Beautiful Color: Deciphering Color with AI

In this stunning quilt by Jo Wollschaeger, every circle is pieced, starting with darker, target circles and ending with the very lightest and smallest circles. The mood is vibrant, modern, playful, and surprisingly balanced. It turns out that AI is really good at deciphering this color scheme; read on for details!. 

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Surfacing by Jo Wollschlaeger (Portland, Oregon) @jowoquilts  

This is a split-complementary color scheme (with a strong emphasis on the yellow side). The quilt artist (Jo Wollschlaeger) used the split-complementary structure very effectively here — it’s bold without being chaotic.

Note that the quilting design is a grid that contrasts with the more organic layout of the circles. The lightest, smallest circles are less densely quilted; they come forward to create more dimension and texture.

It turns out that AI is really good at analyzing color schemes.  Here's what Grok.com has to say:

Split complements: Instead of using yellow’s direct complement (violet/purple), the design uses the two colors on either side of violet: Teal/ turquoise (blue-green side) and deep maroon/burgundy (red-magenta side).  This creates the classic “split” — you get strong contrast and visual pop without the harsher vibration that a straight yellow-purple pairing can sometimes produce.

Why it feels so harmonious yet energetic: The yellow + teal pairing gives a fresh, tropical, high-energy vibe. The maroon anchors it, adding depth and preventing the scheme from feeling too “sweet” or juvenile. The overlapping circles and the dark teal/navy background further unify everything by letting the three main hues breathe while maintaining excellent contrast. 

It’s triadic in a loose sense (three main hues roughly 120° apart), but the yellow is so dominant that split-complementary is the most accurate label. Analogous undertones exist within the teal-to-lime range, which softens the overall effect.

Would you like hex code approximations for the main colors?  It turns out Grok can do this as well!

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 QuiltCon show in Phoenix, Arizona. 

Improvisational piecing: Round Trip!

Today's featured quilt was inspired by the quarter circle or drunkard's path shapes. Seen another way, these resemble three-quarters Dresden wheels.  We love the complimentary colors and improvisational piecing! Also scroll down for two FREE patterns for Dresden wheel quilts.

Round Trip by Mary Landon (Florida) @addictedtofabric 

Mary Landon says she began piecing these blocks improvisationally, but then switched to newspaper foundations. She says, [I'm] "still trying to use up scraps, this time green, pink and blue."   The background was improvisationally pieced as well.The techniques used include machine piecing, improvisational piecing, and machine quilting on a longarm. 

Photos of Round Trip by Mary Landon were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 QuiltCon show.  For similar (but conventionally-pieced) designs, check out the FREE patterns below!

Four Eyes quilt, free pattern by Tamara Kate for Michael Miller Fabrics  (CLICK for PDF download!) 

Round Robin quilt, free pattern by Natalie Crabtree for Michael Miller Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download!) 

 

Modern Solids

Modern quilting often starts with solid color fabrics! These clean, unfussy designs emphasize line and shape rather than texture.  Here's a fun quilt that echoes modern designs from the 1960s.

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Psychedelic by Kate Henderson @katehendersonquilts (Bridgetown, Western Australia) 

Kate Henderson says, "I was originally going to make this quilt with just two colors.  I gradually added colors as I played arund with the design and ended up making it with 12 solid fabrics. It was straight line quilted on my domestic machine.  I love the way all the triangles come together to create a psychedelic effect."  It was foundation paper pieced and machine quilted without a frame.  

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 QuiltCon show.

A View from Above

Today's featured quilt illustrates the magic of optical illusions combined with solid color fabrics. This is modern quilting at its best!

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Sky Top 3 by Nancy Lambert (Greensboro, Georgia)

Various circular shapes are fit into the landscape to depict the environment and have an optical illusion of a sphere.  Both variations of color intensity and hue are used to creat the illusion.  Sky Top 2 is machine pieced and machine quilted without a frame.

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 QuiltCon show.

Transparency Quilts: 5 FREE patterns!

 Here are 5 of our favorite FREE patterns for transparency quilts! The fabric selection gives the illusion of seeing through a sheer curtain to the design beyond.  Download your favorite patterns today!

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De Novo quilt, 60 x 75", free pattern by Stephanie Sheridan for Benartex (CLICK for PDF download)

Color Wash Transparency quilt, 40 x 60", free pattern by Modern Quilt Studio for Benartex (CLICK for PDF download)

 

 Waves quilt, 56 x 68", free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

 

Woven Radiance quilt, 77 x 95", free pattern at Free Spirit Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

Transparency Crossing quilt, 50" square, free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

 

FREE pattern: Spinning Top!

Here's a FREE pattern from Tilda's World that looks bold and modern but is really easy and quick to sew. It is made up of wide strips of bright solid colors against two paler background colors in warm or cool shades. The quilting really dresses up the design!  Download the PDF today.

