Real question: Is a quilt palette cleanser a thing?!
Because that’s what I keep calling this spring-inspired Paint Lake Quilt!
I’ve spent the last seven months (or five years?) making literally thousands of HSTs - and my brain was starting to turn to mush!
This spring version of the Paint Lake Quilt was the perfect reset. Nothing fussy, only FUN! My goal was to make something fresh, springy and enjoyable to make!
If you’re anything like me, you have at least a few (or many) fat quarters in your stash or an FQ bundle sitting on your shelf just waiting for the perfect project! Or maybe you have leftover fabrics from other quilt projects that you’d love to put to good use.
If so, Paint Lake is the perfect pattern for you because the throw size uses 18 FQs!
See my other Paint Lake versions here!
I also made this quilt during a crazy string of Manitoba blizzards, which helped me feel warm and fuzzy - and dream of flowers!
My guiding principle for the last few months has been to make and do whatever makes me HAPPY! This rule also applies when choosing colours. I usually just have to pause for a minute and my brain will say “YUP! These make me happy!” Sometimes I don’t even know why, but I run with it.
This might seem like a silly or insignificant thing, but it has been a monumental shift in the way I work on a day-to-day basis!
It’s 5/5 stars.
I highly recommend it.
For this quilt, I used the following Kona colours because…you guessed it! The combination of them all together made me outrageously happy!
- Banana
- Caramel
- Ochre
- Salmon
- Peach
- Ice Peach
- Raisin
- Plum
- Violet
- Navy
- Windsor
- Cadet
- Sage
- Teal Blue
- Seafoam
- Kelly
- Old Green
- Spruce
For the backing, I used Meadow in Green from the Figo Fabrics Martha Collection.
Andrea Patton, who designed the Martha Collection and owns Cottoneer Fabrics in California, was actually the very first shop to collaborate with me four and a half years ago when I released the Spruce Woods Quilt pattern! She made a bundle in her shop that matched the cover quilt and we partnered for a giveaway.
So, when I saw that she was releasing her first fabric collection, I immediately placed an order for practically the whole collection!
The quilt top was up on my design wall when the Martha fabric arrived in the mail. I took a quick cell phone picture (below) and immediately texted it to my friend Jennifer of Penelope Handmade. We both agreed that it was absolutely a serendipitous match made in heaven!
I tried something a little different for the machine quilting this time. I quilted an “S” shape throughout, using 50wt Aurifil Thread in Natural White.
I marked the first line across the very centre of the quilt using a Hera Marker (Canadians, click here). I made a few reference points and then just free-handed the curve. I quilted the first line following my marked line. From there, I quilted lines with 3/4" spacing and used the guide bar (Canadians, click here) on my walking foot to follow the previously stitched line I had just made - and continued working my way out from the centre.
I really felt like this quilting brought some unique movement to the quilt! Speaking of movement, can you tell how windy it was the day we took these pictures?!
I used Caramel for the binding and hand sewed it using 28wt Aurifil Thread in Natural White.
For the finishing touch, I hand sewed on this custom engraved, faux leather quilt label gifted to me from GrainDeep! And I am IN LOVE. Isn’t it the most beautiful label you’ve ever seen?
I loved this quilt and these colours SO much, that I had some more fun playing around with them and made a mockup of a Rockwood Quilt using the exact same palette! This might just have to be the next “quilt palette cleanser” I try!
If you decide to make your own version of the Paint Lake Quilt, please make sure to use the hashtags #paintlakequilt and #blanketstatementpatterns so that I can see your lovely creation!
Have questions about this pattern or any other ones in the shop? Please reach out to hello@theblanketstatement.ca and we’ll help you out!
