Calming Neutrals Meet Clever DIY: A Fresh Take on Quilting Trends

Emily Davis · 2026-08-01

Welcome to a brand new series here on the blog: Sewing the Trends! Throughout this series, we'll be making one quilt together while exploring a different quilting trend in each post. First up? Calming neutrals! With the Pantone Color of the Year being Cloud Dancer (an airy white), it's no surprise that soft, soothing neutrals are taking center stage, and it's the perfect excuse to let Background Bundles step into the spotlight for your next quilt. Plus, we're giving those leftover Fat Quarters a second, trendy life in your sewing space by revisiting our favorite sewing room DIY invented by the amazing Lori Holt, Design Boards! ### The Trend: Calming Neutrals The Pantone Color of the Year is always a good reference for the broader trends we see in fashion and decor. From the elevated basics of celebrity street style to the minimalist yet inviting interior designs that are rising in popularity, Cloud Dancer shows just how striking neutrals can be when they take center stage. As quilters, an easy way to play with this trend is to simply swap your background fabric for a color and make your main fabrics the neutrals! This isn't just about playing it safe, either. Neutrals have a way of making your piecing shine, letting intricate patterns and precise seams do the talking. When you build a quilt around soft creams, warm ivories, and gentle taupes, you create a piece that feels timeless, versatile, and effortlessly elegant. It's the kind of quilt that works in any room, any season, and any style. ### Why Background Bundles? Usually, backgrounds and blenders play the supporting role to the eye-catching prints of our favorite collections. Other precuts, such as Layer Cakes and Jelly Rolls, tend to feature the colorful fabrics, but with Fat Quarter Bundles, Background Bundles are often available to shop as well! However, without a scrappy project planned or a stash re-stock in mind, these bundles of cozy cuteness can often be overlooked. That's a shame, because these bundles are genuinely the unsung heroes of the quilting world. They give you a cohesive set of neutrals that work together beautifully, saving you the guesswork of matching shades from different collections. Whether you're piecing a whole quilt top or just need a reliable backing, Background Bundles are a smart, budget-friendly way to stock up. ### The Rows of Bows Quilt by Kassidy Grace For the featured quilt in this series, we're making the Rows of Bows Quilt by Kassidy Grace using the Laundry Line Fat Quarter Bundle by Laundry Basket Quilts for Andover Fabrics. The subtle touches of color bring life to the cream backgrounds, and the vintage prints add a timeless charm to this trending color palette. This pattern is a joy to piece, with rows of sweet little bows that feel both nostalgic and modern at the same time. The Laundry Line bundle gives you plenty of variety, and the soft color palette means every block feels cohesive without being boring. It's the perfect project to sink your needle into on a lazy weekend. ### Some Other Background Bundles We're Loving If you're ready to dip your toes into the neutral pool, here are a few more bundles that caught our eye: - Snow Flurry Fat Quarter Bundle by Laundry Basket Quilts for Andover Fabrics - Backgrounds Baked with Love Fat Quarter Bundle by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs - Gentler Times Background Fat Quarter Bundle by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs - Backgrounds Farmer's Daughter Fat Quarter Bundle by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs - Backgrounds Home Town Holiday Fat Quarter Bundle by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs - Autumn Backgrounds Fat Quarter Bundle by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs - Quail Run Backgrounds Fat Quarter Bundle by Kansas Troubles Quilters for Moda Fabrics - Essentials White on White Stocking Stuffers 2 Fat Quarter Bundle by Wilmington Prints - Sparkle Elements Fat Quarter Bundle by Art Gallery Fabrics - Butter Churn Basics Vol. 2 Fat Quarter Bundle by Kim Diehl for Henry Glass Fabrics - Prairie Backgrounds II Fat Quarter Bundle by Pam Buda for Marcus Fabrics - Backgrounds Eyelet Fat Quarter Bundle Curated by Fat Quarter Shop Each of these bundles brings its own flavor, whether you're after crisp whites, warm creams, or slightly textured blenders. Mix and match them for a truly custom look. ### Lori Holt's DIY Design Boards We love having a stack of Lori Holt's Design Boards at the ready in our sewing room, and whether you shop her pre-made Design Boards or decide to make your own, they are a must-have notion that's as cute as it is handy! For an in-depth video tutorial from the creator herself, watch the tutorial on Lori Holt's channel, or the one she filmed with us. Then, keep reading to see our quick and easy overview of this scrap-friendly DIY. These boards are perfect for pressing your blocks, organizing your pieces, or just keeping your workspace tidy. And the best part? You can make them from scraps you already have on hand, so they cost next to nothing. ### Step 1: Gather Your Supplies The Rows of Bows pattern calls for 12 Fat Quarters, and the Laundry Line Fat Quarter Bundle has 24! That means we have plenty of extra Fat Quarters to play with once we've picked which 12 go in the quilt. Here is the complete list of supplies you need for this quick DIY: - Leftover Fat Quarters - Foam Core Board (cut to your desired size) - Batting - Rotary Cutter - Scissors - Creative Grids Ruler - Hot glue gun and glue sticks That's it! Simple, right? Once you've got your supplies together, you're about ten minutes away from a brand new sewing room essential. Just cut your foam core to size, layer your batting and fabric over it, and secure everything with a few dabs of hot glue. Fold the edges over neatly, and you've got a professional-looking board that's ready for action. So grab your favorite neutrals, dig out those leftover Fat Quarters, and let's sew something beautiful together. Happy quilting, friends!