Calming Neutrals Are Trending—Here's How to Sew Them Into Your Next Quilt

Thomas Sterling · 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 honestly? 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. We're revisiting our favorite sewing room DIY invented by the amazing Lori Holt: Design Boards. These little gems are as cute as they are handy, and they'll help you organize your fabrics in style. ## 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. It flips the whole look on its head—and the results are stunning. ### 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 they're truly the unsung heroes of a well-balanced quilt. ### 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. It's the kind of quilt that feels both modern and nostalgic at the same time—perfect for snuggling on a cool evening. ### Some Other Background Bundles We're Loving If you're looking to stock up on neutrals, here are a few 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 ## Lori Holt's DIY Design Boards We love having a stack of Lori Holt's Design Boards at the ready in our sewing room. 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. ### 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 ### Step 2: Cut and Assemble Start by cutting your foam core board to the size you want. A 12-inch by 12-inch square works great for most projects, but you can go bigger if you're working on a larger quilt. Then, cut your batting to match the board's dimensions. Lay the batting over the foam core and wrap it around the edges, securing it with hot glue on the back. It's a simple process that takes just a few minutes. ### Step 3: Add Your Fabrics Now for the fun part! Pin or clip your leftover Fat Quarters onto the board to create a design wall. You can arrange and rearrange until you find the perfect layout for your quilt. The best part? These boards are portable, so you can take your design with you to a quilt bee or just move it around your sewing room. > "Design Boards are the ultimate tool for seeing your quilt come together before you commit to stitching." — Lori Holt ### Why You'll Love This DIY This project is budget-friendly (you probably have most of the supplies already), it's quick (you can finish a board in under 30 minutes), and it's endlessly useful. Plus, it gives those extra Fat Quarters a purpose beyond sitting in a drawer. Whether you're a seasoned quilter or just starting out, these boards will change the way you plan your projects. And with calming neutrals trending, there's never been a better time to embrace the quiet beauty of a well-curated palette. Happy sewing!