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Principles of Modern Design

There is no one way to define modern quilting. What is modern to one quilter leans toward traditional to another. Still, there are a few design elements that are consistent across manyxmodern quilt designs: alternative grid, expansive negative space, embracing minimalism, and modernizing traditional blocks.

Alternative Grid

Simply put, alternative grid means you break the traditional grid structure of a quilt design where you make a specific number of blocks and sew them together in rows with or without sashing and a border. It can be as simple as changing the focus from the center of the quilt to a corner or side of the quilt, like Houndstooth or Ripples. By shifting the focus from the traditional center, the quilt becomes more modern in design and appearance.

Houndstooth

Ripples

Bricks and Pavers

You also could do away with the block structure all together like in Bricks and Pavers. This quilt is still connected in rows but there is no block. The visual interest is created by fabric choice and placement rather than a complicated block design.

Expansive Negative Space

Many modern quilts make use of large areas of negative space. I made use of this technique in many of the quilts, but my favorite is Diamond. This helps emphasize the parts of the quilt that are meant to shine through intricate piecing, design or fabric selection, and provides a fabulous canvas for quilting.

Embracing Minimalism

Ombré and Stripes are both examples of minimalist quilts. Gradually fading colors in Ombré and bold modern fabrics in Stripes make them pop. Color selection, fabric choice, and simple piecing all contribute to the minimal look of a quilt.

Diamond

Ombré

Stripes

Going North

Modernizing Traditional Blocks

Flying Geese is one of the most traditional and well-known blocks in quilting. In Going North I modernized this design by creating the flying wgeese from strip-pieced half-square triangles. I arranged them in an alternate grid setting with expansive negative space on either side. Think about your favorite quilt block and how you can give it a makeover so it will fit in to today’s trendiest home.