Granny Patch Quilt Pattern - The Cherry Blossom Version
We’re knee-deep in summer, but today I’m sharing a perfectly spring-y project…which just so happens to be my latest Granny Patch quilt!
The original Granny Patch
The Granny Patch quilt pattern launched in spring 2023, making it three years old this year! I was inspired by vintage crocheted granny square blankets, and I tried to really lean into that aesthetic with the 60s-inspired Cover quilt and all its browns and pinks and purples.
I kept up the decades-inspired palettes with three more quilts: the 70s velvet, 80s party, and the 90s version. But Granny Patch works with all kinds of colors, from the gray blues and oranges of my Campfire Granny patch quilts (in baby size and large throw) to the pinks and greens of my Heirloom bundle version.
As you can probably tell, I’ve had a lot of fun sewing up Granny Patch over and over again…seven samples in three years! The pattern uses strip piecing, which makes Granny Patch a surprisingly quick and satisfying sew, and it’s both yardage and fat quarter friendly, which makes it easy to create a fabric pull.
So earlier this year, toward the end of winter, I was craving a bright and cheery springtime project…and Granny Patch seemed like the perfect pick!
My Cherry Blossom Granny Patch quilt
I made the large throw size, which finishes at 56” x 74”, and takes 12 fat quarters or quarter-yard cuts…like I used here!
FABRICS
Before I tell you the fabric names, I wanted to share a little about our sample quilt design process. Most new quilts (but not all) are a riff on an existing quilt that we’ve made in this past….maybe a similar color palette in a different design, or maybe a few tweaks to the palette, or sometimes just a similar formula in terms of contrasts and values (but with different colors).
This quilt is definitely one of those riffs! While it might not be obvious at first glance, the Cherry Blossom color palette was inspired by the Campfire color palette…at least when it came to contrast and values. The Granny Patch quilt pattern needs a lot of contrast so you can see the different blocks, so if you have a lighter background color (like the Campfire quilt did), you need mostly darker fabrics for the foreground. We took that Campfire value formula (light background with a mostly darker foreground) and played with the hues to create the Cherry Blossom version.
As you can probably tell, though, the colors themselves were inspired by all things spring! I wanted greens and pinks that would give a fresh vibe.
I started with 3 yards of Crystal Pink (an Art Gallery Fabrics PURE Solid) for the background, and then for the foreground I used:
- Cactus Flower
- Coconut Milk
- Flamingo
- Fresh Aloe
- Grapefruit
- Miami Sunset
- Patina
- Pistachio Creme
- Quartz Pink
- Rosemary
- Snow
- Springtide
You know how I said this quilt was a riff on Campfire Granny Patch? Well it wasn't long before I riffed on this Cherry Blossom quilt! In fact, the overall palette might look pretty familiar…because while this quilt was designed first, Sprout Pansy Patch came along soon afterward, heavily inspired by the Cherry Blossom palette!
There’s some crossover with the specific fabrics (both use Fresh Aloe, Miami Sunset, and Rosemary), and they both have plenty of pretty pinks and greens. I like to think of them as springtime sister quilts.
Anyway, this version of Granny Patch is so fresh and delicate, with a totally different feel than the decades-inspired versions I made at launch time. It’s such a cheerful colorway, and I love how it came together…which is why we have Cherry Blossom quilt kits in the shop!
📝 |
Pressing directions
|
BACKING, QUILTING, AND BINDING
Sometimes it takes a while to find the right quilt backing, and other times you know right away. Lucky for me, this was the second kind! Even before I’d finished my quilt top, I reached for Lattice Embrace (from AGF Studio’s THE CUR8TOR - Romantica collection).
I like how it looks bright, cheery and sweet…like it echoes the vibes of the quilt top without looking too matchy matchy. Plus, the lattice lines keep up the geometric feel of the Granny Patch pattern, while the diagonal angle adds a fun contrast and extra interest!
And speaking of diagonals, I picked the Argyle Loops panto by Melissa Kelley for the quilting. (Megan at Blue Ridge Quilt Co. did the lovely longarming.) I was actually inspired by the cross hatch quilting I did on the baby-sized Campfire Granny Patch…but this panto has a cute extra element, like little bows! It was perfect for this sweet springtime quilt.
For the binding, I used Flamingo (an AGF PURE Solid), one of the colors from the quilt top. It’s probably the boldest of the fabrics, which makes it perfect for framing the quilt.
So what do you think…did I get the fresh spring feel I was aiming for? I sure think so! I was excited about the quilt from the moment we mocked it up, and it just got better and better with each seam.
Make your own Granny Patch quilt
If you’re looking for a fun and clever project, Granny Patch is it! Thanks to the strip piecing, it takes less time than you’d think…and comes together in such a satisfying way!
I know some people worry about mixing and matching fabrics, which you do need to do for this pattern. Don’t worry, though: the pattern includes a link to a video that explains this step in detail (and I’ve gotten really nice feedback about how much it helps!).
In fact, the only thing you need to worry about is what fabrics you want to use for your own Granny Patch quilt...and I can help with that too!
QUILT KITS
You can find the Cherry Blossoms Granny Patch quilt kit in the Lo & Behold Stitchery shop…and you can choose to add the same backing and binding fabric I used!
We also regularly restock other Granny Patch kits. If you see a kit that is sold out, click the listing to sign up for a restock notification and we'll let you know when it's back in stock!
DESIGN YOUR OWN
Since Granny Patch is a fat quarter friendly pattern, you can also use any of our fabric bundles to make a unique Granny Patch quilt.
Or you can dream up your own fabric pull! We’ve put the Granny Patch pattern on PreQuilt (like a digital coloring page), so you can test out your fabrics and find the perfect combination.
However you make it, I’d love to see your take on Granny Patch! Tag me @loandbeholdstitchery with hashtag #loandbeholdpatterns so I can admire your work.
Happy quilting!
