Modern Blossom Quilt

Just over four years ago I travelled with a group of friends to the country to see an exhibition on the history of Marimekko. It was a fabulous exhibition and it is where I first got my idea for the Modern Blossom Quilt. I loved the Unikko fabric and wanted to recreate the design in a quilt.

On the 21st of June 2019, I received the prototype of the templates for the pattern that I had made for the design. My original plan was to stick with very classic Marimekko colours, so I made a few test blocks in those colours.

I was ready to start but unfortunately my youngest daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumour on the 28th of June 2019. The next 6 months were a roller coaster, subsequently I was unable to work at all for that time. Thankfully her health turned the corner and I was able to start back at work in January of 2020. So many projects to catch up on, this one was shelved until April, but then I was ready to make a start.

I received a package of the ‘A Day in Paris’ range by Moda and decided it would make a perfect babies quilt, especially as we are expecting our first grand daughter in October. I think this design lends itself perfectly to a baby quilt. Each flower block is 24″ square so the baby quilt finishes at around 50″square. The pattern is filled with diagrams including the correct way to iron the block so that the seams nest and the block lays flat, I think that is essential for this quilt. It is also important to trim the blocks back according to the instructions and diagrams in the pattern. I chose a flowery pantograph for this quit that mimicked the flower blocks.

These blocks are addictive and once I had finished this quilt I was lucky enough to receive a bundle of 30 X fat 1/8s from Riley Blake of the new fabric called Create by Kristy from Quietplay. These blocks can either be made scrappy from a selection of co-ordinating prints or made from the one fabric, the pattern gives fabric quantities for both. Because I had the selection of fat 1/8’s I made the blocks a scrappy combination of these fabrics.

There are so many methods of sewing curves, I have tried quite a few different ways but have settled on a method whereby I pin the ends of the curves with two pins and then one pin in the centre of the curve, it works well for me.

I also made a quick cushion using the flower block too. The block finishes at 24″ so I added a 2 1/2″ border all the way around for a European Cushion. For this block I used one fabric for the petals and one fabric for the circles. There are directions on the fabric requirements for a block using one fabric in the pattern as well.

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As I said early, this quilt is definitely addictive and I am currently making one at the moment using co-ordinating grunge fabric and a selection of Anna Maria Horner fabric. It will be lap size, 9 flower blocks. Here is a few pics of some of the ones I have made. All I need to do is sash them and put a border on and then I can quilt it. I have been tossing up whether to custom quilt this one or do a quick edge to edge design. The more I think about it, the more I am leaning towards custom quilting, I think custom quilting will look fabulous on the grunge and I can do some straight-line quilting on the patterned fabric.

The pattern has instructions for a baby, lap and queen quilt. The flower blocks can be made using your stash of co-ordinating scraps or one fabric for each block, fabric requirements are outlined in the pattern for both.

16. Modern Blossom Pattern

16. Modern Blossom Template set

Update: I finished the lap size quilt and I love it, see the pic below.

I also did a tutorial on curved piecing on YouTube, this could help you if you are new to curved piecing.

I hope you love making this quilt as much as I do!