Sylvia @ Flying Parrot Quilts
@flyingparrotquilts.bsky.social
🧵 Quilter, pattern designer, author, teacher, former scientist, occasional flutist. Obsessed with all kinds of creative expression.
https://flyingparrotquilts.com
https://shop.flyingparrotquilts.com
https://flyingparrotquilts.com
https://shop.flyingparrotquilts.com
The final project in "Modern Scrap Quilts" is "Embers Rising," which features a gradient in the negative space, along with a foreground gradient. Like the fade-out on the cover quilt, this is meant to be combined with the other techniques in the book. Personally, I love it with ghost blocks!
November 18, 2025 at 9:17 PM
The final project in "Modern Scrap Quilts" is "Embers Rising," which features a gradient in the negative space, along with a foreground gradient. Like the fade-out on the cover quilt, this is meant to be combined with the other techniques in the book. Personally, I love it with ghost blocks!
And then there's the cover quilt, “Ombré Symphony.” It was my favorite quilt from this book the minute I designed it, and my top choice for the cover. Fortunately the C&T team agreed with me! This quilt, made of just quarter-circle blocks, kicks off the book section all about color gradients.
November 17, 2025 at 9:17 PM
And then there's the cover quilt, “Ombré Symphony.” It was my favorite quilt from this book the minute I designed it, and my top choice for the cover. Fortunately the C&T team agreed with me! This quilt, made of just quarter-circle blocks, kicks off the book section all about color gradients.
"Peel and Patch" is the final improv-pieced project in "Modern Scrap Quilts." It uses newly created fabric inside traditional blocks. This is probably the most traditional of the projects, but adding improv piecing gives it a modern punch by adding texture and interest.
November 16, 2025 at 9:17 PM
"Peel and Patch" is the final improv-pieced project in "Modern Scrap Quilts." It uses newly created fabric inside traditional blocks. This is probably the most traditional of the projects, but adding improv piecing gives it a modern punch by adding texture and interest.
I call "structured improv" piecing that pre-plans some of the shapes and/or sizes of fabrics, rather than just sewing randomly, as in "Chain Reaction." I used strips of various widths to create blocks that were then arranged into diamonds. It's ideal for leftover strips from other projects.
November 15, 2025 at 9:17 PM
I call "structured improv" piecing that pre-plans some of the shapes and/or sizes of fabrics, rather than just sewing randomly, as in "Chain Reaction." I used strips of various widths to create blocks that were then arranged into diamonds. It's ideal for leftover strips from other projects.
Another fun way of filling your negative space is improv piecing! In "Freeform Constellation," gaps between the stars are filled with improv-pieced blocks. This makes every block different.
"Modern Scrap Quilts" has 3 chapters on improv piecing in your negative space!
"Modern Scrap Quilts" has 3 chapters on improv piecing in your negative space!
November 14, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Another fun way of filling your negative space is improv piecing! In "Freeform Constellation," gaps between the stars are filled with improv-pieced blocks. This makes every block different.
"Modern Scrap Quilts" has 3 chapters on improv piecing in your negative space!
"Modern Scrap Quilts" has 3 chapters on improv piecing in your negative space!
If you don’t want to use the exact same block that you used in the foreground in the negative space, try a simplified version of the foreground blocks. In “Where’s the Treasure?” I used an hourglass block in the empty spaces to echo mint and pink blocks in this project from “Modern Scrap Quilts.”
November 13, 2025 at 9:17 PM
If you don’t want to use the exact same block that you used in the foreground in the negative space, try a simplified version of the foreground blocks. In “Where’s the Treasure?” I used an hourglass block in the empty spaces to echo mint and pink blocks in this project from “Modern Scrap Quilts.”
Modern Scrap Quilts is almost here! The books are on their way from the warehouse, and the blog tour is happening now. If you'd like chances to win a copy of the e-book, hop over to C&T for the full schedule of stops on the blog tour: ctpub.com/blogs/blog-c...
November 12, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Modern Scrap Quilts is almost here! The books are on their way from the warehouse, and the blog tour is happening now. If you'd like chances to win a copy of the e-book, hop over to C&T for the full schedule of stops on the blog tour: ctpub.com/blogs/blog-c...
