Loulouthi Tiles {Versions & Design}

I'm so excited to get started!  Thanks for your feedback last week on my Loulouthi quilt design.  As I shared yesterday, I'm going with the larger quilt, which features generously-sized "tiles" to allow us to really enjoy Anna Maria Horner's large-scale prints.

This quilt is all about the fabric - ok and also some hand-quilting - but mostly about the fabric!  And since Anna Maria Horner's Loulouthi collection is not the first collection to feature stunning large-scale prints, Loulouthi tiles is a pattern you can use to enjoy your favorite large prints!

Some of you wanted a baby quilt and some a queen... so I've designed a few versions of Loulouthi tiles and asked my sponsors to create fabric bundles that coordinate. 

::Large Loulouthi Tiles::

Loulouthi Tiles Large Quilt

  • Finished size: 73" x 85".  Generously sized throw for two adults.  (Or, add a row of tiles to the left and at the top to create a queen-sized quilt measuring 85" x 97".)
  • Uses all 13 of my favorite "Loulouthi Morning" fabrics.  
  • Purchase bundles at Sew Love Fabrics, Whipstitch and Marmalade Fabrics.  
  • Note:  if planing to make a queen, the bundle does have enough fabric for the additional 2 rows of tiles using leftover fabric from some of the prints.  However, for a balanced color scheme I recommend buying an additional 1/2 yard of "Framed in Citron" and "Coreopsis in Sugar."

::Medium Loulouthi Tiles::

Loulouthi Medium Quilt

  • Finished size: 61" x 73".  Generously sized throw for one adult, though 2 could definitely cuddle together.  If you like the project, but don't want to make such a large quilt, this one's for you!
  • Uses 12 of my favorite "Loulouthi Morning" fabrics.  
  • Purchase bundles at Marmalade Fabrics, Sew Love Fabrics, and Whipstitch.

::Baby Loulouthi Tiles::

Loulouthi Tiles Baby Quilt

  • Finished size: 43" x 49".  A sweet little baby quilt that would look stunning over the side of a crib!
  • Uses 11 of my favorite "Loulouthi Morning" fabrics.  
  • Purchase bundles at Whipstitch, Marmalade Fabrics, and Sew Love Fabrics

Let's talk about Design!

The focal fabrics in my design are the "Summer Totem" and "Clippings" prints.  The full repeat on Summer Totem is 17" wide and 24" tall.  Wow!

Loulouthi darker tones
darker tones from the "Juliana" colorway

Loulouthi for Scale
shown for scale by Summer Totem in Grapefruit (not in Loulouthi Tiles)

Allowing for a full, uncropped repeat would create a quilt of gigantic proportions, which would make the smaller prints (such as those shown in the charms above) look rather funny.  I compromised with a slightly cropped focal rectangle (finished fabric portion will be 14" x 20"), approximately as represented in these mock-ups. Please be aware that many of the fabrics are not to scale in these mock-ups. For true scale, see the pictures above.

Notice the lines around the focal fabrics in the quilt mock-ups?  Those are 3 lines of hand-quilting stitches in pearl cotton.  I'll be using colors from both of Anna Maria's pearl needlework box sets, which are due to release soon.  Don't worry - we're not there yet!

Including the sashing for hand-quilting, the focal blocks will finish at 17" x 23".  The square blocks are 11" and the long rectangle block is 17" x 11". Sashing is 1" finished throughout.  I have not yet received my fabrics from Freespirit, so exact Kona sashing shade is to be determined.

Also, not yet determined - backing requirements and machine quilting design.

What to expect from Rachel?

So, I'm not thinking of this as a "quilt-along" per se.  I'll be creating a free PDF downloadable pattern that includes directions from all three versions of Loulouthi tiles.  This PDF will be available after I've created my quilt, so that I can work out any bugs, ok?  For those of you with plenty of experience, that don't want to wait, I'll post notes as I go as to cutting and piecing.  As you can see, this quilt is rather straightforward, so most of you obviously don't need me now that you have block dimensions.  But, I'll share what makes sense as I go and feel free to ask questions!

Really - I love questions!

If you're new to quilting, I suggest you make the medium or baby-sized quilts.  These will be easier to machine quilt.  That said, this is a great quilt for a beginner!  With it's large cuts and simple straight shapes, you'll do just fine. 

Ready to jump in?  I am!  I should have my fabrics next week!