The Night Circus
What is in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.
-William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
My bedroom has had a black and white setting for many years now. For so many reasons…
It makes it easier for me to just add a colour or two when I am looking for change. It also provides a neutral backdrop for my many mini quilts that occupy a wall in the room. This side of the room serves as my quilting studio too.
I realized I must have a black and white quilt for my bed. All the B&W fabrics that I had been hoarding over the years were pulled out and plans were under way. I did not want to spend too much time on this one. Just something to throw on the bed, that would look nice too. I decided to just wing it and came up with this simple rectangular block. So easy to put together and no seams to match.
Along the way, I started getting the feeling that all those black and white prints and patterns put together, were making it too monotonous and dull. And so, just for the heck of it, enter RED!! And what a difference that made.
Meanwhile, my girls had just discovered Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus and were busy devouring it. And they had one look at this quilt top and said… but that is The Night Circus!! Now do you get the reference.
A black and white quilt by any other name would look just as beautiful…. Hehe… we are a punny lot!!
Now what is interesting about this block is that it is simple yet versatile.
Requirements (for a king size quilt):
3-4 black on white fabrics 1 meter each
3-4 white on black fabrics 1 meter each
1 meter red or any other colour of your choice
5 meters backing fabric
90”x90” batting (you may need to join widths)
Cutting Instructions
From the black on white fabric
Cut 20 strips of 6 ½” X WOF and sub cut into 80 pieces of 6½”X 4½” and 300 pieces of 6½”X 1½”
From the white on black fabric
Cut 20 strips of 6 ½” X WOF and sub cut into 80 pieces of 6½”X 4½” and 300 pieces of 6½”X 1½”
From the coloured fabric
Cut 2 strips of 6 ½”X WOF and sub cut into 40 pieces of 6½”X 1½”
Now piece and prepare blocks as shown in the diagram.
Press well. Join vertical columns of 10-11 blocks each, substituting the coloured blocks in random places, about one per column. Leave some columns without the coloured block.
Now, join the columns offsetting the blocks. The excess on the ends can be trimmed to straighten the edge.
14 vertical columns add up to form a quilt that is 80”X 90” in size.
Layer, quilt and bind with the binding of your choice.
I sometimes like to use pieced backings to add interest to my quilts
Other ways to handle this block would be to combine
- Coordinated solids with a print in the center
- A pieced center rectangle using 6 squares of 2½”X 2½” each
- All solids with applique or embroidery motifs on the rectangle blocks
When it comes to creativity, then sky is the limit.
If you decide to make your version of this quilt, do shares pictures with me on Instagram and Facebook
Tag me @Sew_Saba and use the hashtags #thenightcircusquilt #tothreadornot #sewsaba