My new Dutch Summer BOM is here! One quilt with 14 pretty color palettes to choose from: One-color, two-color, neutral, bold, calm blues and greens, rainbow and more. Of course, you can choose your own color palette (I teach you how to do that, too). Either way, you’ll finish a quilt you’re darn proud of.
And BONUS…this quilt looks way more difficult to make than it is. When the compliments fly, you can humbly admit, that ‘yes, I made it’ ~bashful smile~.
The Dutch Summer BOM is a perfect-o choice. In this post, I’ll show you 14 (whoa!) palettes to transform this quilt in unexpected ways, from disappearing blocks to negative space to bold color choices.
Join the BOM program with tutorials, support and encouragement
Read all about the Dutch Summer BOM program here plus Make Modern Triangles Club bonuses. I’ve designed the pacing and instructions into simple, inspiring and predictable routines so you’ll finish this beautiful quilt. Learn my system that gets it done as we turn simple triangles into breathtaking modern quilts. Now is a great time to start.
Key Highlights
- This quilt design uses simple triangle blocks and smart color placement to create stunning modern quilt top.
- With clear instructions, it’s a fantastic project for a beginner looking to build skills like freezer paper piecing with triangles and rewarding for intermediate and advanced quilters, too.
14 Colorful Ways to Make Dutch Summer Block of the Month Quilt
The Dutch Summer BOM is a versatile triangle quilt that easily morphs into an entirely “different” design when you play with color. Below are nine distinct ways you can make this beautiful quilt or choose your own colors to make it yours.
ONE and TWO-COLOR Palettes
Monochromatic – Deep Sea Dive
Have you ever considered building a quilt around a single color? A monochromatic color scheme uses different shades, tints and tones one hue to create the wow it” factor that pulls you in. This approach is perfect for a beginner, as it simplifies your color choices.
Subtlety is the color magic in monochromatic schemes. By arranging your triangle blocks from lightest to darkest, you can create a beautiful gradient effect. Strategic color placement makes parts of the design pop while others recede, adding depth and looking very sophisticated.
TIPS
- Texture: Mix different fabric types like cotton, linen, and chambray in the same color to add another layer of interest.
- Vary values: Make sure that you have a good range of light, medium, and dark fabrics to create contrast and prevent the top from looking flat.
2-Color High Contrast – Peppermint Twist
If you love bold, graphic designs, a two-color quilt delivers. The simplicity of a two-color palette pulls the shapes and patterns to center stage.
By using two high-contrast, opposite colors, you can create a powerful geometric statement. The sharp contrast makes every seam and angle stand out, resulting in a quilt that is both modern and timeless.
TIPS
- Pairs: Black and white is a timeless choice, but consider other opposites like complementary colors (e.g., blue and orange) for a vibrant effect.
- Placement: Experiment with different color placements using a PDF print or digital coloring page. See how the geometric patterns change in real time.
- Impact: Use one color for the background and the other for the main design to make your pattern pop.
Two-Color Warm – Solstice
Using only two colors in an autumn palette evokes leaves turning colors and browning landscapes. I use this the Solstice color palette for almost every BOM pattern I design. It’s unusual and it never disappoints.
2-Color Low Contrast
Three color Modern Triangle Quilt Palettes
Three-Color – Antiques Fair
If you’re drawn to softer colors, try a pastel color palette in a modern quilt pattern. You can have it both ways, bright and soft.
3-Color Sparkler
3-Color Terracotta and Sage
This palette is a subtle complementary palette where orange as terracotta is the perfect contrast for blue.
3-Color Sparkler
Four-color quilt palettes
Neutral – Salted Caramel
Neutrals are sophisticated, restful and minimal.
My inspo was the Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2025, Mocha Mousse. When working with a neutral palette, you can create interest by balancing warm and cool tones. For example, pair a warm beige with a cool gray to add subtle contrast.
TIPS
- Pairings: Mix beiges, taupes, and soft grays. Add a touch of charcoal or espresso for a bit of depth.
- Texture: Use fabrics with different weaves or subtle patterns to add dimension to your quilt top.
- Quilting: Straight-line quilting can enhance the modern feel, while a custom pattern within the triangles can add definition to the design.
