You know that feeling when you revisit an old project and suddenly see all the ways it could be even better? Or perhaps just freshened up... kind of like rearranging a room to make it feel new again? That’s exactly what happened with the Birds Hill Quilt pattern! Originally released in July 2019, it’s always been a favourite, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it had more to give.
So, I gave it a glow-up! Along with a fresh new look, it now includes two additional colour layout options: a bold and striking 2-colour version and a vibrant 7-colour option that brings a whole new level of movement and energy. If you loved it before, just wait until you see it now!
If you want to read all about the original design inspiration, process and name choice, check out this blog post!
If we rewind for a moment to the fall of 2020, I was deep in a creative rut, desperately searching for anything to bring back my “sewjo.” Not only was it that year (we all know), with small kids at home, but I was also not even a year out from cancer treatments, so yeah… it was a time.
Then, Art Gallery Fabrics dropped a stunning new selection of Pure Solids, and suddenly, something clicked. I needed these fabrics. They were destined for something special. I immediately started picturing all those HSTs in the Birds Hill Quilt, shimmering and dancing in these fresh new hues.
One problem: the pattern was written for just four colours. That definitely wasn’t going to cut it. Luckily, being the designer has its perks, I could tweak, adapt, and rewrite as needed (within mathematical reason, of course!).
So, I made the quilt, shared it on social media, and holy smokes, it blew up! At the time, it quickly became one of my most-liked posts ever. And, naturally, the questions started rolling in… How can I make this?!
For years, I tried offering quick explanations, but eventually, I stopped sharing the quilt altogether because I knew it would just leave people frustrated. But that’s not fair! This quilt is stunning and deserves its moment in the spotlight. So, here we are, let’s give it the attention it deserves!
If you know anything about how my brain works, you won’t be surprised that the moment I started mapping out the fabric requirements and instructions for a 7-colour layout, I had to see what a 2-colour version would look like too. I can’t help myself... I’m a little extra, and I’m totally okay with that!
Some of my all-time favourite quilts have been in Kona Black and Natural, especially when the design is super geometric. So, of course, I had to try it with the Birds Hill Quilt and let me tell you, it did not disappoint!
Let’s take a look at the Birds Hill - Summer Berry quilt! I made this one in the depths of a cold, dark Canadian winter, so naturally, I did what felt like hope in quilt form—I pulled fabrics that could only be described as pure summer berry fun!
- Navy
- Fog
- Cadet
- Dresden Blue
- Curry
- Deep Rose
- Cantaloupe
Since this quilt felt like a party to me, I went all in with the backing, Confetti by RJR Studio, paired with Kona Fog for the binding. I had picked up the Confetti fabric at a local quilt shop but came up just a bit short, so I got creative! I used some extra HSTs, turned them into blocks, and made a little “party in the back.”
For the quilting, I wanted to emphasize the bold, geometric design created by rotating the blocks. So, I echoed those shapes with a quilting pattern that forms a subtle “W” across the width of the quilt, then repeating it with 1” spacing for extra texture. I used 50wt Aurifil thread in Natural White (2021) to add a bit of brightness and make those details pop!
Birds Hill Fabric Bundles
For those of you who are ready to make your own Birds Hill Quilt, we’ve made things easy for you! There are curated bundles in the shop, plus easy-peasy binding add-ons in both Kona Cotton and Essex Linen!
If you make your own Birds Hill Quilt, I’d love to see it! It makes my day when I can check out your TBS quilts! Make sure to use the hashtags #birdshillquilt and #blanketstatementpatterns… you might even get featured on our social media or in our newsletter!
PLEASE NOTE! If you previously purchased the pattern and would like the updated PDF, send us an email with Proof of Purchase! Applies to both PDF and Paper patterns however the complimentary update will be provided as a PDF. Updated paper patterns are available for purchase.
