Kaleidoscope, a fresh perspective
Yay! Today I have another patchwork group for my Positivities quilt ready to share. It’s the February block in our year-long project. Here comes Kaleidoscope!
First, fabrics. This block uses four solids from the quilt’s 9 base solids: Plum, Pink, Peacock and Night Blue. All 9 base solids are sophisticated Tilda solids, and you can buy them in one fell swoop at Sojo Fabric. The rest of the fabrics? Scraps! The pattern suggests that you use scraps in green, turquoise, copper, blue and cream. Here I am cutting into my green scraps for the pointy shapes.
Kaleidoscope is mainly foundation paper pieced. That’s how we sew perfectly pointy triangles without sweating. Foundation paper piecing is a sewing method that is totally worth learning. Club members had a first go at it in January. Our February block offers lots of repetition so that beginners can become confident with the technique.
As much as I loved sewing this and have enjoyed designing and developing this quilt, I am equally looking forward to sharing the positive messages that connect with each group. My 2022 block-of-the-month had a ballet theme, which emerged naturally from my background with ballet. This time the quilt reflects the current transformative season of my life.
When life turns on its head, you are faced with so many choices and so many feelings. Creativity definitely helps me stay grounded and positive. Each month we will reflect together on a positive theme. With Kaleidoscope it is about being brave enough to look at your life and your choices with a fresh perspective. Perhaps through a book, the advice of a friend or by trusting your small quiet voice, you can experience a paradigm shift that suddenly reveals so many new possibilities. It can be dizzying, scary even, to look through a kaleidoscope, but the view is worth it.
It is not too late to join us! If you join the club now, you’ll receive the January edition right away and then the February edition when it is published early in February. You can still choose to pay in one lump sum (and save!) or opt for the monthly subscription model. Let me know if you have any questions!
xoxo,
Rachel
Tapestry Garden is a block of the month club. Come sew-along with us as we bring this modern sampler quilt to life, creating group by group of beautifully interwoven patchwork throughout 2026. This original round runs January - December 2026.
Patio, Iris, Trellis, Coneflowers, Stone Path, Waterlily and more - each patchwork group is its own particular delight. Together they make up an ode to patchwork pleasure that’s as delightful to behold as it is to sew.
This sampler quilt is designed and sewn based on color value. The pattern will guide you to use low, medium or dark value fabrics for each element of the quilt. As a result your patchwork will have the same balance in contrast and value placement as mine. Plus, you can usea wide variety of scraps or stash fabrics without becoming too focused on color itself. The pattern also calls for solids at times, in order to create visual definition in the patchwork.
Skill level: Suitable for confident beginners or intermediate quilters. During the course of the year, you will learn techniques for foundation paper piecing, simple curved piecing and machine applique. No prior experience with these techniques is assumed. This is the least technically challenging of all my BOM programs thus far.
Size: 74” x 84” throw quilt
Fabrics: This is a scrap-friendly quilt! With your purchase, you’ll immediately receive the introductory Prelude PDF for quilt planning. It discusses tool, yardage and scrap needs, possible color palettes and includes a blank color sheet. In addition to scraps and misc. stash fabrics, you’ll need 2 yards of solid fabrics in total.
Before the 5th of each month, Jan-Dec in 2026, you’ll receive a club email with:
A pattern for the monthly patchwork group
Lessons in technique: color value, applique, foundation paper piecing and curved piecing.
Inspiration from our community
Tips for each leg of the journey
Plus, 3 extra quilt patterns, each of which is a spin-off from one Tapestry Garden patchwork group to create an entire quilt. The final photo is a preview of one bonus quilt pattern: Deco Bloom.
Joining after January? You will receive all club materials that have already been released.
