Solstice Firelight in Flourish and Bloom Fabrics
For my November Circle of Makers project, I had the absolute pleasure of working with some stunning floral fabrics from Helen Prior’s Flourish and Bloom collection for FreeSpirit Fabrics. These fabrics will ship in March 2026. Just look at these prints — bright, joyful, and full of movement. To top it off, Aurifil Threads sent along perfectly coordinating threads.
At first, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to make. I kept playing with ideas but nothing really clicked... until I mocked up the fabric with my Solstice Firelight quilt pattern. That’s when it all came together — the prints sang, and I couldn’t wait to get started.
A Twist on the Pattern
For this version of Solstice Firelight, I made a small change — I used two background colours instead of the usual single tone featured in the pattern. It gave the design a whole new dimension and I love how it turned out. If you're considering trying this pattern, don't be afraid to play with colour placement — it can completely transform the final look.
Curves: My First Love
It’s been a while since I sewed curved quilt blocks, and oh, how I missed them. There’s something so satisfying about the flow of a curve, and returning to it felt like a creative homecoming. If you’ve never tried sewing curves before, I highly recommend giving it a go. In fact, here’s a tutorial on How to Sew Curves in a Quilt to help you get started.
Quilting + Backing Choices
For the quilting, I went with a simple crosshatch design, spaced 1½" apart, stitched with my trusty 50wt Aurifil thread and Brother domestic machine. Clean, classic, and just the right amount of texture to let the fabrics shine.
Now, let’s talk about the backing. (Sigh.) In a moment of laziness, I skipped hunting for the perfect backing fabric and decided to use the one l thought tied the garden look in my head. My 7year old looked at it and her only comment was 'it’s very green'. I did add a strip of Flourish and Bloom to tie it together, and honestly, it kind of works l think — but yeah, let’s just say it’s not my proudest quilt back. I'll only show you a little peek 😂
A Slow Finish That Felt Just Right
To finish things off, I did something I rarely do: hand binding. Normally I rush to the finish line, but this quilt felt different. From the first block, it whispered, “Take your time. One stitch at a time.” And I did.
By the time I placed the last stitch, I knew — this one’s mine. It’s now my favourite quilt to curl up with on the couch, and the one I’ll be bringing with me wherever I go. It’s warm, personal, and filled with those little imperfections that make it so me.
There’s nothing quite like being wrapped up in something made with your own hands. I love my new Solstice Firelight quilt in the fabulous Flourish and Bloom collection for FreeSpirit fabrics. The fabrics ship March 2026. I ended up using these two threads 50wt 2600 and Floss 6724 for piecing, quilting, and binding — a match made in stitching heaven!
