I just finished a project from Quilts in Modern Color: Creating Ombre Palettes by Amber Elliot of Alderwood Studio, and wow—I had so much fun with this one.
This book is all about playing with color in a gradient or ombré style, and if you know me, you know that’s totally my thing. It’s packed with tips on building color palettes, mixing solids and prints, and thinking about value in a really approachable way. Amber breaks it all down so it feels doable, whether you’re pulling from your stash or starting fresh with new fabric.
As soon as I picked up the book, I knew I wanted to make a sunset-inspired wall hanging. I grabbed my moody rainbow bundle and cherry-picked all the warm tones—golds, corals, and purples fading into each other. There’s something so satisfying about watching the colors shift across a quilt top. It kind of scratches the same itch as organizing your fabric by color… but with the bonus of actually making something.
One thing I really appreciated: the book doesn’t just give you pretty patterns—it helps you understand how to use color more intentionally. Amber shares solid advice on choosing fabrics that blend well in a gradient, but also leaves plenty of room for personal taste. I love that it’s not overly technical—you can follow her lead, or just jump in and experiment.
At one point, I realized I’d added one too many strips—so I pulled out this bright red tone… and then immediately missed it. So back in it went. Nothing a little seam ripper action can’t fix. 😉
Once I was back on track, I started piecing the HSTs with those strip sets. I loved this unique construction method—definitely something I want to play with more in future projects. And I’m so glad I added that pop of red back in. It totally made the palette sing.
If you’re into modern quilting, love color, or just want to try something a little different, I definitely recommend checking this one out. Whether you’re planning a bold full-size quilt or a quick wall hanging, there’s so much to explore here.
Already thinking about what palette I want to try next. Jewel tones? Moody blues? Something neon? Honestly, I might just pull a bunch of fabric and see what happens.
Have you tried anything from this book yet? Let me know what colors you’re working with—I’m always curious what other people are pulling!
More to Read: Quilts in Modern Color
Don't forget to check out the other amazing makers in this little blog hop! They all used this book and its knowledge in different ways and it's totally worth the read. Here's the schedule:
Monday, March 31st:
Suzy Quilts: https://suzyquilts.
Tuesday, April 1st:
The Crafty Quilter: https://
Wednesday, April 2nd:
Sewspicious: https://www.
Thursday, April 3rd:
The Weekend Quilter: https://the-
Friday, April 4th:
Broadcloth Studio: https://www.
Saturday, April 5th:
Riley Blake Designs: https://www.rbdblog.
Sunday, April 6th:
Toad and Sew: https://www.toadandsew.
Monday, April 7th:
Mija Handmade: https://
Tuesday, April 8th:
XOXSEW: https://www.xoxsew.
Wednesday, April 9th:
Diary of a Quilter: www.diaryofaquilter.
Thursday, April 10th:
Urban Dwell Studio: https://www.
