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Bryan House Quilts

Introducing the Trilobite Quilt and Pattern

finished quilts· quilt pattern

21 Oct

This week, I’ll be showing you the second pdf pattern I’ve been working on, my Trilobite quilt and pattern. The pattern is available here, in my shop. And until next Monday use the code  “TRILOBITE25” at checkout to save 25%!

Trilobite Quilt and Pattern

Around the time I was 10 or so, my dad took me and my brother up to the Burgess Shale. We hiked up that thing and enjoyed the breathtaking views. Naturally, being 10, I took those sights for granted. But I do remember the beautiful glacial waters and the eery trilobite fossils.

Trilobite fossils, are neat because they are one of the few fossils of soft tissued creatures, as opposed to the more usual bony dinosaur type fossils. My dad would go on and on about it in the way that fathers do, so I sure do hope that I’m right!

Trilobite Shape

The blocks are made from half square triangles (HSTs) and larger triangles. I thought that the zig zag edged shape kinda looked like the trilobite rubbings my brother and I made at the top of the trail. (My brother *almost* fell off the mountain on the way down, I swear!)

Trilobite Quilt and Pattern

Aside from the layout I’ve shown, I’ve included 4 alternate layouts you could choose from. Each layout is made by rearranging the blocks and laying the rectangular blocks vertically or horizontally. It depends on what size you want – either youth, throw, twin, queen or California King. It’s also possibly that there are other layouts using the same blocks. I wouldn’t be surprised!

Trilobite Alternate Layouts

I really love the simplicity of 2 color quilts. I used Kona Snow and Kona Wasabi, but couldn’t help having a small amount of fun with a sabotage block and a strip of mismatched binding. (It’s hard to see the binding surprise, but it’s dark green in the bottom left side in the first picture.)

Saboteur

For quilting, I used matching Aurifil thread (the white thread and #5015) to stitch straight lines from triangle point to triangle point. I wanted each line to be as straight as possible so I marked off each line with a ruler and fabric-marking pen. Aside from the marking, it was a fun and relatively quick way to get straight line quilting finished.

I've got a lot of quilting to do this week. Think I can do 3? ? First up, I get to quilt with #aurifil 5015, which I find pretty exciting. #threadnerd #colorjunky

So that’s my version of the Trilobite Quilt pattern. I should have 3 lovely pattern testers that will be showing off their versions later this week. So stay tuned because these ladies came up with beautiful versions!!

 

Previous Post: « Hexy Plus {Finish}
Next Post: The Trilobite Quilt according to Stephanie »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. amy says

    October 21, 2014 at 4:44 am

    I love this in a million ways!!!

  2. Tina Craig says

    October 21, 2014 at 11:23 am

    I love your trilobite story. I was a geology major so I remember learning about Burgess Shale. So cool that your dad took you there! Oh, yeah, and I like the quilt, too. Two color quilts create so much impact.

  3. Alexis Deise says

    October 21, 2014 at 1:13 pm

    This is stunning!

  4. Kristy says

    October 21, 2014 at 1:26 pm

    Okay, I want, I need, I have got to have this right this second. Going off to buy it now. Seriously, you are one talented lady!

  5. Kathleen says

    October 21, 2014 at 4:50 pm

    What's a sabotage block?

Trackbacks

  1. Colorful Trilobite Quilt Top {Finish} – Bryan House Quilts says:
    May 6, 2016 at 3:05 pm

    […] original Trilobite version is made with just 2 color solids but I think it’s a pattern that lends itself well to […]

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I’ve been quilting for 15 years, and I have failed I’ve been quilting for 15 years, and I have failed PLENTY of times. 👇

I’ve made things I didn’t like. I’ve cut fabric wrong. I’ve had ideas that worked beautifully in my head and... not so beautifully once I started sewing them together.

But all of those failed have been how I learned.

I think sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves to make something perfect that we forget we’re allowed to just play.

👉 You’re allowed to mess up the fabric.
👉 You’re allowed to make something ugly.
👉 You’re allowed to try something you’re not so sure about.

Because the alternative is always wondering what it would be like to make your own quilt or to try the new thing and never actually finding out. 

I’d rather take the chance, and let myself fail a few times. 

I’ve got the perfect place for you to start with a free class where you have nothing to lose other than an hour of your time and a teeny bit of fabric, but you have a whole new hobby and quilty world to gain. 

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One of the things that I love most about quilting One of the things that I love most about quilting is that there is always something new to learn. 

You never stop learning, creating, making mistakes, and repeating the whole process. You’ll discover a new technique to try, a new way to use the fabric already sitting in your stash, a project that stretches you just enough to make that eventual TA-DA! feel even better.

That’s exactly why I’m so excited to be co-hosting the Quilters Paradise Summit again this September. 

It’s a completely FREE online event created to help you learn new quilting techniques, make beautiful things, and connect with other people who get just as excited about fabric as you do. 😄

Whether you’ve been quilting for years or you’re still watching from the sidelines wondering if you could actually do this, come join us September 21–28 for a week of quilting, completely free, where you’re guaranteed to learn something new.

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What if, even while you’re sitting in your own sew What if, even while you’re sitting in your own sewing room, you had a whole community of quilters cheering you on, celebrating your finished blocks, answering your questions, and reminding you to keep going when you’re feeling stuck?

I think that’s one of the things people are craving most right now.

You don’t want just another hobby, but a place to belong, connection to grow, and people to learn from.

People who understand why you’re excited about a new fabric pull, why matching points deserve a little happy dance, or why finally finishing a quilt is such a big accomplishment.

That’s exactly what we’ve built inside the Make Modern Triangles Club.