One of my favorite ways of filling negative space is using what I call “ghost blocks.” These are basically just toned-down versions of your foreground blocks that you’ve used in the negative space. My new book “Modern Scrap Quilts” has a whole chapter on ghost blocks like here in "Homeward Bound"!
November 6, 2025 at 5:16 PM
One of my favorite ways of filling negative space is using what I call “ghost blocks.” These are basically just toned-down versions of your foreground blocks that you’ve used in the negative space. My new book “Modern Scrap Quilts” has a whole chapter on ghost blocks like here in "Homeward Bound"!
If you have only a limited number of scraps, using them as accents in a more consistent negative space might be the solution for you, like in "Chocolate and Sprinkles"! This might also be a solution if you've already pre-cut scraps into squares. More ideas on accents are in "Modern Scrap Quilts."
November 5, 2025 at 9:17 PM
If you have only a limited number of scraps, using them as accents in a more consistent negative space might be the solution for you, like in "Chocolate and Sprinkles"! This might also be a solution if you've already pre-cut scraps into squares. More ideas on accents are in "Modern Scrap Quilts."
Daisy Flower Garden is the second pattern in Modern Scrap Quilts. It uses a hexagonal block repeated in the negative space. I think this quilt looks just like a real meadow! Repeating block shapes is such a versatile technique, and the accompanying chapter gives tons of examples to inspire you!
November 2, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Daisy Flower Garden is the second pattern in Modern Scrap Quilts. It uses a hexagonal block repeated in the negative space. I think this quilt looks just like a real meadow! Repeating block shapes is such a versatile technique, and the accompanying chapter gives tons of examples to inspire you!
I'm sharing the project quilts in my new book Modern Scrap Quilts! First is "Paradise This Way," based on 🍍 blocks that become arrows when you drop block parts. The dropped parts are still pieced, so "use them in the background" is the easiest way of using scraps in the negative space! #quiltsky
November 1, 2025 at 9:32 PM
I'm sharing the project quilts in my new book Modern Scrap Quilts! First is "Paradise This Way," based on 🍍 blocks that become arrows when you drop block parts. The dropped parts are still pieced, so "use them in the background" is the easiest way of using scraps in the negative space! #quiltsky
I did end up getting my Squigglycane quilt done, photographed, and submitted to QuiltCon. I definitely underestimated how long it would take me, but I’m very happy with the end result. #modernquilt #quiltsky
November 1, 2025 at 1:25 AM
I did end up getting my Squigglycane quilt done, photographed, and submitted to QuiltCon. I definitely underestimated how long it would take me, but I’m very happy with the end result. #modernquilt #quiltsky
Frantically trying to put the finishing touches on my fabric challenge quilt for QuiltCon next year. Friday’s the deadline!
October 29, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Frantically trying to put the finishing touches on my fabric challenge quilt for QuiltCon next year. Friday’s the deadline!
The Modern Quilt Guild's quilt auction is live now and I'm donating Buckles, a quilt from my first book. I'm excited to be able to support an organization I like and give one of my too-numerous quilts a new home! Bidding is open through October 15.
October 2, 2025 at 1:21 PM
The Modern Quilt Guild's quilt auction is live now and I'm donating Buckles, a quilt from my first book. I'm excited to be able to support an organization I like and give one of my too-numerous quilts a new home! Bidding is open through October 15.
Feeling validated by this Best Use of Negative Space ribbon from the Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza!
#modernquilt
#modernquilt
September 19, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Feeling validated by this Best Use of Negative Space ribbon from the Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza!
#modernquilt
#modernquilt
I made some silly quilting stickers! They’re in my shop now.
August 1, 2025 at 9:41 PM
I made some silly quilting stickers! They’re in my shop now.
