Swirlpools is a pattern that I’ve been so excited to share! It’s a bold and modern design that plays with movement and color in such a fun way. While it’s officially labeled as an intermediate-level pattern, I think a confident beginner who’s comfortable with bias edges could absolutely tackle it. It’s one of those quilts that looks intricate but comes together in a really satisfying way.
One of the things I love most about Swirlpools is its versatility. It’s a block-based pattern, meaning you can play around with layout options to create different visual effects. You can lean into an ombré or gradient look for a smooth transition of color, or you can go full-on scrappy for a more eclectic and playful quilt. Either way, the swirling motion of the design creates an eye-catching effect that’s both dynamic and modern.
If Swirlpools looks a little familiar, that’s because it has a sister pattern - Hurrication! The two share a similar construction method, but Swirlpools takes the swirl all the way to the edge, minimizing the amount of background fabric needed. This small change gives the design a more immersive feel, as if the colors are truly flowing across the quilt top.
Swirlpools is written to work with fat quarters or half-yard cuts, giving you flexibility when selecting fabrics. Whether you love pulling from your stash, grabbing a curated bundle, or hand-selecting each color yourself, you’ll have plenty of options.
Quilt Sizes Included:
Baby: 42” x 42”
Throw: 56” x 70”
Bed: 84” x 98”
Usually, when I make a cover quilt, I plan out every little detail, right down to each fabric swatch. I love being able to tell you exactly what I used. But this time? Things went a little differently!
The original palette I had mocked up on my computer just didn’t hit the same once I started laying out the fabrics in person. I had to pivot fast - but honestly, I’m not even mad about it. I’m absolutely in love with how this sunset-inspired ombré layout turned out. The blend of oranges, corals, and soft pinks gives this quilt such a warm and glowy vibe.
The fabrics came from everywhere - two online orders, one local quilt shop stop, and a dive into my stash. It’s a little mix of Riley Blake, Art Gallery, Michael Miller, and one Kona solid in there, too. It was a total fabric adventure, and while I didn’t keep track of every single one, I love the mix that came together.
For the backing and binding, I went with an Art Gallery basic called Oval Elements in a lovely shade of pink. It pairs so well with the front and gives the whole quilt a polished, cohesive look.
I decided to quilt this one myself, and I kept it simple. Sometimes simple is the way to go! Straight-line quilting spaced about ½” apart gave it just enough texture without taking away from the movement of the design.
Swirlpools comes together pretty smoothly, but there are a couple of things to be mindful of:
Bias Edges – Since some of the pieces are cut on the bias, you’ll want to handle them carefully to avoid stretching. Using a little starch and minimizing handling helps a ton. READ MORE HERE.
Layout Planning – If you’re going for an ombré look, definitely take the time to lay out your blocks before sewing. Snapping a photo of your layout can help you keep track as you go. READ MORE HERE.
I’ve got two blog posts that go more in-depth on those topics, so be sure to check them out if you’re looking for more support.
Swirlpools is available now as a PDF download or as a printed booklet in the shop. However you like to quilt—digital or paper—you’re covered. I can't wait to see what colors and layouts you come up with!
And just because I couldn’t resist, here’s a little photo parade of more Swirlpools goodness:
Planning the ombre/color shift in the Hurrication pattern took a little extra brain power due to the way the fabrics rotate within each block. But, let me tell you, the end result was 100% worth it. This might be my favorite quilt I've ever made.
I'm going to tell you exactly how I planned my quilt so that you can make something similar (you will need the pattern to actually make this quilt, you can get it here)!
First, I laid out the D squares (that will become the corners of the blocks) in sets of four to plan the color shift. Once all of the blocks were laid out, I moved and rearranged to ensure that each block had a different combination of fabrics while still maintaining the color shift. Last thing I did in this step was to label each set of squares that represented one block. Also, I left these blocks in place while I was making each block. One, to help ensure I was sewing the right pieces together, and two, to make sure I liked the color shift as I kept looking at it.
Then, I started sewing my blocks together following the block assembly on page 4. BEFORE I added the background fabric, I reevaluated the color shift. At this stage, it was still looking pretty good. I moved or rotated one or two blocks to keep the color shift smooth.
After adding the background fabric, I evaluated the color shift for the last time. Because of the way the fabric rotate after adding the background fabric, this step is when I made the most changes. I swapped one or two blocks, but I spent some time rotating (and then rotating them back) to find the most visually appealing layout.
During this step, I take a picture of every single layout. Even with the blocks up on my design wall, sometimes it is easier to see in a picture. I will also make the picture black and white to see if there are any glaring errors in the color shift.
The last step is to add the D square corners. In the pattern, I have the snowballed corner in the opposite corner of the same color B triangle in the block. However, in this ombre version, I put the D square in the SAME corner as the B triangle. This change helped keep the flow.
That's it! A little bit of planning up front, and working block by block instead of chain piecing was worth all the effort after seeing the result. I love this quilt so much!
I made this color key for my quilt for you to use as a starting point. Depending on your color flow and the fabrics you have, you will probably need to tweak things, but you can use this to get going!
You can get the Hurrication pattern in PDF or PAPER pattern in my shop!
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Want a cute Hurrication sticker? You can get yourself one here! |
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