Quilting and sewing are great ways to personalize your home. 

When I first started sewing I made things like seasonal banners and costumes for my girls. My skills have improved over the years, but I'm still inspired to create special things for my home and to give as gifts. Sometimes it's so hard to believe that something as simple and natural as cotton can be so splendid! 

The things I treasure most in my home can't readily be purchased at a big box store, like the Fostoria cake plate that has been passed down in the family and the generational Christmas cactus that has miraculously survived at my house now for 4 years. The things I have made, like quilts that we use daily, add to the unique character of our house and are part of what make it feel like home.

A lot of my sewing focus is on quilting now, even though I still love to dabble in other sewing adventures.  I really love the process and creativity that quilting offers. There are so many ways to customize quilts and projects to make something really special. 

The Encore Quilt 

Last year I had a lot of fun designing a quilt pattern called the Encore Quilt. 

My lovely fall asters were the inspiration for my fabric pull. This quilt is a staple on our sofa. At 60 x 75 inches, it's large enough to really snuggle up with and the soft Quilter's Dream wool batting doesn't crease so it always looks fluffy and fresh.

The cover quilt fabrics are Cotton Couture solids by Michael Miller paired with fussy cut center fabric blocks called Changing Sky from the Summer's End collection by Alison Jansen for Figo Fabrics. 

Vintage Two-Color Quilts

You've probably seen all kinds of lovely vintage quilts, or maybe you are lucky enough to have one in your own home that you treasure. There are several Instagram accounts dedicated to sourcing and selling vintage quilts. Check out @Stitchedandfound and @Heritagehousequilts on Instagram if you'd like to see examples of vintage quilts. I have certainly been inspired by the longevity, functionality and simple beauty of vintage quilts.

Many vintage quilts are made with white fabric, paired with a second color. I love this simple look and started to realize how versatile a two-color quilt would be. I decided to update my own pattern by exploring two-color options.

Two-Color Encore Quilt Pattern

I decided to use two shades of the same color to pump up the energy of the design, instead of the traditional white commonly found in vintage two-color quilts. I think this change gives a bit of modern energy to the Encore Quilt pattern.

It's no surprise that I selected shades of green. Green is having a moment in home décor, from painted cabinets and wall color, to lush house plants. You can’t go wrong with green! It's earthy, soothing and is a great fit for current decorating trends.

Have you thought about making a two-color quilt?

Read on to find out why a two-color quilt might have a place in your home.

Two-color quilts extend your decorating options.

• Solid fabric two-color quilts are great on the end of any bed! Choose bold primary colors for a child’s room where color spills out from Legos, and classic children’s books. Consider a quilt in school colors as a special gift for a new college student. Consider a quilt in seasonal colors to freshen up a bedroom for the holidays. 

• Quilts aren't only for bedrooms. So many quilts find their lives lived on a sofa. If quilts could talk, they would be rattling off movie quotes from the silver screen’s best! A quilt made in shades of green, like this two-color Encore quilt, is a versatile choice throughout the change in seasons. Use it in the spring, where green symbolizes growth and renewal all the way up through the holidays, where this quilt would be a lovely addition to your sofa, perfect for snuggling up to watch your favorite movie.

• Modern farmhouse décor will absolutely vibe with a vintage looking two-color quilt on the back of a favorite chair or in a porch swing. Consider a bold red and white quilt. Red and white quilts are like a jean jacket or lived in flannel shirt; they go with everything and get better with age! Consider a gray and white quilt with clean lines for a contemporary look. A subtle quilt in these shades would be the perfect accessory for a modern home. There’s a two-color quilt option for all types of home décor styles. The quilt design you choose to reflect your home’s style is equally important as the colors you select.

Check out this black and white mock up of the Encore Quilt! 

 

Don’t forget about quilts outside the home.

• There are picnics and parades and football games to attend, and your quilts are begging to go with you! They will keep you warm, free from chiggers, and be the perfect photo accessory. These are very photographable events where a two-color quilt does what it does best….be the perfect accessory that adds texture and dimension to your photos all while being beautifully functional. 

• Speaking of photographs, a lovely two-color quilt just might be the perfect item for a family photoshoot. You never know, in 25 more years that same quilt may show up in the next generation’s Christmas card photo. How sweet would that be?

What two-color quilt would you love to see in your home?

If you'd like a specific color mock up of the Encore Quilt, contact me. I'd love to work one up for you! 

Head to CottonSplendor.com to find out more about the Encore Quilt and what's new on my cutting table. 

Happy stitching. Whatever you do, make it splendid! 

Jen- Cotton Splendor