Harvest Skies quilt

It’s my favorite time of year for a walk in the woods. These harvest skies are alight with wondrous color.

Dutch autumn. Stitched in Color.jpg

I’ve been watching these leaves from my sewing room window as they’ve transformed from green to a splendid golden yellow. Luckily my quilt is finished in time for an autumnal photo shoot!

Harvest Skies quilt. Stitched in Color.jpg

This quilt became just what I was hoping - a capsule of my happiness during our first autumn in The Netherlands. I love it so much that I had to convince myself to put it in my Handmades shop. But logic won out. I have been adding quilts to me “keep” stack much too fast lately.

Fall Leaf quilting. Stitched in Color.jpg

Once again, I’m glad I had to make do, fabric-wise, for the backgrounds. The patchy, mash up style makes me smile and feels like “me”.

Oh, and did you notice the gray moon print border? I smuggled some cloudy skies on the front of the quilt after all, hehe. I chose the rust Add it Up binding to emphasize the warm hues. Love how that color looks with these splendid leaves!

Orphan block quilt back. Stitched in Color.jpg

Here’s my orphan quilt block, making itself a home on the quilt back. Well, that was a happy accident!

Autumn quilt back. Stitched in Color.jpg
Quilt back autumn. Stitched in Color.jpg

I took more time than usual piecing this quilt back. It’s made with yardage and scraps on hand, as per usual, but with a little more intention. I didn’t want to overwhelm the orphan quilt block, but I also wanted to use some of these showy prints that are spot-on for fall.

I think I reached a balance with the help of color grouping - my browns are on the bottom; then yellow, gray and peach moving upward and blues to the right. Maybe it’s an autumn dawn?

Autumn quilt binding. Stitched in Color.jpg

And the quilting? It’s my first time implementing Autumn Wind, a quilting design that reminds me of the leaf clusters we’ve been finding on our walks. The longarm quilting adds a fanciful element that really dresses things up, don’t you think? I’m pleased with the effect!

Harvest Skies is my first quilt developed from a seed block created in the making of The Quilter’s Field Guide to Color. In 2020, when the book is finally widely available, I plan to celebrate and share by making more quilts in this way. Of course, you’re invited to come along for the ride.

xo,

Rachel