Currents Quilt - Ice Cream Shop Version
Life is most skillfully lived when one sails a boat rather than rowing it.
— Alan Watts
Design Inspiration
“Eudaimonia” is the Greek word for “human flourishing.” Eudaimonia Studio designs are inspired by the ancient question of what it means to live well. The Currents design abstractly represents the concept of wu wei - a central principle in Chinese and especially Daoist philosophy. The term literally translates to “non-doing.” While a common misconception, it is not about inaction; rather, it suggests we not resist forces outside of our control, and instead mindfully - and less effortlessly - respond by harnessing these winds & currents to advance our proverbial boat.
Use code CQBUNDLE at checkout to save $10 when you buy the Currents Quilt pattern & workshop together!
Join me January 25, 2025 at Road to California for an in-person Currents quilt workshop!
About the design.
The Currents design abstractly represents the concept of wu wei - a central principle in Chinese and especially Daoist philosophy. The term literally translates to “non-doing.” While a common misconception, it is not about inaction; rather, it suggests we not resist forces outside of our control, and instead mindfully - and less effortlessly - respond by harnessing these winds & currents to advance our proverbial boat.
This fun, undulating design is a great introduction to curves with its large, forgiving blocks. Play around with color placement, and explore the many variations of this fun - and surprisingly quick! - quilt pattern.
Get the companion on-demand workshop.
For extra guidance & confidence, add the Currents Quilt Workshop. In this companion on-demand course, you can sew along with Brooke at your own pace with 20+ videos of demonstrations, guidance & all the helpful tips you'd get in a live workshop - from fabric selection considerations to final quilting design suggestions. Access to your workshop never expires, so watch the videos as often as you like, or whenever you need a refresher. Post in the Thinkific course platform to get help if you get stuck.
Note: The companion workshop is a supplement to - not a replacement for - the Currents quilt pattern. The pattern includes templates, cutting measurements & diagrams, and other instructions required for successful completion of your Currents quilt top.
More about the Currents quilt pattern.
Skill Level: Advanced Beginner / Intermediate
Instructions for Baby, Throw, Twin, Queen & King sizes included
Instructions for two main color variations - Two-Tone & Six-Color - with three border options for the Six-Color in Throw size;
Love scrappy quilts? See the "off-pattern" Fat Quarter Currents Quilt blog post
Currents quilt acrylic templates (sold separately) make tracing/cutting your pieces a breeze
Cutting diagrams help with efficient cutting and get you sewing sooner, with labels to help keep you organized
Coloring sheet to help get you started, with sample mockups for inspiration; plus, plan your quilt on PreQuilt & QuiltInk!
Downloadable PDF
Pattern licensing for online shops.
For online shops interested in selling this PDF pattern, please see the Pattern Licensing Page for more information.
Materials & maker credits.
All fabrics in the quilts pictured are Art Gallery Fabrics. Kits for certain pictured versions are available from: Global Fiber, Lamb & Loom, Gotham Quilts, Pear Tree Market & Cottoneer
Included are samples made by Mandy Plummer (@handmademandy) & Amanda Eastmond (@seamrip_seamstress)
Longarming by Trace Creek Quilting & Wild Phil Quilting. Pantographs used include: Paradoxical by Jess Zeigler, Wavy Lines, Baptist Sunrise by Katie Hanson, Sunrise Skateland by Julie Hirt, and 6-Petal Flowers by Deborah Lobban.
Details & Techniques
With its flowing, wave-like design, Currents is a joyful introduction to sewing curves. The large-sized forgiving blocks make it approachable for advanced beginners, while offering plenty of room for creative color play. Whether you’re going bold with the six-color version, or keeping it more minimalist with the two-tone version, this surprisingly quick pattern invites tons of variation!
Currents includes instructions for 5 sizes (baby, throw, twin, queen, and king). Printable templates are provided with the pattern, but for those planning to make this again and again (trust me…you’ll want to!) there are durable acrylic templates also available.
Additionally, if you’d like a little more guidance sewing this quilt we have an on-demand video course that will walk you through every step!
Fabrics
This Ice Cream Shop version of the Currents quilt uses a playful palette of pinks and blues for the “6-color version with standard border”, for a look that’s reminiscent of an old-fashioned ice cream parlor.
The quilt top is all AGF Pure Solids:
Color 1: White Linen
Colors 2-6: Rock Candy, Tranquil Waters, Night Sea, Honey & Crystal Pink
The backing is AGF Meandering Sea by Katie O’Shea
Binding is AGF Pure Solids Sandstone
Be sure to check out the other versions of the Currents quilt here.
Want to color your own version? Create your own mockups of the Currents quilt on PreQuilt!
Quilting
This quilt was longarmed by Wild Phil Quilting using the Modern Wave pantograph by Tracey Pereira.
Pink & Green Version
It’s amazing to see what a difference 2 colors swapped can make on the final version of a quilt! This version is the same as the Ice Cream Shop version, except the two blue fabrics were switched for teal.
The quilt top is all AGF Pure Solids:
Color 1: White Linen
Colors 2-6: Rock Candy, Fresh Water, Zambia Stone, Honey & Crystal Pink
Binding is AGF Pure Solids Sandstone
Quilting
This quilt was longarmed by Wild Phil Quilting using the Modern Wave pantograph by Tracey Pereira.
Tools Used
Machine: Bernina 475QE
Piecing thread: Gutermann Sew All thread
Batting: Pellon White Cotton Batting
Olfa 45mm rotary cutter & rotary mat
Adobe Illustrator for trusty mockups :)