Tropicana
Notice how the three focal colors equally vibrant while the background is a toned down green. Using four colors can create chaos. Place your colors so they aren’t competing for attention. The fourth color acts as an anchor that you don’t notice, but holds the composition together.
TIPS
- Pastels: Unusual pairings give a more modern feel, like a navy background with mint, peach and cream pastels.
- Background: Increase the saturation in your background color to make the pastels dance on top.
SIx-Color Modern triangle quilt palettes
Rainbow Gradient
Ooooo, how I love rainbow palettes! Color everywhere, all the colors! I use a few tools for choosing colors and they make it easier to curate a one-of-a-kind rainbow palette.
Learn many techniques for creating unique rainbow quilt palettes with lots of pretty pictures for inspo. Not every rainbow palette has to be the Lucky Charms version.
TIPS
- Use a quilter’s color wheel. The color wheel is essential in rainbow quilting, guiding color choices and making a harmonious design.
- Be a rebel: Let go of traditional rainbows by experimenting with color order, neutrals, pastels, jewel tones, gradation, intensity, value, and print fabrics. Mix it up for the unexpected.
6-Color – Echinacea
Let nature be your guide with a modern triangle quilt inspired by an Echinacea summer garden. This type of quilt is thematic and draws its colour palette from the iconic cone-flower, featuring shades of pink, purple, and magenta, paired with earthy greens and rich, cone-like browns.
TIPS
- Inspiration: Look at photos of Echinacea flowers and pull shades of pink, purple, orange, and green.
- Contrast:
6-Color Warm Analogous – Wildflower
Creating a harmonious and visually pleasing quilt is easy with analogous color schemes. This method uses colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. For a warm and inviting quilt, choose a set of six warm colors, such as yellow, yellow-orange, orange, red-orange, red, and red-violet. This creates a rich, cohesive look with gentle transitions.
Here’s how to work with a warm analogous palette:
- Selection: Choose six colors that sit side-by-side on the warm side of the color wheel.
- Layout: Create waves of color or blend the shades together for a fiery, sunset-inspired effect.
How to make this quilt with with Freezer Paper Piecing (and No HST Blocks!)
My go-to triangles are right triangles, isosceles and equilateral. Yup, not half square triangles. I love HSTs, however, adding shapes inside triangles and rotating them into different formations is my favorite design method. Pairing the blocks in different ways reveals all kinds of possibilities for patterns. Once I get started, I really can’t stop!
Sooooo, my patterns require foundation piecing and I use a freezer paper piecing method that a friend taught me years ago. I can design any weird triangle and sew it up with this technique. How cool is that?
No more ripping tiny papers for hours and just as accurate results. Inside the block of the month program, I teach everyone how to use the technique through videos and live demos on every modern triangle quilt. Watch this video to see how I use this exclusively for modern triangle quilts and this one about the notions I use. Learn more about freezer paper piecing and get my free guide. You’re gonna love making modern triangle quilts this way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What materials work best for making a modern triangle quilt?
High-quality, 100% cotton fabric is the best choice for a modern triangle quilt. Press and starch the fabric before cutting shapes to stabilize the fabric.
Where can I find free modern triangle quilt patterns, tutorials and digital downloads?
You can find hundreds of free patterns and digital downloads on quilting blogs, fabric company websites such as Art Gallery Fabrics, and pattern designer sites. Online communities and social media groups are also great resources.
What is the difference between traditional and modern quilt patterns with triangles?
A modern triangle quilt often features clean modern lines, bold geometric layouts, and negative space. While a traditional quilt might use triangle blocks in intricate, repeating patterns, a modern quilt design experiments more with asymmetry, scale, and minimalist color palettes for a fresh aesthetic.
How do I create ombre effects in a modern triangle quilt pattern?
To create an ombre effect in a modern triangle quilt like Dutch Summer, select fabrics in gradual color transitions from light, medium and dark fabrics in each color. Place the pieces together so that the colors blend softly from lightest to darkest.
Can you suggest easy triangle modern quilt patterns for beginners?
Try out my free Modern Triangle block and tutorial to get started – perfect for beginners. If you’re looking for easy beginner patterns for modern triangle quilts, start with simple half-square triangle designs or layouts that use large triangle shapes. Triangle shapes have stretchy edges due to the diagonal lines so practice helps you become comfortable with piecing them together.
