Bokeh Quilt Along {Fabric Requirements}

In photography, bokeh is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in out-of-focus parts of an image. Bokeh has also been defined as “the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light”. Differences in lens aberrations and aperture shape cause very different bokeh effects. – Wikipedia

Bokeh

The Bokeh quilt requires 5 fabrics: a background fabric (Fabric E), 3 fabrics for the Bokeh block (Fabrics B, C, and D), and 1 fabric for the curve stars (Fabric A). The pattern offers three quilt sizes (mini, baby, and lap) and within each quilt size there are three piecing options; there are two methods for piecing the curve stars (Option A: inset curve star method requires more yardage than Option B: traditionally pieced drunkard’s path block but Option A results in curve stars with no seams), and you also have the option to exclude the curved piecing entirely as well (Option C). For Option C, only 4 fabrics (Fabric B-E) are needed.

Releasing today, the Fabric Requirements PDF includes detailed coloring sheets for each of the 9 options to clearly show the seam line and fabric requirement differences between the options.

Color Key

For the sample lap size version that I made, I used fabrics ranging from dark (Fabric A) to light (Fabric B). When selecting your fabrics, the most important thing to consider is how each of the piecing fabrics (Fabrics A-D) contrast with the background fabric (Fabric E). The more contrast, the crisper the design will appear. To really play up the idea of bokeh (a blur or out-of-focus effect), you may want to consider having Fabric A be closer in value to the background fabric.

To allow plenty of time for your fabric considerations, the next set of instructions will be released on January 4th, 2021. If you haven’t joined yet, you can do so at any time by purchasing the Bokeh Quilt Along. If you have joined, look for the Fabric Requirements email and click on the blue button inside the email to download the file!

Bokeh Quilt Along Schedule

• Monday, January 4, 2021 – Cutting Instructions
• Monday, January 25, 2021 – Piecing #1
• Monday, February 15, 2021 – Piecing #2
• Monday, March 8, 2021 – Piecing #3
• Monday, March 29, 2021 – Piecing #4
• Monday, April 19, 2021 – Quilt Top Assembly and Finishing Instructions
• Saturday, May 1, 2021 – Monday, May 31, 2021 – Finished Quilt Tops or Finished Quilts Linkup

Fabric Kits

Bokeh Quilt Along sponsor Bernie from Needle and Foot has put together kits for the quilt along.

Bokeh Quilt Size Options – Northcott Fabrics

If you like the fabrics I used for the sample quilt (Fabric A – Dublin Peacock 9040-68, Fabric B – Dublin Bahama Breeze 9040-63, Fabric C – Dublin Clearwater 9040-61, Fabric D – Dublin Gray 9040-92, Fabric E – Canvas Whitewash 9030-10), Bernie is offering kits of the Northcott prints.

Kismet Kit Options

Bernie also has an Art Gallery Fabrics kit using Sharon Holland’s new line, Kismet, paired with a rich terra cotta background.

Mod Citrine

Bernie is also offering what I think of as a Mod Citrine kit option; the print for the curve options really ties the whole thing together!

Other Colorway Options

Tula Pink Fussy Stars / Scrappy Options

The inset curve star piecing method allows for the use of fun, large scale prints! With a little bit of planning, you can center the focal point of a large scale print when cutting your Fabric A squares.* Note that it would be a good idea to purchase more fabric than listed in the fabric requirements if you want to be sure to have enough fabric for fussy cutting.

Tula Pink Fabric Key

Another great option is to go scrappy; use scraps for one or more of the fabric letters, using the cutting instructions to cut the proper number and size.

• Fabric A – HomeMade Night Pedal to the Metal
• Fabric B – True Colors Dahlia Wildflower and True Colors Thistle Hexy
• Fabric C – True Colors Amethyst Mineral and True Colors Tourmaline Mineral
• Fabric D – True Colors Fire Fish Hexy and True Colors Lavender Fairy Dust
• Fabric E – Designer Essential Arctic White

Tula Pink – Yellow and Gray

• Fabric A – True Colors Whisper Fairy Dust
• Fabric B – True Colors Citrine Mineral
• Fabric C – True Colors Lime Fairy Dust
• Fabric D – True Colors Sunshine Hexy
• Fabric E – True Colors Dove Hexy Rainbow

What size and colorway are you planning to sew? Are you looking for something in particular that you don’t see above? Leave a comment and I will either email you back with suggestions or run an updated post with more colorway options depending on the number of requests I receive.

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