A Guide to Using Gradients for the Northerly Quilt Pattern

Play with Savvy Color Choices and Placement to Give the Northerly Quilt the Appearance of a Star or a Snowflake!

Hi, quilty friends! You've found it! The perfect quilt design that lets you make a star or snowflake motif with just one pattern! How? Gradients!

The Northerly quilt pattern's main motif can be whatever you want it to be. Do you see a star shining in the night sky? Or do you imagine a delicate snowflake flurrying around on a winter day?

With 2 versions, the Northerly quilt pattern offers seemingly endless design options. With so many choices, it's sometimes hard to know where to start. Read on and I'll guide you through different ways to achieve a variety of looks using gradients and provide lots of mockups as inspiration along the way. Now, the only thing left for you to decide is: are you're team star or team snowflake.

Northerly Overview

• The Northerly quilt was inspired by the brilliance of the North Star shining in the night...can you tell I'm team star?

• It comes in 3 sizes: Mini, Throw, Twin.

• It's available in 2 colorway options.

• You can find the pattern here.

Twin size Northerly quilt, cover colorway, made using Art Gallery Fabrics in evergreen, zambia stone, spruce, ocean fog, and creme de la creme.

Three Design Elements

Let's jump right in! When making the Northerly quilt, there are 3 things that can affect the overall look of the design.

• Version selection

• Fabric color selection

• Fabric placement

  
  

First, I'll explain what they are, then I'll explain how they each play a role in how the final design looks and provide examples of how to achieve the different looks.

The Two Versions

First, select which version you want to make.

• Cover Version: uses 4 accent colors + a background fabric (BG)

• 9-Color Version: uses 8 accent colors + a background fabric (BG)

If you like a more uniform look, the cover version would be a good choice. If you like tend to like more color in your quilts, then the 9-color version would be the way to go.

Fabric Color Selection

I find that the Northerly quilt lends itself really well to showcasing gradients. There are so many options for this too! Dark to light. Light to dark. One color to another color, and so on.

In quilting, a "gradient" refers to a design where colors smoothly transition from one shade to another, creating a gradual blending effect, often resembling an ombre look, where the colors gradually change from light to dark across a quilt block or the entire quilt top.

Gradient from light to dark.

Should I Use Gradients?

• Aesthetic Appeal: Gradients create a visually stunning effect, adding depth and dimension to a quilt.

• Color Transition: They allow for smooth transitions between colors, enhancing the overall design.

• Depth and Texture: Using gradients can give the illusion of texture and movement, making the quilt more dynamic.

• Versatility: Gradients can be incorporated into various quilt patterns, from modern to traditional styles.

  
  

Tips for Successful Gradient Quilting

• Test Swatches: Before committing to your design, create swatches to see how the colors blend together.

• Lighting Consideration: View your fabrics in different lighting to ensure the colors work well together in various conditions.

• Balance: Ensure that the gradient is balanced throughout the quilt to avoid any abrupt color changes that might disrupt the flow....unless you're not going for balance, in which case, proceed with gusto.

Color Wheel

Using a color wheel can be a great resource when you're needing color palette ideas to use. There are monotone colors, complimentary colors, triadic colors, etc....all that to say, you can take a deep dive into color theory or you can pick the colors that speak to you. I wholeheartedly support both of these methods! Do what works for you, there's no right or wrong!

If you did want to explore more about color theory and play with a fun tool that can help you narrow down a color palette, here is a great resource.

Color Wheel

Color Placement: A Key Ingredient

Strategic color placement can help to bring life into your Northerly quilt. Carefully positioning darker colors can introduce depth and contrast, while lighter shades can offer an airy, light feel.

For those who appreciate bold designs, try a high-contrast arrangement where dark fabrics meet vibrant hues for a striking effect. For instance, combining navy blue with bright golds can create a radiant burst of color. Alternatively, a monochromatic scheme with variations of a single color can result in a sophisticated elegance. Each arrangement tells a unique story!

Customizing Your Style

Now that we've discussed the 3 design factors to consider when making your Northerly quilt (version choice, color choice, and color placement), it's time to explore some mockups to see how each of these factors interact together to affect the final design.

• I think the 1st row of mockups below resemble a star because of how the lighter parts of the gradient give a somewhat glowing effect.

• I also think the 2nd and 6th rows of mockups look most like snowflakes to me because they're monochrome and maybe have a bit of a faire isle flair, which makes me think winter and thus snowflakes.

Color Your Own Northerly Quilt!

Now that you have some ideas for your own Northerly quilt, try them out on Prequilt, a free quilt mockup tool. All of the sizes and colorways for Northerly are uploaded.

To access Prequilt:

• Click this Prequilt Link, which will take you to the coloring page for the Cover Version, Twin Size.

• Next, you can choose different solid fabrics from different manufacturers from the drop down menu in the upper left and those colors will automatically populate and color the quilt. You can also save and download the mockup you colored along with the fabrics you used.

• If you want to color a different colorway or different size, you can click "Designer" in the upper left corner and then the red link below to be taken to other quilts that you're able

• to color.

• From here choose any of my patterns you'd like to color!

And that's it! You're well on your way to making your Northerly Quilt!

Completed Northerly quilt showcasing the cover version, monotone color choice, and light to dark gradient color placement.

Creative Quilting Awaits

The Northerly quilt pattern is more than just a project; it’s a way to broaden your creativity and explore endless design possibilities. With two engaging colorway options and your individual flair, this pattern allows you to really showcase your own sense of style!

So, gather your fabrics, power up your sewing machine, and let your creativity take over as you explore the versatility of the Northerly Quilt Pattern.

Happy sewing, and I hope you have a heck of a great day!

Snag Your Own Northerly Quilt Pattern

Northerly Quilt Pattern - Digital PDF Download

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