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Spinning Top quilt, ~64 x 82", free pattern at Tilda's World  (CLICK for PDF - cool) -or- (CLICK for PDF - warm) 

 

 

An asymmetrical look is produced by rotating one-half of the design 180 degrees vertically, to create the illusion of the much-loved spinning top children’s toy (see how the teal color strip, for example, appears in the lower right on the right hand side, and in the upper left on the left hand side? Very clever!)

 

 

Voyage: FREE pattern!

"Kona Quarterlies" refers to the free quarterly quilt patterns released by Robert Kaufman Fabrics for their popular Kona® Cotton Solids line.  If you love blue, this FREE pattern may be for you! 

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Voyage, 57 x 66", FREE pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

"Voyage" uses 16 different Kona cottons (including white) and a simple layout that gives a wonderful optical effect, like moving from the deep blue ocean into the light.  For complete instructions, DOWNLOAD the PDF today!

 

 

Highlights of Quilt Arizona! (3)

The annual Quilt Arizona show is a highlight of spring!  Here are some great quilts from this year's show (part three of 4)!

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Here Comes the Night Shift, made and quilted by Gabrielle Ryan  

A female Thorn Moth awakens and says, "Here comes the night shift!" Gabrielle Ryan says, "Moths are overlooked as pollinators because they are nocturnal.  But their contribution to pollination is critical - they are excellent pollinators.  They outnumber butterflies ten to one and travel long distances, unlike butterflies." 

Winner of an Award of Merit for Outstanding Achievement in Quiltmaking by NACQJ, plus 2nd Place in the Pictorial - Small category, this art quilt was based on a photo by Ukrainian photographer Oleksii Kriachko (used with permission.)  

detail, Here Comes the Night Shift

Freedom Cactus, made and quilted by Kim James  

The word FREEDOM is quilted above the cactus in this miniature quilt, reflecting the quilt show theme, Let Freedom Ring! Kim James says, "My daughter inspired this piece as she has a cactus theme in her home and her pursuit of education has afforded her FREEDOM and independence... this quilt is a tribute to her journey and the vibrant life she has built."  This dynamic little quilt was based on the Cactus Specimen pattern by Swan Sheridan. 

Making Memories Road Trip Quilt, made and quilted by Francine Taylor  

Based on a Capturing Memories Road Trip design by Pride & Joy Quilting, Francine Taylor says this quilt was taught in a Sewtopia Retreat class in 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.  "Veruschka Zarate makes excellent patterns and this is no exception. I love the Arizona landscape. The colors adequately and beautifully depict the desert landscape."

Windows Into Color by Judy Locke, quilted by Penny Boese  

This stunning modern quilt was inspired by a paper pieced block used in The Bachelor pattern in Paper Pieced Modern by Amy Garro (2015).  Judy Locke utilized her own setting and five different color groups for the blocks, one color group per block. The background fabric is used again in each of the five blocks to separate the colors; this also added dimensionality to the quilt.  The outstanding quilting by Penny Boese is done in different colors and designs, shown below.

detail, Windows Into Color

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2026 Quilt Arizona show.

Checks Mix quilt (FREE pattern!)

Check out this easy modern quilt by Jaclyn Salem! We love the bold colors and the clever transparency effect. The PDF download even includes a coloring sheet for you to experiment with your own palette. And scroll down for 30 more FREE patterns for easy modern quilts!

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Checks Mix quilt, 39″ x 48, by Jaclyn Salem for We All Sew (CLICK for PDF download)

For dozens of Easy Modern quilt patterns, check out our Free Pattern Days (CLICK HERE FOR PART 1 and CLICK HERE FOR PART 2!)

 

 

 

Image credits and links:  The photo of Checks Mix quilt is by Jaclyn Salem / Bernina. Please respect any restrictions placed on the use of the pattern as outlined in the download.  The montages of free patterns are by Quilt Inspiration.  If any links are broken, let us know; email us at quiltinspiration {at} gmail {dot} com.
 

 

Shock Wave

Colorful shapes zig zag around this dynamic quilt! Linda Engstrom included so many fun prints, including the black and white background fabrics and the bright warm hues. We spotted some Kaffe Fassett classics in some of the blocks.

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Shock Wave by Linda Engstrom, quilted by Jessica Dickinson.  

This colorful quilt is based in a published design, titled Fracture, which can be found in the book titled Making Quilts with Kathy Doughty.  Linda Engstrom says, "Playing with color and fabric pattern provided the inspiration for using this dynamic design." This design offers nearly infinite possibilities!

 Here's the original Fractured design by Kathy Doughty:

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Image credits: Photos of Shock Wave were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Quilt Arizona show.

Intertwine Ocean (FREE pattern!)

We love the clean look of solid color quilts!  Robert Kaufman offers Kona Cottons in hundreds of colors, supporting the modern quilt revolution. Here is a 3-color "rail fence" variation in which some of the "rails" are omitted, creating areas of negative space.

