Observatory Block of the Month--All about the Fabrics

Observatory Block of the Month by Katie Blakesley of SwimBikeQuilt

Funny story—if you have seen the Paper Chain Block of the Month that Faith Jones, Lee Heinrich and I hosted this year (a really fantastic paper piecing Block of the Month), this color scheme might be familiar! I originally mocked up the Observatory Block of the Month in the Summer of 2019, but as fall approached, I was working too many hours to make it work, so I set it aside. We ended up using a very similar color scheme in the Paper Chain 2020 Block of the Month, and I tabled the Observatory BOM for a later date.

The Observatory Block of the Month will start on January 4, 2021. Lots of information on this post.

Observatory Block of the Month by Katie Blakesley of SwimBikeQuilt

This quilt would be a great option for using stash, or going shopping. I was so excited to stop by a new brick and Mortar store in my city, Sewtopia. Amy has an entire wall filled with solids and prints, and it is so nice to pick from so many solids in person.

I ended up with fat quarters of the following Kona Colors: Aqua, Caribbean, Nectarine, Bellini, Celery, and Banana Pepper. I didn’t even know Banana Pepper existed, lol. I also got 1-3/4 yards of Capri.

Fairy Dust by V and Co

I’m so happy with the Fairy Dust Ombre by V and Co fabrics that I ordered! More on the fabrics at the link above. I’ve never made an Ombre quilt, and I’m always in for a Rainbow quilt. I have a special person in mind for this version, so that makes the planning and thinking about it even better. I chose Ombre because then I wouldn’t have to worry about multiple different fabrics for each star, but honestly, I could have pulled it out of my stash and scraps, and I probably should have. But where is the fun in that??

In the Welcome Guide, which you get after purchasing the Observatory BOM, I have a detailed list of fabric colors and estimated amounts for the Rainbow version—the fabric amounts are 1/4 yards, 1/8 yards/Fat Eighths. The suggestions include Kona Cotton and Ruby Star Society’s Spark and Speckled.

Observatory Block of the Month by Katie Blakesley of SwimBikeQuilt

And last but not least, when I took a photo of these fabrics on top of the play kitchens, I thought perhaps I had been unconsciously inspired by it all along.