(Please note that affiliate links have been used in this post.)
When a previous customer emails for a second quilt, I have a hard time saying ‘no.’ I’m so glad I said ‘yes.’
If you’ve followed along here for long, this quilt may look quite familiar. Low volume used to be my only comfort zone, and maybe in many respects, it really still is, but it’s been a while since I’ve relished in that familiar comfort. Low volume is still the most natural for me.
Let’s go way back for second here. Are you interested in some old school photos of Kelli’s first quilts?
Above is one of the first quilts I ever made. It’s a very simple and beginner friendly low volume quilt. I had quickly learned early on in my quilting career to hoard all my favorite fabrics that I was slowly beginning to accumulate. I finally had a moment where I decided to cut into all my favorites and just go for it. I learned I love a scrappy quilt, and I learned that mixing a bunch of fabrics together that I loved was the best way to make a quilt for me.
Above is a second low volume quilt that was inspired by the first one. I sewed this for a client, and the best part, in my opinion, was the backing.
That vintage sheet was a treasure, and it was the perfect match for this quilt. I have, since then, set aside my collecting of vintage sheets, but they still make me smile when I run across a beautiful floral.
These were all made using an exceedingly simple pattern. The large squares are 6 1/2 inches each. The four square blocks are made of four squares. Each of those square are 3 1/2 inches.
You can find some fairly thorough instructions for making the quilt here: A Beginner Friendly Low Volume Quilt
What’s low volume mean? When I say low volume fabrics, I’m simply referring to fabrics with very little color or saturation.
Here’s a current favorite low volume bundle from Liz Taylor Handmade:
Morgan Kelly Quilts is an expert on neutrals and low volumes. I browse her shop far too often. Here are a few in her shop.
Honey Fusion by Art Gallery Fabrics
Gathered in Aerial Blush Peony by Art Gallery Fabrics
Hush Hush 2 by Riley Blake Fabrics
South Hill by Riley Black Fabrics
I love a good low volume fabric. It’s interesting how different color palettes work for different mediums. I will always gravitate towards blue, but it is so difficult for me to use any dark navy blue fabrics in my quilts. The saturation is so harsh for me.
The backing for this quilt was a simple blue and white striped queen size sheet. It was perfect and fitting.
If you look closely at the fabrics, you’ll see there are varying shades of white. Since low volume fabrics are often accompanied by many different shades of white backgrounds, I almost always use two different shades of white solids in my low volume projects.
The two I almost always use are:
Kona White
Kona Snow
I will leave you with one final full picture of the quilt. I still have not mastered the art of capturing a good picture of a queen size quilt, but they’re so helpful for seeing the whole pattern.
