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Color of the Year – Daybreak Quilt + Tutorial!

Each year Pantone Announces the Color of the Year. For the second time in 22 years, Pantone has selected 2 colors to represent this year. Those colors signal optimism and strength.

We have selected 8 Confetti Cotton colors that we feel capture the essence of the color (or should we say colors) of the year. We’re re-releasing 12 projects, one each month as well as a quarterly FREE quilt pattern or tutorial that feature our dazzling range of colors.

Aren’t these colors delicious? They are: Lemon Zest, Riley Yellow, Dandelions, Honey, Silver, Riley Gray, Iron, and Charcoal

Meet the Daybreak Quilt. This is the second of our Quarterly FREE Quilt Patterns (find the first project HERE) featuring this gorgeous yellow and grey color palette.

The quilt is an easy make. It measures approximately 63″ x 63″, and consists of 16 quilt blocks. Each block is made up of 16 half square triangles. If you do that math, that is 256 half square triangles. Whew! Like I said, this is an easy make, but all of that half square triangle trimming is definitely a labor of love!

To make this quilt, you will need:

  • 2/3 yard Confetti Cotton Lemon Zest
  • 2/3 yard Confetti Cotton Riley Yellow
  • 2/3 yard Confetti Cotton Dandelions
  • 2/3 yard Confetti Cotton Honey
  • 2/3 yard Confetti Cotton Silver
  • 2/3 yard Confetti Cotton Riley Gray
  • 2/3 yard Confetti Cotton Iron
  • 2/3 yard Confetti Cotton Charcoal
  • Quilt Batting
  • Fabric for quilt back
  • Fabric for binding

To begin, cut a total of eight 10″ squares from each of the eight colors. Because the colors are so similar, I recommend labeling each color throughout the entire process. Each quilt block requires two-10″ squares, and each color is used once in each row.

Pair the following squares:

Row 1: Riley Gray/Riley Yellow, Silver, Dandelions, Charcoal/Honey, Iron/Lemon Zest

Row 2: Charcoal/Lemon Zest, Iron/Honey, Riley Gray/Dandelions, Silver/Riley Yellow

Row 3: Silver/Honey, Riley Gray/Lemon Zest, Iron/Riley Yellow, Charcoal/Dandelions

Row 4: Iron/Dandelions, Charcoal/Riley Yellow, Silver/Lemon Zest, Riley Gray/Honey

Below, I will show you how to make eight half square triangles at a time. You will repeat this process twice to make each block. For my example, I am using Charcoal and Lemon Zest.

  1. Draw a line corner-to-corner on the yellow square. Repeat on opposite corner to make an “x.”

2. Place the yellow square on top of the charcoal square.

3. Stitch 1/4″ on either side of the drawn line.

4. Use your ruler and rotary cutter to cut horizontally through the center of the square.

5. Next make a vertical cut through the center of the square.

6. Finally, cut along the drawn diagonal line through all for sections. You now have 8 half square triangles.

Repeat steps 1-6 so you end up with a total of 16 half square triangles.

7. Press the half square triangles open, pressing toward the darker fabric, and trim to 4 1/2″ square.

8. Arrange them as shown, and sew one row at a time. Press the seams of each row in opposite directions. This allows the seams to nest as you sew the rows together, reducing bulk. Sew the rows together and press all of the seams in one direction.

When you make the next block repeat steps 1-8, however, when all of your rows are sewn together in step 8, you will want to press the seams the opposite direction of the first block. Again, when you sew the large blocks together, you want the seams to nest neatly to reduce bulk. Pressing the seams in opposite directions accomplishes this.

Continue making all of your blocks until all 16 blocks are complete. Arrange them into rows (see order below).

The order in which your blocks are arranged in the quilt is the same as the color pairings I listed at the beginning of the tutorial. I am listing them again below for your convenience.

Row 1: Riley Gray/Riley Yellow, Silver, Dandelions, Charcoal/Honey, Iron/Lemon Zest

Row 2: Charcoal/Lemon Zest, Iron/Honey, Riley Gray/Dandelions, Silver/Riley Yellow

Row 3: Silver/Honey, Riley Gray/Lemon Zest, Iron/Riley Yellow, Charcoal/Dandelions

Row 4: Iron/Dandelions, Charcoal/Riley Yellow, Silver/Lemon Zest, Riley Gray/Honey

Sew the blocks for the first row together, pressing the seams in one direction.

Sew the second row, pressing the seams in the opposite direction.

Continue for all four rows.

Sew the rows together, nesting seams as you go.

I quilted this on my home machine and opted to follow along each vertical, horizontal, and diagonal seam line, using a 3/8″ seam allowance.

For the scrappy binding, I used my leftover fabric. I cut a 2 1/2″ strip of each color, and cut each of those strips in half. I arranged the approximately 21″ strips in order from lightest to darkest, and created one long binding strip.

The scrappy binding is subtle, but I really like the look of it on this quilt.

Each time I finish a quilt, I can’t wait to throw this in the washer and dryer to see all of the crinkly goodness! Anyone else feel the urge to wash and dry a quilt the moment it is finished?

We have more free quilt patterns and project ideas coming your way throughout the year, so stay tuned!

Confetti Cotton Color of the Year yardage and fabric bundles are available for purchase at your favorite local and online quilt shops. Pick up yours today and share your makes with us on Instagram using #rbdcoty, #rbdcreatecolorfully, #rileyblakedesigns, #iloverileyblake, and tag us @rileyblakedesigns.

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