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| Midnight Blooms Quilt |
An introduction to the Charm of the Midnight Blooms Quilt, a Kim Diehl Classic.
It's just comforting to have a Kim Diehl design. Kim is a quilting celebrity for her beautiful, rich, saturated fabric palette and her style for a warm, folk-art look.
The Midnight Blooms Quilt, created by Kim Diehl based on her favorite design, Late Bloomers, and available from AllPeopleQuilt.com, should be at the top of your project list if you're searching for a sweet, classic quilt with a topping that's downright whimsical.
Pattern Overview & Technical Specs
This is a fun project that creates a balance between geometric forms and floral forms, and can be used on the back of a cozy sofa or as a statement wall hanging. Here are the essential things to know before trying to pull start your sewing machine:
- Finished Size: 65 ½″ square (an ideal throw or accent quilt size).
- Techniques: Appropriate machine piecing and hand or machine appliqué.
- Skill Level: Intermediate (or an adventurous beginner who is ready to learn appliqué).
- Designed by Inspired by Kim Diehl's Late Bloomers, tested by Laura Boehnke for AllPeopleQuilt.
Midnight Blooms' appeal has two-fold. The patchwork blocks are structured and provide the quilt with grounding and precision; the appliqué flower designs bring curves, movement and a garden whimsy.
The Aesthetic: Making “Midnight” contrast
Kim Diehl's signature colorways—the moody eggplant, warm tan, cheddar yellow and deep mossy green—were featured in the original Late Bloomers quilt. With Midnight Blooms adapted, you can try out contrasting style!
To pop your blooms off the quilt top:
- Use a Dark Background: A dark midnight navy, rich slate or dark charcoal fabric will help create a dramatic “night garden” background effect and the appliqué will look like a bright spotlight.
- Add Saturated Florals: Add vibrant cranberry reds, warm golds, dusty lavenders and olive greens for flower shapes.
- Fabric plays a key role with this pattern, called Play with Scrap Variety. Use several shades of the same color to add dimension and the character of the scrap basket to the blocks.
The following tips can help you complete a mixed-technique quilt. Here are some tips for tackling mixed-technique quilts.
If you don't do a lot of piecing and appliqué, you might find it difficult but with a few simple tips it will be smooth sailing:
- Keep Your ¼” Seam Accurate: The layout framing the appliqué will be pieced, so if you need a block to be accurate, make sure to make the ¼” seam on the first cut accurate.
- Set Your Appliqué Technique: You can use made-edge needle turn by hand, wool felt overlay or fusible-web machine appliqué and go with the method that you love.
- Lift and press the iron, don't drag the iron across the fabric, when applying stems and complicated block joins: Press, Don't Iron. This will keep the bias edges from being stretched.
Final Thought
The Midnight Blooms Quilt is a tribute to old fashioned quilting. It makes us remember why we love the craft so much: taking small pieces of cotton, carefully stitching them together and seeing a glorious garden come alive before our eyes.
If you are looking for something to take your skills to the next level but still provide a nice, relaxed and rhythmic sew, grab your dark prints and floral bits and pieces! Your very own midnight garden awaits!
Full Pattern: Midnight Blooms Quilt Free PDF Pattern
