Wind Drifter and The Collector quilt patterns

I am so happy to announce that the last of the new patterns that accompany the Cottage Bleu fabric line have finally arrived! To celebrate, I am releasing my brand-new quilt designs which are called Wind Drifter and The Collector!

First, let's talk about Wind Drifter!

If you are a beginning quilter and are wanting to make your first half-square triangle quilt, this pattern would be a perfect place to start. This is because Wind Drifter is an easy quilt pattern that uses half square triangles (or HST blocks) paired up and stacked in lines to make pinwheels of motion! They remind me of rows of flying geese blocks but with more dimension by using the two fabrics of the HST.

When designing Wind Drifter, I wanted to combine rows of triangles, basic blocks, and individual triangles, to create a fun quilt design that looked complex but was still easy to put together. I JUST finished putting the binding on the small version of Wind Drifter and have been trying it out around the house. I intended for the small one to be a wall quilt but I think it also makes a lovely table topper! I think you could add large borders and make a lovely baby quilt or crib quilt as well.

I enjoy seeing the smaller quilt paired with the larger Wind Drifter quilt and the combination of dark and light. The background fabric I have used on the small one is a new Thatched color in the Cottage Bleu group called Pond 48626 145. It is such a nice deep tealish green. The medium green on the small binding is Horizon 48626 144.

When it comes to the size of the quilt, Wind Drifter can be made in two different sizes. The large quilt size is 65" square and the small is 32 3/4" for the small. Below you can see the finished quilt in both sizes.

For the larger version, I've used the same color palette as I did in the smaller version. The biggest change that I made was using the white/cream tonal Floral Fling print as my background fabric. Using this particular print, gave such a nice, subtle texture in those open spaces.

Both of these quilt directions are written for using Fat Eighths. However, when it comes to fabric choices, the possibilities are endless! You could easily make different variations of this quilt using solid colors, prints, or even textured fabric. Plus, I love the idea of using a larger, scrappier mix of different fabrics for the half square triangles. If you have a stash like mine, you can imagine making the entire quilt top as a scrappy triangle quilt!

Since we are on the topic of fabric and triangles, I did want to point out one thing about this pattern. If you are looking for a great way to show off bigger prints within this pattern, try placing them in the sections which have the larger triangles or arrows. They create a balance between large and small. The combination of arrow directions leads your eye around the quilt and to the center where the Quarter Square Triangle Block lives.

Moda Fabrics is kitting Wind Drifter in the large size with the cream background. The kits will have triangle paper on a roll, which makes the paper piecing of the small half square triangles so fast! I love triangle paper. There is less trimming and they are so accurate. You do not need to make a drawn line on the backs of your squares. Just follow the sewing lines. They also make creating a half square triangle quilt such a breeze!

My other new pattern, The Collector, was a really fun project with vases, jars and bowls to show off pretty prints. I went with a chinoiserie feel with my vases, thinking of lovely blue and white ceramics. but I also think these would be super cute in novelty fabrics like cookies and pickles and crackers in the pantry...just flip the wide vase angled top upside down and you have a wide jar with a lid instead of a vase. Is your collection of sewing items? Fill your vessels with buttons, thimbles and threads. Or maybe you like toy airplanes, marbles and jacks? So many different ways to show your treasures in these collector jars. 

These vessels are arranged into sets of 2 or 3 units, then repeated. I had sewn together one strip and put it on the dining room table. Wouldn't that make an interesting table runner? ​

And I used a couple extra blocks I made to make a coordinating pillow with my quilt.

The Collector is sized 67 1/2 x 65" and is also made from Fat Eighths with background and border fabrics added. This would also be a good scrappy project (especially if you have a piece of fabric that you have been saving for a ''special project''). Look for pieces for your vessels that are 8 1/2" high and 8 1/2 wide to fit the larger jars and vases. Also, if you have a bunch of fat quarters in your craft stash, this would be the perfect quilt to use them in!

The quilts shown here are using Cottage Bleu, which should be shipping from Moda Fabrics in April. This quilt also goes well with English Breakfast mini quilt with tea cups. I enjoyed a little home decor theme with this collection and had fun with those big hydrangeas in bursts of blue splendor. I hope you have as much fun as I've had with these patterns and I'll share more as other versions are done with new fabrics. I've been gathering fabrics to make one like jam jars (so fruit themed fabrics) and one with sewing notions (I'm still looking for the perfect buttons!). And I might even do a spooky Halloween one with curiosities in the jars! Stay tuned for that one!

Happy quilting!