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| The photo above © Missouri Star Quilt Company |
Embark on a creative quilting adventure with the Moonlight Cafe quilt, featuring the Kona Cotton 2025 Color of the Year, Nocturn. This vibrant and easy-to-follow project is ideal for quilters of all levels and is designed to be friendly for 10-inch square fabric pieces. Let’s gather our materials and dive into this colorful journey!
Essential Materials
To craft the Moonlight Cafe quilt, you will need the following supplies:
- Kona Cotton 10-inch squares (1 package) in Nocturn, the Color of the Year
- Kona Cotton fabric in Valentine (pink)
- Kona Cotton fabric in Mediterranean (blue) - 2 ½ yards
- Background fabric - 3 5/8 yards
- Backing fabric - 5 yards of 45-inch wide fabric or 2 ½ yards of 108-inch wide fabric
These vibrant fabrics blend beautifully, creating a stunning quilt with a harmonious mix of pink and blue, resulting in a rich shade of purple.
Cutting Your Fabric Pieces
Start by preparing your fabric for assembly. Here’s how to cut your pieces:
- Cut the Nocturn fabric into 5-inch squares. Limit your stack to four layers for safety.
- From the pink fabric, cut two 5-inch strips.
- From the blue fabric, cut two 5-inch strips.
- For the background, cut one 5-inch strip, one 3-inch strip, and one 2 ½-inch strip.
This strategic cutting will streamline the sewing process and enhance efficiency.
Assembling the Quilt Blocks
With your pieces cut, it’s time to bring your quilt blocks together. Follow these steps:
- Create Sashing Segments: Sew a blue strip to a white background strip, then cut into 2 ½-inch segments to form your sashing segments.
- Snowballing Corners: Pair the pink 5-inch squares with the 3-inch squares. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the 3-inch squares, stitch along this line, trim the excess, and press the seam open. This technique adds a charming peak to your blocks.
- Block Layout: Arrange your blocks on a flat surface. Your layout should include the background fabric in the corners, with the pink and blue fabrics creating a colorful design in the center, enhanced by the Nocturn fabric.
Stitching the Blocks Together
Now it’s time to sew your blocks. Here’s how to do it:
- Chain Piecing: Stitch the blocks together row by row. This method is efficient and helps maintain accuracy.
- Connect Segments: Join the corner segments and sashing strips to complete each block. Ensure your seams are nested for a polished finish.
- Pressing: After stitching, press the seams flat for a smooth quilt that is easier to work with.
Final Assembly
Once all blocks are stitched, you will have a total of 16 blocks arranged in a 4 by 4 layout. The finished quilt will measure approximately 80 by 80 inches, making it perfect for snuggling or as a decorative centerpiece in your home.
Quilting and Finishing Touches
For the quilting, consider using a design that complements the geometric patterns, like the Athena quilting pattern, adding a contemporary flair to your Moonlight Cafe quilt.
Finally, use Nocturn as the backing fabric to unify your color scheme and enhance the overall aesthetic.
The Moonlight Cafe quilt is a delightful project that allows you to express your creativity using the Kona Cotton 2025 Color of the Year, Nocturn. Its vibrant colors and straightforward construction make it suitable for both beginner and experienced quilters.
We hope this guide inspires you to embark on your quilting journey. Share your creations and invite others to join our quilting community. Happy quilting!
