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16-patches and X-blocks in a quilt surface.

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Last autumn, I decided to make two different projects that would feature hundreds of 2,5-inch squares. The first one has already been quilted, and I should only label, trim, and bind it. In this post, I’ll tell you more about the second one. Both projects launched in September 2025. For this one, I made a test block of 16 squares and one half of the needed X block: That is how far this project progressed until the end of December. The first project was almost done and I needed to review the situation. I had quite a few 16-blocks left over: And I also wanted to make more, using a different design. The blocks in the other project always had four same-hued squares running from corner to corner. In the new project, I wanted the 16-patches to be more random. As soon as I had a few complete blocks done, I made a small composition on the floor – just to see how the blocks might look together: Soon, I had a few more blocks, and wanted to set up a “mini quilt” with the intended design....
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Splendid colour tips for quilting: Orange in quilts

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When you know the importance of value contrast in a quilt, the next step is to think about colours and colour contrast. In this post, I share my thoughts on orange as a colour in quilts. I’ll share tips on what to watch out for and on how to consciously use the orange colour for effect. In colour psychology, orange represents friendliness, excitement, and creativity. It can spark people into action. You have probably noticed that the ”buy” and ”subscribe” buttons on websites are orange – and it is exactly because orange is more likely to make you click. What to beware when using orange in a quilt? Orange is a high-visibility colour, and it attracts attention. Orange and blue are colour opposites: a pure orange (a product of red and yellow) and pure blue have no common colour base. A vivid orange and blue will be likely to give a glaring effect when placed next to each other. On a quilt surface, placing yellows or reds next to oranges will not necessarily create value contras...
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Why value contrast matters more than you think in quilting

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What is most important in quilting? Is it the design, the fabrics, straight/curved/matching seams? Or is it most important that one’s quilt looks unique – or just like the model in the pattern? All of the above may be important to you, but when you get the basics right in quilt construction, one more thing is key. It is important to have proper value contrast in your quilt. What makes a quilt work visually? Your quilt colours will look better when you consider value contrast before you think whether your fabrics match. I’ve learned this from my quilting idol Timna Tarr: ”Value does the work, colour gets the credit”. If there is only one thing to remember, it is this: value contrast determines whether a pattern in a quilt or quilt block can be seen at all. When colour isn't enough When I first started quilting, I did not understand the importance of value contrast. I had carefully planned a design and purchased fabrics that matched the colours of the ...
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First make of the year: Quiddity zipper bag

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If you’ve been following my work for a while, you’ll know that I like to share my own quilted makes in Tilkunviilaaja’s Instagram. It’s a pleasure to share more details of their stories here as well. The most recent finish is a zipper bag which I named Quiddity (or Olemus in Finnish). It is also the first zipper pouch that I’ve sewn this year. A milestone! I put together the surfaces quickly, to have a project for an upcoming quilting day with friends whom I first got to know in social media – through their blogs or Instagram accounts. And because I wanted a quick make, I just took whatever fabrics that I found on or at arm’s length from my sewing table and made “scrap-in-a-box” squares. The squares end up being of different sizes, but I trim them so that several of them are of the same width or length. Then they can be sewn together as columns (or as rows), to make a surface that is of suitable size for a zipper bag. I’ll have to share an image of another project to show you...
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Five colour terms that matter in quilting

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Deciding on the colours to use for your quilt is sometimes difficult. The first step to colour confidence is to be fluent enough in a few basic colour-related terms. In this post, I share a few insights on words that we use when discussing colour. If they are new to you, this is a good starting point. And if you know the terms already, you may enjoy my examples! The five basic colour-related terms that are most important for a quilter to know are  Colour Saturation Value Contrast Achromatic colours. 1. Colour  Colour refers to the generic name: red, blue, yellow. This image shows a playful array of colours: I created the piece at a whim and turned it promptly into one side of a bag that I named “Rainbow Compass”. 2. Saturation Saturation means how intensive we see a colour: whether it is strong or bright, or subdued or soft. The blocks in the following image feature saturated colours: especially the purples are intense. 3. Value Value refers to how dark or light we see ...
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