Embrace the Moody Hues of Summer Nights with the Valley Song Quilt

Hello fellow quilting enthusiasts! I’m thrilled to introduce you to a brand new iteration of the Valley Song quilt pattern, affectionately named “Summer Nights.” If you’re new to the Valley Song family, I encourage you to explore the original Cover Quilt and the inspiring Coyote Hill versions. What I adore most about the Valley Song pattern is its incredible versatility. It’s a quilter’s dream, offering endless opportunities to play with fabric selections – truly one of the most enjoyable parts of the quilting journey. And let’s be honest, we’re always looking for an excuse to expand our fabric stash, right?

When I’m in the design phase for a new pattern release, I always envision creating two “sister” quilts. Typically, one leans towards warmer tones, while the other explores cooler shades. It’s fascinating to witness how simply altering a few colors can completely transform the overall mood of the quilt. “Summer Nights,” as the name suggests, captures that evocative evening ambiance with its blend of warm neutrals and deeper, more saturated colors, reminiscent of the original cover quilt’s rich palette. This “Summer Nights” version is crafted in a cozy throw size, measuring a comfortable 60″ x 73″. As always, I’ve exclusively used premium fabrics from Art Gallery Fabrics for this project, ensuring exceptional quality and a luxurious feel.

Close-up of the Summer Nights Valley Song Quilt top showcasing the warm neutral and darker fabric colors

Here’s a breakdown of the Art Gallery Fabrics used in this stunning quilt top:

A – Blushing
B – Ethereal Pink
C – Thistle
D – Gingerbread
E – Sandstone
F – Mink
G – Caviar
H – Peach Sherbet
I – Driftwood
J – Hydrangea

For the backing, I chose the wonderfully textured AGF Remember fabric, and for the binding, I opted for the vibrant AGF Hydrangea to add a pop of color.

Good news! For those eager to recreate this exact “Summer Nights Song” quilt, quilt kits are readily available in my shop, featuring all these precisely selected colors.

I’m particularly drawn to the slightly moody yet captivating feel of this quilt. The inclusion of AGF Hydrangea provides a delightful burst of color that truly elevates the design. I must confess, I’ve been completely captivated by AGF Hydrangea lately, so I was thrilled to incorporate it into this “summer nights song” quilt. The real challenge was finding the perfect fabrics to complement it. I wanted Hydrangea to stand out, but not clash dramatically with the other fabrics. After experimenting with several darker shades, I finally landed on Driftwood, which provided the ideal balance and harmony.

Detailed view of the Summer Nights Valley Song Quilt highlighting the Hydrangea and Driftwood fabric pairing

The Valley Song pattern is designed with flexibility in mind, offering three distinct layout options. Importantly, all layout variations utilize the same fabric requirements and number of blocks, making it easy to switch between styles. The magic lies in simply rotating the HSTs (half-square triangles) within the rows to achieve different visual effects. For this “Summer Nights” iteration, I chose the “Harmonic” layout because I was immediately drawn to the dynamic movement and rhythmic repetition of the shapes. I like to think of it as both expressive and poetic, offering a modern and sophisticated twist on the original Valley Song design. This layout truly sings a “summer nights song” with its visual flow.

Harmonic layout of the Summer Nights Valley Song Quilt showcasing the dynamic HST arrangement

Full shot of the Summer Nights Valley Song Quilt in the Harmonic layout, displaying the overall pattern design

For the quilting, I entrusted this “summer nights song” creation to Sara at Stitch Lab Quilting, and I’m absolutely thrilled with the quilting design we chose together. As many of you know, I’m a big fan of Karlee Porter’s pantographs, and her Citrus Sun Clam design turned out to be the perfect complement to this Summer Night version. The pantograph subtly evokes a classic baptist fan pattern, but with a unique and contemporary twist. It added just the right amount of texture, dimension, and movement to the quilt top. We opted for a peach-colored thread, which provided a delicate hint of color while seamlessly blending in with the overall palette. For the backing, I returned to another beloved fabric, AGF Remember by Bonnie Christine from her Wild Forgotten Collection, for its exceptional softness and drape.

Back view of the Summer Nights Valley Song Quilt showing the Citrus Sun Clam quilting design by Stitch Lab Quilting

And of course, I couldn’t resist using AGF Hydrangea once more for the binding. This final touch of color effectively ties the quilt top and backing together, creating a cohesive and polished finish. The vibrant binding truly completes the “summer nights song” quilt.

Close-up of the quilt binding in AGF Hydrangea, showcasing the finishing detail