In this post I’m sharing my inspiration and quilt-making escape for the Dutch Summer BOM Peppermint Twist version of my 2026 block of the month program. This quilt kick-started it all: I created 14 color schemes because I just couldn’t stop (and probably have a few more in me).
Trigger warning: I love this quilt and the time I spent making it, but it was a sad time for me and my family last Christmas. It had been a hard year, mostly because my mom passed away in March. After getting through a holiday season for the first time without her, (and first time for the kids without their DeeDee), I just needed an escape – a pajama-clad, cheese- and wine-filled, TV show-watching, quilting retreat for myself.
Weirdly, I also felt jolly. Maybe because Mom loved Christmas so much? I felt jolly enough to text friends suggesting “I should I open a Christmas quilt shop!”
Over-caffeinated ideas like that one get me going. Thankfully, I didn’t open a Christmas quilt shop. Instead, I decided to start and finish a quilt over the holiday break. Ya know, a more realistic two-week goal. Oh, and design it, choose a color palette, buy the fabric, wash the fabric…
DESIGN INSPIRATION
Inspired by a pattern rhythm in a scarf, I quickly hatched a design on the computer. Side note: It often happens like that. I’ll see a design and instantly see a fully formed modern triangle quilt in my mind. Weird, I know.
I played around in my computer design program, using modern triangle design templates, and quickly had a design and a color scheme. The good thing about Christmas quilts is the color scheme can be pretty, pretty easy – red, white, and green. This translated in my mind as dark teal blue/green and reds became burgundy and berry.
FABRIC
My next problem was having enough fabric. Even though I have loads and loads of fabric, I didn’t have enough of the merry classics. Waiting even a few days for fabric to arrive from my favorite online shop was not an option.
I found my tone-on-tone fabrics at a local fabric shop (Jackman’s in St. Louis), which I knew would have good options. Normally, I like to make my quilts using solids, but for Christmas-y quilts I like a little bit more texture and more kitsch, like my collection of patterned holiday fabrics.
For my Peppermint Twist, I passed on classic green and chose a blue-green because my home’s decor is filled with bluer greens. I went full-on red for big contrast to make it modern.
How to make this quilt
PREPPING
Before I could start cutting and stitching, I had to pre-wash my fabrics. Normally I don’t, but with such a strong red, I felt like the extra step would protect my quilt from bleeding color. I’m happy my past self took the extra step!
Next, I had to press the fabrics! Oof! It’s been such a long time since I pre-washed and ironed fabrics before beginning a project. It felt kinda nostalgic. I reveled in the smell and feel of steamy cotton on my ironing board as a Christmas movie played in the background.
Finally, it was time to snuggle down and start creating! *squeeee!* Those moments make me so, so happy!
Modern Triangle Batches
Dutch Summer comes together like any of my modern triangle quilts, first you make your batches.
Like any modern triangle quilt, there are batches that seem to take forever…
batches that fly by so (sew!) quickly…
batches that challenge your skill set…
and batches that are such a joy to sew!
No matter what though, by the time you finish alllll of the batches it’s time to celebrate! Finishing all of your modern triangles, seeing that fat stack of beauties, is such fun!
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.
Assembly Time
Once you have all your batches complete it’s time to watch the magic happen! It’s time to start assembly!
Once you get all the triangles finished, you can lay them all out and see how the individual pieces click into place, like a kaleidoscope, and create the final design! Too bad I didn’t pause to snap a picture. I was having too much fun!
Assembly is easy. There are no Y-Seams or anything hard like that. I put the quilt together using larger units like half square triangles (HSTs) and quarter square triangles…
And then units keep getting bigger until we make one “Dutch Summer” block.
And then 4 “Dutch Summer” Blocks.
Ta Da! The Big Reveal
Overall, this is my new favorite quilt! I’m so so pleased with how everything turned out. It was such a joy to make and the creative retreat I took for myself was just what I needed.
Quilt & Finishing Details
I’m in a season where I’m not quilting my own projects. I can and I have, it’s just that I don’t. So if I don’t send my projects out to a quilter, the projects will languish.
I sent my finished quilt to Trace Creek Quilts, and I chose a round, geometric quilting design. I love bubbles and this one is the perfect complement to the geometric, triangle design.
For the backing I went back to Jackman’s to choose a floral red. I could not be happier with my choice! I love pairing louder and larger prints on my backing with the near-solids I use in my main quilt. Note I did pre-wash the backing fabric too before sending it off to the quilter.
For the binding, I used the same teal I used in the main quilt so the backing melts into the overall design of the quilt.
LESSONS LEARNED for Dutch Summer BOM Peppermint Twist
- I can be sad and jolly at the same time, and apparently, very productive.
- Making a twist on the color palette was jolly good time. I love this quilt.
- The world is always loud and fast, so if you need a quiet retreat, take it!
- Listen to your former self. If she says the fabric might bleed in the washer, trust.
- How much I enjoy a sewing escape. Unplugging from the internet, being constantly available, and just creating.
Want to Make your Own?
You too can make your own “Dutch Summer” quilt. Visit the sign up page here for details and join today.
MAKE THIS QUILT!
Quilt sizes
The Dutch Summer BOM Peppermint Twist is available in three sizes. You can enlarge it by adding quadrants or borders.
You can choose to make 4-inch, 6-inch or 8-inch blocks. The rows are 10 blocks across and 10 blocks down.
- 4-inch block: 40 x 40 inches
- 6-inch blocks: 60 x 60 inches
- 8-inch blocks: 80 x 80 inches
YOUR QUILTING resources
- Get my free Freezer Paper Piecing Guide
- Watch a tutorial on Freezer Paper Piecing
- Notions for Freezer Paper Piecing
Rebecca – I love this quilt (and Christmas)! It is the prettiest pattern that I have seen in a very long time. I don’t do much piecing anymore because I am focused on my landscape quilts. But I may have to reconsider. 😁 I am so very sorry for the loss of your mom.
Thanks so much Beverly!