quilt patterns Archives | Bonjour Quilts

Gemology Quilt Pattern

May 17, 2019 By Kirsty 5 Comments

I’m happy to introduce you to my latest quilt pattern, called Gemology!

Gemology quilt pattern (fat quarter friendly) by Bonjour Quilts

This pattern is FQ friendly, as I am really trying to reclaim my linen cupboard and reduce my stash.

The Gemology quilt pattern is for a lap/throw size quilt, finishing at approximately 54″ x 70″.

The tumbling gemstone shapes are made with HSTs and half rectangle triangles (HRTs). If you’re looking for a useful block that lets you create lots of designs, then you’ll love the HRT.

The HRTs in this pattern are 3:1 ratio and can be easily trimmed with a 12.5″ square ruler (instructions for this, with photos, are included).

Gemology quilt pattern (fat quarter friendly) by Bonjour Quilts. Learn how to make 3:1 ratio half rectangle triangles.

I used a FQ bundle of Alison Glass’ Chroma to create this quilt. I’m amazed that you can still find this lovely FQ bundle here on Etsy*!

The background fabric is also from the Chroma line. I love the small, dispersed print on the fabric – it gives it some interest without being too busy.

Alison Glass' Chroma FQ bundle works perfectly with the Gemology quilt pattern by Bonjour Quilts

There are some really lovely bundles of Alison Glass’ sunprints* or other bright bundles* that would also work well with this pattern.

I used Alison Glass Chroma for the binding too, in a lovely charcoal. However, if you prefer a bright, scrappy binding there is definitely enough left over from the gem fat quarters to create one.

If you’d like to explore HRTs and make a Gemology quilt of your own, you can find the pattern here in the shop.

Next up, I’m planning on making a blue version. Or maybe a blue and grey version – I haven’t quite made up my mind yet. I played around with my blocks a little and made both top and bottom of the gems from the same fabric.

Gemology quilt pattern - kites in navy and blue

I’m not sure if I will put 3 gems of the same fabric across each row, or mix them up for a more scrappy look. I’ll be sure to show you what I come up with.

Beautiful blues - a new Gemology Quilt in blue

Gemology Quilt Pattern

*affiliate links

Ribbon Heart Mini Quilt (Living Coral)

February 9, 2019 By Kirsty 9 Comments

Coral fabric – do you love it? Or does it make you wince?

I have to admit that after a rocky start the 2019 Pantone Colour of the Year, Living Coral, is growing on me.

I’m not much of a pinky, peachy girl, but as an accent colour I can see that coral can be beautiful.

I’m especially fond of a navy and coral fabric combination. I’ve explored that with this pattern here, as well as with this mini quilt below (pattern here).

I consulted my stash cupboard last weekend and found some nice coral fabrics hidden away in there. You can see a selection of them below:

From top to bottom: 1. Avantgarde Uninhibited in Bask by Katarina Roccella

2. Deity in Orchid from Tula Pink’s Eden line (technically not coral as it’s an orange pattern on pink fabric, but it reads from a distance as coral. It’s also a very useful fabric if you are making a transition [or ombre] from orange to pink).

3. Kona in Coral.

4. Not sure about this one. No selvedge. I think it’s a Timeless Treasures Sketch fabric.

5. Kona in Nectarine.

This small fabric grouping caught my eye:

L to R: Fern Bouquet from Dear Stella’s Foxtail Forest, Carolyn Friedlander crosshatch in Creamsicle and Avantgarde Uninhibited in Bask.

I thought this would be a fun combination to use with my new Ribbon Heart mini quilt pattern. So far all my versions of this mini quilt had been made with darker fabrics on a pale background. I was interested to see how it would look with bright fabrics on a dark background.

Hey, I think it looks pretty cute!

I had some fun matchstick quilting this one. Lots of lines in dove grey thread, but it really didn’t take long as it’s such a small piece.

I didn’t want too much contrast in the binding for this one, as I felt it would detract from the pop of the heart.

So I used the background fabric for binding with just a snippet of coral contrast (the pattern has instructions for this).

I could also have chosen to use the self-binding method, which I’ve described here, to create a “no-edge” look. But I don’t really enjoy sewing with that method very much. It’s somewhat finicky and by the time I’m at the stage of binding I’m totally over finicky! I much prefer to sew a standard binding, which is what I did.

I’m really happy with how this Ribbon Heart mini turned out, and I enjoyed a bit of experimentation with coral fabrics.

If you’d like to see the Ribbon Heart mini quilt made up in different colours, you can see some in this post here.

So what do you think about coral fabric? Yay or nay? Will you be sewing something in Living Coral this year?

I don’t think I’m done with coral just yet 🙂

Have a great weekend and wishing you happy sewing (in coral or otherwise!)

Kirsty

Heartfelt Quilt Pattern

January 28, 2019 By Kirsty 2 Comments

I have a new quilt pattern out today!

This PDF quilt pattern is called Heartfelt and it includes instructions for crib, lap, twin and queen sized quilts.

The crib size finishes at approximately 40″ x 58″.

The lap size finishes at approximately 60″ x 87″ (a very generous lap quilt – for those who like them big).

The twin size finishes at approximately 67″ x 90″.

The queen size finishes at approximately 95″ x 94″.

Heart quilts like Heartfelt aren’t just for Valentines Day. They make great baby gifts and wedding quilt gifts.

This pattern can be made to be on the sweet side – as you see here in Kona solids (Snow for the background and Cornflower, Astral, Chartreuse, Medium Pink and Bubble Gum for the hearts).

But it can also be less sweet and a little more sophisticated with a more limited palate, such as the two examples below.

The cover version shown is the lap size quilt. It was quilted with straight lines using my walking foot.

I also made a scrappy binding from the fabric left over from the hearts.

I usually prefer to hand stitch my bindings, but the kids go back to school tomorrow and I really wanted this done quickly.

The Heartfelt quilt is suitable for confident beginners. It’s not a hard pattern at all – the stripes are sewn in batches, after which the hearts are assembled.

I really love it when seams nest, so the pattern has all the pressing instructions to make sure that happens. Patterns just sew up so much quicker when the seams nest (mainly because it’s easier to get away with not pinning).

If you’d like to make your own Heartfelt quilt then come on over to the Pattern Shop and buy yourself a copy!

Have a wonderful week and happy sewing!

Cheers,

Kirsty