A new, beginner-friendly, and quick pattern is in the pattern shop! The Northern Sky quilt pattern is a modern quilt pattern combining the simplicity of strips with diamond accents. The Northern Sky 2.0 is an updated version of the original, Northern Sky quilt pattern. The new pattern is nearly identical to the original design, but the pattern is easier to follow and piece together.
Skill Level & Development
The Northern Sky quilt pattern is best for beginners who have had some sewing experience. The detailed instructions included in the pattern will guide even a brand-new quilter to a finished quilt, but some practice sewing would be beneficial. The sewing skills you will develop include sewing long strips together, making a half-square triangle at the end of a strip, and matching up points on half-square triangles. All of these skills are easily achievable for a novice and a breeze for an experienced quilter.
Pattern Inspiration
The inspiration for this quilt pattern can easily be found in its name. The Northern Sky quilt pattern is named for the night sky in Minnesota. Minnesota is one of the most northern states in the United States, giving this pattern its name, Northern Sky. One of my favorite things in the whole world is watching sunsets over the lake in northern Minnesota. During the summer, the sun very slowly fades and the light seems to linger for so long, even after the sun is down. The sky that the sun leaves behind is streaked with many different colors. Once the very last light is left and just before nightfall, a few of the first stars can be seen in the colorful sky. The lines in the Northern Sky quilt represent the array of colors across the sky and the diamonds represent the first stars.
Fabric Pull Ideas
I have made this pattern five different times, and each quilt has been so satisfying. When choosing fabrics, I go one of two ways: my favorite color palette, or a showcase of my favorite prints. Because the fabric is left in large strips, it works great with either option. Last year, I used the original Northern Sky pattern to make my first ever holiday quilt. I looked for hours to find my favorite prints, and they did not disappoint. This quilt makes a wonderful Christmas quilt during the cold months because the throw size is long (78 inches), which makes this a great quilt to keep cozy with all winter.
Another idea for this quilt is to use up smaller amounts of yardage in your stash. One of the first Northern Sky quilts I made was a scrappy version in a color palette of my dreams. The whimsical prints on these fabrics all came together perfectly in this scrappy version. Since I did not have enough yardage for each fabric as written in the pattern, I ignored the fabric placement and just chose a fabric for each strip. There is a lot going on in this quilt, yet it works.
My latest version displays my favorite color palette of the season. I have always loved darker blues and teal blues, dusty oranges and greens, and light pinks. Lately, I have somehow fallen in love with a vibrant yellow. I have found over the many years of quilting that there are a handful of colors I like to use again and again, but I can switch up my color palette every so slightly each time. The fabrics for this quilt are pure solids by Art Gallery Fabrics; you can purchase the quilt kit for these fabrics from Lamb and Loom Fabrics while supplies last.
It’s your turn to jump in and make your own quilt, perfect for your home. I would love to see what you make with this pattern. Please leave a comment or send me an email to show off your finished quilt. Happy sewing!
