Winter Coneflowers

for Tapestry Garden quilt

When I think of coneflowers, I think of warm summer days and bright, joyful colors. It’s a little odd to make a dull winter version, but we shall see how they turn out, nevertheless.

To start I am selecting medium value background squares for the coneflower blocks by setting the squares up on the design wall. I have a variety of medium value grays and browns. At this point, I am definitely repeating fabrics, which makes the quilt naturally quite harmonious.

The dresden blades are cut from low volume solids and low volume prints, while the coneflower cones are contrasting dark values. The eye will be most drawn to those dark cones, which create a strong rhythm for this patchwork group.

---

---

TODAY’S STITCHED IN COLOR IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY~

Dragonfly Quiltworks

Simply the best selection of wideback fabrics around! Finish off your quilt quickly and easily with a 108” wide backing fabric from my friends at Dragonfly Quiltworks. Ships from Florida.

---

---

The coneflowers in Tapestry Garden quilt are quarter dresden shapes. As such, each block sports a series of five dresden blades. I like that we can piece the cone curves, rather than appliquéing the cones overtop. That’s quick and clean.

Then the quarter dresdens are appliquéd to the block backgrounds. And done!

Every time that I make this block, I so enjoy the process. I’ve already made three quilts using my corresponding Drummer Boy Dresdens pattern. But maybe there is yet another quilt in me…

Still, it is nice to make just nine blocks and call it a day. That’s the charm of a sampler quilt. Little tastes are often the sweetest!

As for my winter coneflowers, I think that they turned out well. The little fabric details make for charming blocks, even if the colors are subtle. I’m happy to add them to my sampler layout and look forward to sewing the next addition soon.

Feeling the itch to sew your own Tapestry Garden? In celebration of my soon-to-be-finished Winter Tapestry Garden, we’ll kick off a 6-month version of Tapestry Garden in April. Members will receive all the same materials as the 12-month club, only at a brisker pace, with two patchwork groups per month. As such the 6-month club will finish in September, well clear of the holidays.

Come join the fun!