Quilters from all over the world, of all ages and experience levels, learning together, encouraging one another, sharing their progress, and proving that quilting is even more fun when it’s shared.

And if you’re someone who’s been wishing for an even closer sense of community... someone who would love to spend time quilting in person with other people who love this craft as much as you do... Let’s just say you might want to stick around and make sure that you are following along. 😉

I have something very special I’ve been dreaming up behind the scenes, and I can’t wait to share it with you soon. 🧵✨

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
Yup, I said it. 😅 Now, before anyone panics... I’ Yup, I said it. 😅

Now, before anyone panics... I’m not saying you should give up every time something gets challenging. I’m saying that sometimes a quilt simply isn’t the right quilt for you right now.

I’ve had projects that I tucked away for a few months, only to come back to them later with fresh eyes and fall completely in love with them again.

And I’ve had a few that... well... never made it across the finish line.

And I’m okay with that!

Not every project has to become a finished quilt.

✨ Sometimes a project teaches you a new skill.
✨ Sometimes it teaches you what colors you don’t love together.
✨ Sometimes it reminds you what kinds of quilts actually light you up.

No project is ever wasted, even the ones that are never finished. 

The next quilt might just be the one you can’t wait to sit down and sew. 🪡

Tell me in the comments if you’ve ever abandoned a project before! ⬇️

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
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And in all honesty, you’re not just going to wake up one day and start feeling confident. 

Most of the really talented quilters that you see on Pinterest and Instagram weren’t just automatically good at it, and I sure wasn’t either. 

For me, confidence wasn’t one big moment or a clear feeling one day. 

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Sometimes confidence is trusting yourself enough to keep sewing anyway, and sometimes it looks like trusting yourself enough to walk away from a project that isn’t bringing you joy anymore.

Not every quilt has to be finished, and not every idea has to become your favorite, but every project teaches you something, whether it ends up on your bed, your wall, or back on the shelf.

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I’ve been quilting for 15 years, and I have failed I’ve been quilting for 15 years, and I have failed PLENTY of times. 👇

I’ve made things I didn’t like. I’ve cut fabric wrong. I’ve had ideas that worked beautifully in my head and... not so beautifully once I started sewing them together.

But all of those failed have been how I learned.

I think sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves to make something perfect that we forget we’re allowed to just play.

👉 You’re allowed to mess up the fabric.
👉 You’re allowed to make something ugly.
👉 You’re allowed to try something you’re not so sure about.

Because the alternative is always wondering what it would be like to make your own quilt or to try the new thing and never actually finding out. 

I’d rather take the chance, and let myself fail a few times. 

I’ve got the perfect place for you to start with a free class where you have nothing to lose other than an hour of your time and a teeny bit of fabric, but you have a whole new hobby and quilty world to gain. 

Comment ‘FREE’ to take the class. ✨

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
One of the things that I love most about quilting One of the things that I love most about quilting is that there is always something new to learn. 

You never stop learning, creating, making mistakes, and repeating the whole process. You’ll discover a new technique to try, a new way to use the fabric already sitting in your stash, a project that stretches you just enough to make that eventual TA-DA! feel even better.

That’s exactly why I’m so excited to be co-hosting the Quilters Paradise Summit again this September. 

It’s a completely FREE online event created to help you learn new quilting techniques, make beautiful things, and connect with other people who get just as excited about fabric as you do. 😄

Whether you’ve been quilting for years or you’re still watching from the sidelines wondering if you could actually do this, come join us September 21–28 for a week of quilting, completely free, where you’re guaranteed to learn something new.

Maybe this is your sign to stop saving quite so many quilting videos... and start making something you’ll feel proud of. 🤍

Follow the link in my bio to get your free ticket. 🎟️ 

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
What if, even while you’re sitting in your own sew What if, even while you’re sitting in your own sewing room, you had a whole community of quilters cheering you on, celebrating your finished blocks, answering your questions, and reminding you to keep going when you’re feeling stuck?

I think that’s one of the things people are craving most right now.

You don’t want just another hobby, but a place to belong, connection to grow, and people to learn from.

People who understand why you’re excited about a new fabric pull, why matching points deserve a little happy dance, or why finally finishing a quilt is such a big accomplishment.

That’s exactly what we’ve built inside the Make Modern Triangles Club.

Quilters from all over the world, of all ages and experience levels, learning together, encouraging one another, sharing their progress, and proving that quilting is even more fun when it’s shared.

And if you’re someone who’s been wishing for an even closer sense of community... someone who would love to spend time quilting in person with other people who love this craft as much as you do... Let’s just say you might want to stick around and make sure that you are following along. 😉

I have something very special I’ve been dreaming up behind the scenes, and I can’t wait to share it with you soon. 🧵✨

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
Yup, I said it. 😅 Now, before anyone panics... I’ Yup, I said it. 😅

Now, before anyone panics... I’m not saying you should give up every time something gets challenging. I’m saying that sometimes a quilt simply isn’t the right quilt for you right now.

I’ve had projects that I tucked away for a few months, only to come back to them later with fresh eyes and fall completely in love with them again.

And I’ve had a few that... well... never made it across the finish line.

And I’m okay with that!

Not every project has to become a finished quilt.

✨ Sometimes a project teaches you a new skill.
✨ Sometimes it teaches you what colors you don’t love together.
✨ Sometimes it reminds you what kinds of quilts actually light you up.

No project is ever wasted, even the ones that are never finished. 

The next quilt might just be the one you can’t wait to sit down and sew. 🪡

Tell me in the comments if you’ve ever abandoned a project before! ⬇️

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
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