The Phoebe Quilt in Queen of Hearts
Red and I have a contentious relationship — it is (by far!) the smallest section in my stash and I rarely sew with it. Oddly enough, I actually like red; I just find it tricky to bring into a quilt design. However, the new Queen of Hearts collection from Fableism changed that for me! With its cozy, rich shades of red, along with a few complementary warm tones and contrasting blues, this collection makes red feel approachable and versatile. It’s perfect for both traditional and modern quilt designs, which inspired me to give it a try.
For this project, I paired the Queen of Hearts collection with the Phoebe Quilt pattern—a timeless block with a contemporary twist. The Phoebe pattern has a traditional feel but is set on point, which gives it a modern edge that balances beautifully with the warm, cozy colors in this collection.
Choosing the Background and Backing Fabrics
To make the colors in Queen of Hearts really pop, I chose Pure Solids in Linen for the background fabric, providing high contrast and allowing the reds and blues to shine. For the backing, I went with Everyday Chambray in Sepia from Fableism. If you haven’t used their chambray fabrics before, I highly recommend it—they add a soft, substantial feel that gives the quilt an extra cozy weight.
Prewashing Fabrics: A Must for Red Quilts
With such a bold red palette, I made an exception to my usual routine and prewashed the fabric. Typically, I don’t prewash, but when a quilt has a lot of red, it’s better to be cautious. If you’re using Queen of Hearts, I’d suggest prewashing to minimize any risk of color bleeding. Better safe than sorry!
A Fun Twist with Binding and Quilting
For the binding, I took a small risk and opted for a coordinating orange solid. While orange might not be the most obvious choice, it brought a touch of playfulness that complements the reds without overpowering them. For quilting, I chose a serpentine stitch, which pairs perfectly with the chambray backing to create a soft, comforting finish.
If you’re interested in making your own Phoebe Quilt with Queen of Hearts, the collection is available in stores now, and you can find the Phoebe Quilt Pattern in my shop. Embrace the beauty of red with this cozy and versatile collection—happy quilting!