For me, every quilt I make begins with a vision for my fabric. Sometimes it’s a favorite color palette (I love greens and blues), a stack of fabrics waiting to be used, or maybe just the overall feeling I want the finished piece to bring into my home.

The Continuum quilt pattern was designed as a smaller-scale project to bring a functional piece of quilted art into your home. I love how its simplicity allows your fabric choices to really shine! It’s also the perfect introduction to sewing complex curves, giving you the confidence and skills to tackle curves in future quilting projects.

This inspiration guide explores a variety of fabric and color ideas to help you envision how Continuum can become part of your home. Use these examples as a starting point, then create a version that reflects your own style and the space you call home!

The Classic

The original Continuum colorway

This colorway was the original version when I first made the Continuum quilt to sell as a finished wall hanging. I always gravitate toward quilting with blues and greens, and I love how these fabrics come together to create a soft, calming look. I actually have had this exact quilt hanging in my home for the last 4 years!

Fabrics:

• Background: Robert Kaufman Essex Linen - Champagne
• Fabrics 1-4: Kona Cotton Seafoam, Old Green, Juniper, Indigo
• Binding: Kona Essex Linen - Champagne
  

Tidal

Monochromatic Blues

This monochromatic version of this design has become one of my favorites! When designing this, I think I pulled out every blue fabric swatch I had until I felt that the gradient effect was "just right". I knew I wanted to showcase this design on a darker background, to contrast with the classic version, so I played with fabric swatches until I felt there was just enough contrast between the background and the main design so it would still stand out!

Fabrics:

• Background: AGF Pure Solids - Nova
• Fabrics 1-4: AGF Pure Solids - Glacier, Ocean Fog, Northern Waters, Mediterraneo
• Binding: AGF Pure Solids - Nova

Starry

Ruby Star Society pink prints

Ah...Ruby Star Society! I love how playful their fabrics are! My local quilt shop has had starry fabric on display and I've been patiently waiting to try them for a while. I wanted to quilt a version of this quilt using prints, and I instantly knew using a variety of Starry fabrics all together for this would be the perfect time. Since the stars aren't directional in this print, I was able to use the fabric for the background fabric as well!

Fabrics:

• Background: Ruby Star Society Starry - Neon Pink
• Fabrics 1-4: Ruby Star Society Starry - Rosebud, Vivid Pink, Heliotrope, Plum
• Binding: Ruby Star Society Starry - Heliotrope

Spectrum

Rainbow

This version of the Continuum quilt was one I made a few years back, and had to dig into my archives to find a photo! It was fun to make this with bright colors, and I wanted to showcase a version of this quilt in the inspiration guide that doesn't have fabrics in any gradient effect.

Fabrics:

• Background: Robert Kaufman Essex Linen - Champagne
• Fabrics 1-4: Kona Cotton Paprika, Marmalade, Citrus, Peapod
• Binding: Robert Kaufman Essex Linen - Champagne

Tips for Choosing Fabrics

• Continuum was designed to celebrate the movement between colors. This design lends itself beautifully to palettes that transition from one shade to the next. Try creating a monochromatic gradient with varying tones of the same color, or experiment with colors that blend and flow together in unexpected ways. I love using this website to explore how different colors mix together to help with color blending.
• Contrast is key to making the curved design stand out. Consider the relationship between your background fabric and Fabrics 1–4 when designing your quilt. Whether you choose subtle differences or bold contrast, thoughtful choices will help the design stand out.
• Don’t be afraid to incorporate prints! The cutting layout for Continuum was designed to work with directional and non-directional fabrics, giving you the flexibility to play with different patterns and textures. Small-scale prints, tone-on-tones, and prints with varying directions can add another layer of interest while still allowing the curves to take center stage. While directional prints can be used for fabrics 1-4, I recommend using a non-directional print for the background (or a solid!).
• Continuum is a great opportunity to use smaller cuts of fabric from your stash. For the wall hanging size, each of the four colors only requires a 7" × 16" piece of fabric, making it easy to experiment with a unique color palette. Try mixing several fabrics within each color family…or take it even further by using a different fabric for each template piece. I’d love to see a playful, scrappy version!

If you're looking to try the Continuum quilt for yourself, I have the pattern available now for purchase at the link here. With it, I include a video tutorial to help guide you through every step of the process whether you're a seasoned quilter, or new to sewing curves!