I wanted to share more about my QuiltCon workshops! First, Ombré Symphony, the cover quilt from my new book. We'll spend some time sorting fabrics, and learn to sew the simple curved block that makes up this quilt! There are two sessions: Friday eve and Saturday AM. #modernquilt #quilting #quiltcon
July 11, 2025 at 8:17 PM
I wanted to share more about my QuiltCon workshops! First, Ombré Symphony, the cover quilt from my new book. We'll spend some time sorting fabrics, and learn to sew the simple curved block that makes up this quilt! There are two sessions: Friday eve and Saturday AM. #modernquilt #quilting #quiltcon
I am so excited to announce that I have another book coming out in November! Modern Scrap Quilts continues the journey through negative space, this time with a focus on using scraps and prints in the negative space to add additional depth to quilt designs. #modernquilt #quilting
June 25, 2025 at 2:58 AM
I am so excited to announce that I have another book coming out in November! Modern Scrap Quilts continues the journey through negative space, this time with a focus on using scraps and prints in the negative space to add additional depth to quilt designs. #modernquilt #quilting
I’m so excited to be back on the #quiltcon faculty for 2026 with three workshops and a lecture! The schedule is out now so you can start making your plans!
#quiltcon2026 #mqg #modernquilts
#quiltcon2026 #mqg #modernquilts
May 28, 2025 at 5:52 PM
I’m so excited to be back on the #quiltcon faculty for 2026 with three workshops and a lecture! The schedule is out now so you can start making your plans!
#quiltcon2026 #mqg #modernquilts
#quiltcon2026 #mqg #modernquilts
Made a test block for my MQG challenge quilt out of some extra Windham shot cottons to make sure they’d work well for all these curves.
I love the way it turned out, so the Squigglycane quilt is a go!
#quiltconchallenge #curvedpiecing
I love the way it turned out, so the Squigglycane quilt is a go!
#quiltconchallenge #curvedpiecing
May 16, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Made a test block for my MQG challenge quilt out of some extra Windham shot cottons to make sure they’d work well for all these curves.
I love the way it turned out, so the Squigglycane quilt is a go!
#quiltconchallenge #curvedpiecing
I love the way it turned out, so the Squigglycane quilt is a go!
#quiltconchallenge #curvedpiecing
Here are two more color ideas for Meeting of the Geese. I would be so curious to see some interpretations with more than three colors!
#quilt #meetingofthegeesequiltpattern #modernquilt #quiltcon2026
#quilt #meetingofthegeesequiltpattern #modernquilt #quiltcon2026
May 15, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Here are two more color ideas for Meeting of the Geese. I would be so curious to see some interpretations with more than three colors!
#quilt #meetingofthegeesequiltpattern #modernquilt #quiltcon2026
#quilt #meetingofthegeesequiltpattern #modernquilt #quiltcon2026
I was so excited to see that the 2026 QuiltCon Member Challenge is to make one of the 2016 MQG Patterns of the Month because January was Meeting of the Geese! I can’t wait to see some new versions of this design.
#meetingofthegeesepattern #quilt #modernquilt #mqg
#meetingofthegeesepattern #quilt #modernquilt #mqg
May 14, 2025 at 4:16 PM
I was so excited to see that the 2026 QuiltCon Member Challenge is to make one of the 2016 MQG Patterns of the Month because January was Meeting of the Geese! I can’t wait to see some new versions of this design.
#meetingofthegeesepattern #quilt #modernquilt #mqg
#meetingofthegeesepattern #quilt #modernquilt #mqg
Fun with some pre-printed panels today as I work on developing a new workshop! #miniquilts #quilt #straightlinequilting
April 25, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Fun with some pre-printed panels today as I work on developing a new workshop! #miniquilts #quilt #straightlinequilting
Doing the quilting for my very favorite (but opinionated) customer on her very first quilt: cupcakes in rainbow thread. Yes, my customer is 5.
#longarmquilting #patchwork #kidsquilting #quilt
#longarmquilting #patchwork #kidsquilting #quilt
March 28, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Doing the quilting for my very favorite (but opinionated) customer on her very first quilt: cupcakes in rainbow thread. Yes, my customer is 5.
#longarmquilting #patchwork #kidsquilting #quilt
#longarmquilting #patchwork #kidsquilting #quilt
My local guild show was this past weekend and I entered 2 quilts. I received two ribbons, Best Machine Quilting and 3rd place in Modern Quilts! #patchwork #longarmquilting #quiltshow
March 3, 2025 at 4:38 PM
My local guild show was this past weekend and I entered 2 quilts. I received two ribbons, Best Machine Quilting and 3rd place in Modern Quilts! #patchwork #longarmquilting #quiltshow