Tuesday, September 01, 2026

orange tulips, top completed, from a design by Wendy Sheppard for Windam Fabrics

Orange Tulips
When buying flowers, if orange is a choice, your decision is already made
89 by 74 inches
top completed 2026
25 blocks

Being of Dutch heritage, tulip quilts are a favorite of mine to make.
Wendy Sheppard designed Field of Tulips for Windam Fabrics.
The pattern pdf is free HERE.
I used her tulip design and made adaptations to the frame and setting.
I used the Doug Leko Simple Folded Corners tool for all flipped triangles.
I LOVE this tool and use it often.
Grey is Moda Bella 9900 83
Her block finishes 11 by 7 1/2 inches, eliminating her top frame.
I added a frame cut 2 1/4 by 11 1/2 inches first to the two sides then to the top.
I added a frame cut 1 3/4 by 11 1/2 inches to the bottom.
This brings the unfinished measurements to 11 1/2 by 14 1/2 inches

Which yields a finished framed block of 11 by 14 inches
And this worked for my planned sashing of 1 1/2 by 2 1/2 inch cut orange coins from scraps.
You could strip piece this, but I like to work with my pieces already cut.

Sashings:
Horizontal made from 11 coin pieces
Vertical made from 14 coin pieces

Corner squares cut 2 1/2 inches
I used the greens from the leaves for the 16 interior corner squares.
For the perimeter 20 corner squares, I used two of the 1 1/2 by 2 1/2 inch sashing coins and oriented them to continue what was going on in those perimeter sections.

I then added a border of grey cut 4 inches.

Tulip block designed by Wendy Sheppard
Setting is mine--use my setting at your pleasure.

Backing is an all time favorite fabric of mine: "goldenwood fairies" by Nicole DeLeon for Alexander Henry, 2000. It came in several colorways and I bought what was on the bolt at my local store. I called them "Nora fairies" as they resembled the little girl across the street--who is all grown up now.
Yes, this wonderful fabric has been on my shelves for 26 years waiting for the right quilt. There was just enough for the back with a few trimmings expected after quilting for scattering in my scrap bins.