassett print, but it’s from a different range, in the end I decided to place that one fabric more regularly, rather than random like the others. I think it’s worked ok.
Tonight I’m planning to stitch all the squares together, so if anyone thinks something needs moving, please shout out quickly 🙂
The quilt will have a narrow cream border and then probably a piano key border to use up all the leftovers. Hopefully I’ll be quilting it by the weekend.
Update!
Thanks for everyone’s comments and help, especially Claire and Kate, it always helps to have extra pairs of eyes and ideas. Claire suggested continuing the red triangles into the centre, it works so much better, just looks balanced. I’ve spaced out the greens a bit more evenly as Kate suggested, though I might have one last go at that green in the top left hand corner!
So here’s my new layout, please excuse the photo, I’m taking it standing on a little stool with my arms stretched out over the quilt, not a great position for someone with no balance 🙂
thecraftycreek 
I love your fabrics. Very pretty
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I love it! Such an interesting block, I’ve never seen it before
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It is gorgeous! It makes me want to get married again!
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looks fabulous!
just two comments lol. There’s one block (column 5, row 6, I think) where your points don’t quite line up (a slip when cutting maybe?). I’d be tempted to move that away from the centre and use it along the side somewhere so it’ll be less obvious.
Second comment: the blocks with a more solid red . . . you’ve got a nice diagonal pattern going with those except for the 4 blocks where you have 4 patterned reds coming together to make a larger square at an angle (not sure if you see where I mean). Might look good if you place the 2 remaining solid red blocks there, to keep those solid reds all running on the same diagonal.
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You’re a star Claire, it looks so much better with the reds meeting in the middle. Don’t worry about the points, it’s just the way they were laid on the floor 🙂
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I would leave the placing alone if your happy with it. My eyes are not drawn to anything that throughs the pattern off. It’s a wonderful pattern and love the prints. I must say, if I look at it any longer it will through my vertigo into full force, lol. Excited to see it finished. It will truly be a treasured wedding gift!
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I’d only say that you have most of the blocks with bits of green in the lower half of the quilt. Don’t know if that’s on purpose, or if you’d prefer to distribute them a bit more evenly?
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Thanks Kate, I hadn’t spotted that, after fiddling for a while I couldn’t spot anything!!
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It happens to all of us, which is why I tend to invite comment too, when I’m doing a layout. It puts a load of fresh eyes onto the problem.
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It up looks fantastic, Claire was spot on with her suggestion! I like that line of red moving through there.
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Thanks Kathy, I could even be all arty-farty and say it represents the joining of two people by marriage 🙂
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🎉😍😄😆
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Lovely bright colours!
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What a lovely quilt, fabulous colours
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I love the fabric, colours and pattern. I love that ‘Wow’ moment in patchwork where fabric pieces come together to make lovely designs. It sounds as if you are on schedule.
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I love this! Such a great pattern and those colours are wonderful. Good luck and enjoy!
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Lovely bright colours – congratulations on your choices and getting right to it!
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I love the 3D effect it has! Such a beautiful creation!
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Oh my goodness that is a wonderful quilt and definitely bright and cheerful! Love the Kaffe fabrics!
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Isn’t this lovely, I like the way it it comes out in big diamond shapes from the two blocks with the red in them.
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I expected to hate this but it’s fabulous! I like how it’s asymmetrical and kind of sparkly!
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How wonderful!! I love that it is off center a bit. It adds interest and more movement. What a great wedding gift:)!
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I have never seen this pattern before this week and now it’s popping up everywhere. I love your version, it looks beautiful!
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