Patriotic Quilts. Either you want to make a million or you are like me and you have struggled to find something that inspired you enough to go for it. THIS quilt is literally the first patriotic quilt I have ever wanted to make. I LOOOOOOVE this pattern because it looks like an actual flag, but obviously modified to be a quilt. Today the Fat Quarter Shop is releasing the kits and the free pattern for this Stars Stripes and Dots quilt. It is so fast and easy and you will love making it just as much as I did.
I realized one of my issues with patriotic quilts is that I do not love the boldness of the red. I am not a red lover. When inspiration struck for this quilt, I knew it would be something I could possibly love enough to keep and use every summer.
I decided to use Essex linen for this top. I have never made a top completely out of linen. Before I get to the colors I used, which I know is why some of you are here, I thought I’d share my biggest tip for working with linen: keep track of the right and wrong sides of the fabric. If you do not do this, things get weird. I know from first hand experience. Others would say to starch, I didn’t and things worked out great! I use lots of steam and lots of heat, even with linen. The pattern calls for triangles on a roll, but I decided to make the triangles and trim using my Bloc Loc and it worked out great.
Here are the colors of essex I used for this quilt:
I really hope if you choose to make this that you will tag me @heritage.threads on instagram so I can see your quilt come together. It will become a family favorite for picnics, fireworks, and parades for years to come.
For the blog post containing the FREE pattern and kit options, here are the links for you:
This really is so much fun! I had guessed correctly in your Essex colors. I have made two giant full linen (pieced fronts and backs) quilts. They are heavy as all get out, I hated the fraying, but LOVE the finished quilts! Thanks for the inspiration to do another one!