Soft Waves Quilt Inspiration

Thank you so much for sharing!

Hey there!

Today I wanted to share one of my most favorite quilts, Soft Waves. I took this quilt to the beach last week to take some updated photos, so that I could share this quilt inspiration with you!

The Details

This is the Soft Waves Quilt that I made when I used to teach quilting classes at a little shop in downtown Honolulu.  We used the Sew Kind of Wonderful quick curve ruler.  I used the Riley Blake ombre fabric (thats why there is a variation in the blue curves) and Moda Bella white to complete this quilt.  Only 3 fabrics were used for this whole quilt. Then, to top it off and make it extra special, I sent it to a friend to have her machine quilt it on her long arm machine. That was the first time I had ever had a quilt long armed before!  She did an amazing job.  Sarah quilted it for me.  I told her I wanted some back and forth motion in the white and circles/bubbles in the blue and this is what she came up with!

Quilt Inspiration

I wanted to challenge myself with this quilt… make something simple seem much more dynamic.  Sometimes I think we want to use all these different prints and fabrics and colors – but to me… I’m often drawn to designs that are simpler. That are peaceful. There is enough chaos and noise and overwhelm. I think that is why this is a favorite. Don’t get me wrong, I love color and design – it’s fun to play around with styles and feelings in your quilt designs.

I guess it’s not surprising to be inspired by the ocean when you live in Hawaii like I did when I designed this quilt. I find that I am still inspired by the water even though we now live an hour from the beach… the waves, the sand. It’s so vast… our problems are a speck in comparison, let’s not worry about that – let’s just enjoy this beauty. That is the thought I leave with every time I’m at the beach… good little perspective I’d say.  I think this is often what people feel at the mountains or any other place of epic beauty. Can you relate?

I don’t have a tutorial online for this quilt, this was made pre-youtube days. I share this now because even though I have made dozens of quilts since this one, it remains a favorite and it’s a style and technique that isn’t seen a ton. I hope it inspires you in your quilt designs.

“In the waves of change we find our true direction.”

Here are the original photos I took in my little army housing backyard back in Hawaii 😉

What do you think? Leave me a comment and let me know!

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