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Intertwine Ocean, made and quilted by Pat Morris  

Pat Morris says that she wanted to make a modern quilt with lots of negative space.  "I used Kona Cotton solid fabrics which is a 'first' for me."  She machine quilted it on her Bernina domestic machine, using wavy lines and circles to complement the "Ocean" theme. 

 If you are interested in this design, you can download a FREE pattern by Elise Lea, including fabric requirements for different color combinations (CLICK for PDF download)!

 Image credits: Photos of Intertwine Ocean by Pat Morris were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Tucson Quilters Guild show.

The Quilts of Russell Barratt

Russell Barratt, a London textile artist, uses secondhand fabrics and repurposed used clothing to make quilted artworks that are colorful, bold and expressive. We were so excited to see several of his works at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts!

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Timeline/Tempus Fugit (2021) by Russell Barratt (London, UK)

Russell Barratt's work is often inspired by memories of domestic life. The hues of the Nescafe advertisement are echoed in this modern hand-quilted composition. Notice the pants leg with its pocket placed horizontally at the top of the piece, above. It's fascinating to contemplate the selection of fabrics and how they are combined to create this contemporary piece. 

 Oh My Giddy Aunt! (2023) by Russell Barratt

Fitting the exhibit's theme of Wit/Whimsy, the title of this quilt - "Oh My Giddy Aunt" - is a British expression used to convey surprise, shock, or exasperation. It's a playful, old-fashioned exclamation, often used humorously to avoid stronger language.

The centerpiece of the quilt is a recycled shirt with the main parts removed, leaving just the seams, collar, and placket with buttons. We love the texture that is added by hand quilting stitches.  

Selfie (2020) by Russell Barratt  

Russell Barratt says that recycling is key to his practice.  There is so much to see here! The fronts of two shirts were used here, a baseball shirt and - to the right and underneath that - a more formal buttondown shirt, complete with buttons, and a digital fabric print of bananas. Additional touches include the cartoon panel used in the right border, and the giant polka dots that overlay the piece.  Scroll down for closeup photos! 

 

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the Wit/Whimsy exhibit at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts in July, 2025.

Wit/Whim at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts (1)

During a recent trip to the Midwest we traveled through rolling hills and acres of corn, arriving (at last) at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts. The landscape and 1850s-era barn is part of the charm. We were blown away by this little museum!

The museum hosts exhibits of artists ranging from traditional to contemporary techniques. The current exhibit, Wit/Whim, explores the themes of play, family, and a sense of belonging, inviting visitors to examine the intricate ways these concepts intersect and influence our lives.

Lost and Fun (2024) by Émilie Trahan (Quebec, Canada)  

This large contemporary quilt really stands out against the weathered wood of the barn.  Émilie Trahan is known for her improvisational modern quilts inspired by nature and the world around her. Made with recycled cottons, Lost and Fun is an exploration of bright colors, shapes, and movement. There are fascinating juxtapositions of line and shape everywhere you look!

Gift Baskets (2021), assembled and quilted by Susie Brandt   

Finished and submitted by Susie Brandt, a faculty member of the Fiber Art Department at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Gift Baskets features hand- and machine-stitched basket blocks by multiple artists.*  

By way of history: Susie Brandt first formed a raffle quilt group at MICA in 2015 including MICA students, staff, and faculty. When the pandemic forced the group into isolation, they resumed their weekly meetings over Zoom. Word spread and more people from around the US joined the group from all walks of life. The finished works reflect their conversations about many subjects including society and culture, art, hope and gratitude, grief and joy. 

25,000 Moments (That Made Me Me), 2022-23, by Will Grimm (Pennsylvania)

This amazing work consists of 25,000 1-inch squares that were hand-sewn together over the course of Grimm's 25th year of life.  Moreover, it is constructed entirely from hand-dyed fabrics! Grimm used natural and synthetic dyes, indigo, rust, screen printing, block printing, and digital printing to create this stunning tapestry of vibrant colors and patterns.  

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Will Grimm began sewing at a young age under the guidance of his grandmother. He earned a BFA in Fiber from the Maryland Institute of College of Art in 2019, and is currently pursuing a MFA at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture. 

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration with permission at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts. *Gift Baskets is by artists Tobyanne Suyemoto, Sarah Barnes, Marla Parker, Sharone Conteh-Morgan, Susie Brandt, Dr. Denise Bailey-Jones, Audrey Naiva, Glenda Richardson, Andrea Dixon, Dr. Leslie King-Hammond, Betty Racicot, Erika Carruth, Jane Khattak, Rosalind Robinson, Ursula Populoh, Nina Bova, Julia Racicot, Dr. Lowrey Sims, Will Grimm, JoAnn Dixon, Rodette Jones, Robin King, Susan Tuberville, Valeska Populoh, Sarah Barnes.