Welcome to the the Running Stitch Quilts Color Inspiration blog series! In this new series, I'll be diving into the world of color and bringing you practical color palettes. Every month, I'll pick a set of 3 or 4 foundational colors to use in building out fun and expressive color palettes that you can apply to my quilt patterns or any future quilts. Keeping reading for some quilty inspiration!
For September, I wanted to get back into the swing of things after a bit of a break. We skipped August’s Color Inspo, but I had a pretty good reason—my family and I just moved across the states! Now that we’re settled in (mostly), I’m excited to dive back into quilting. This month, I’m drawing inspiration from the warm, rich tones of autumn. The colors I’ve chosen are inspired by my original Autumn Garden quilt pattern, which is a vibrant and fun design that feels just right for this time of year. As the days get shorter and the leaves start to change, those deeper hues and jewel tones are calling my name—and I’m sure they’ll be calling yours too!
Before we dive into the color palettes, I have a little something special to share! The Autumn Garden pattern is on sale through the end of September 2024, and you can save $3 on both the printed and digital versions. This is a great opportunity to grab this pattern if you’ve been eyeing it for a while!
Now, let’s get into the September Color Inspo!
Just like in previous months, I’ve used the colors from my cover quilt as the base for this month’s inspiration. The Autumn Garden cover quilt was made with a mix of Michael Miller Cotton Couture solids, including Adobe, Antique, Aubergine, Celestial, Cinnamon, Currant, Dusk, Eggplant, Ginger, Spice, and Teal against a Soft White background. These colors are perfect for fall, and they’ve inspired the palettes you’ll see below. You can read more about my Autumn Garden cover quilt here on my blog.
For this month’s Color Inspo, I went with Cadet, Aubergine, Cinnamon, and Ocean, inspired by the Autumn Garden cover quilt. These rich jewel tones have a darker vibe that perfectly matches the slowing pace of the upcoming fall season—like nature hitting the snooze button after a busy summer. And let's be honest, these colors pair as well with fall quilting as pumpkin spice does with just about everything else this time of year!
This first color palette was inspired by the warm, earthy tones of a pumpkin patch. The navy blue and teal act as accents that make the oranges and purples really stand out. I love how these colors mix together in both the Autumn Garden and Winter Garden quilt mock-ups. The contrast between the cool and warm tones gives these quilts a vibrant, yet balanced look that’s perfect for the season.
This second palette feels the most like something I would typically use. I’ve been really into neutrals lately, and this palette reflects that love. The combination of soft pinks, deep eggplants, and golden ochres creates a sophisticated and serene look in both the Autumn Garden and Mod Tops patterns. This palette has such a calming effect, and it’s probably why I’m so drawn to it!
The third palette was a bit of a challenge, but I’m thrilled with the result! It’s inspired by a scrappy ombre version of my Hurrication pattern that I made using an ochre and purple palette. I decided to add teals and navy to give it a fresh twist. The Autumn Garden and Square Burst 2.0 quilt mock-ups really bring this palette to life. The varying shades create a dynamic, ombre effect that adds depth and interest to the design.
Playing with color is one of my absolute favorite things to do, and I’m so excited to share these September color palettes with you. Whether you’re inspired by the vibrant warmth of Palette 1, the neutral sophistication of Palette 2, or the gorgeous depth of Palette 3, I hope you find something that sparks your creativity.
I invite you to try out one of these September Color Inspo palettes in your next quilt! Whether you use the exact fabrics or let these serve as a jumping-off point for your own palette, I’d love to see what you create. Share your quilts on Instagram using the hashtag #RSQColorInspo or tag me in your photos.
Stay tuned for next month’s Color Inspiration. Until then, happy sewing!
