A New Book In Town: Review of Quilts In Modern Color by Amber Elliot
- ASHELYN
- Apr 9
- 2 min read
Sometimes, a quilt pattern just clicks—and that’s exactly how I felt working on the Kinetic quilt from Amber Elliot’s new book, Quilts in Modern Color: Creating Ombré Palettes.
I was instantly drawn to its clean lines and bold movement, but what truly captivated me was how Amber's emphasis on color gradients transformed a straightforward design into something mesmerizing.
Amber has a way of breaking things down that makes even the most dynamic-looking designs feel totally doable.
The Kinetic pattern relies on just simple half-square triangles and spacing pieces, but the thoughtful use of ombré shading creates a gorgeous flow that looks far more complex than it actually is. It's like quilt magic!
In her book, Amber delves deep into the art of crafting ombré color palettes, guiding readers through the nuances of selecting and transitioning hues to achieve stunning visual effects. The Kinetic quilt is a perfect example of this, demonstrating how a monochromatic gradient can add depth and movement to a design without overwhelming the quilter. It's such a valuable resource for quilters aiming to elevate their use of color in modern designs.
As someone who appreciates simplicity, I found Kinetic to be refreshingly straightforward. The instructions were clear and the process felt smooth the whole way through.
If you’re looking to explore the impact of color gradients in your quilting projects, I can’t recommend this one enough. This particular pattern would make a spectacular baby gift in a pinch!
Check out the rest of the stops on the blog hop!
Ready to see more inspiration from the book? You can check out what my quilty buddies have written over on their blogs!
Monday, March 31st: Suzy Quilts: https://suzyquilts.com/, IG: @suzyquilts
Tuesday, April 1st: The Crafty Quilter: https://thecraftyquilter.com/ IG: @thecraftyquilter
Wednesday, April 2nd: Sewspicious: https://www.sewspicious.com/, IG: @sewspicious
Thursday, April 3rd: The Weekend Quilter: https://the-weekendquilter.com/ IG: @the.weekendquilter
Friday, April 4th: Broadcloth Studio: https://www.broadclothstudio.com/, IG: @broadclothstudio
Saturday, April 5th: Riley Blake Designs: https://www.rbdblog.com/, IG: @rileyblakedesigns
Sunday, April 6th: Toad and Sew: https://www.toadandsew.com/, IG: @toadandsew
Monday, April 7th: Mija Handmade: https://mijahandmade.com/, IG: @mija.handmade
Tuesday, April 8th: XOXSEW: https://www.xoxsew.com/, IG: @xoxsew
Wednesday, April 9th: Diary of a Quilter: www.diaryofaquilter.com, IG: @diaryofaquilter
Thursday, April 10th: Urban Dwell Studio: https://www.urbandwellstudio.com/, IG: @urbandwellstudio
Applying Quilts In Modern Color: Creating Ombre Palettes
One of the things I’ve loved about diving into Quilts in Modern Color is how easily Amber’s color theory teachings can translate beyond her own patterns. Case in point: my new City Planning Quilt Pattern! With its bold blocks and clean, urban-inspired layout, it’s the perfect canvas for experimenting with monochromatic palettes.
Amber’s approach encourages you to think of a single color not as a limitation, but as a spectrum—so instead of just picking “blue,” you’re playing with soft sky tones, deep navy, and everything in between. For a pattern like City Planning, where the structure is grid-based, using a monochromatic scheme can add richness and visual rhythm without overwhelming the clean lines!
By applying Amber’s thoughtful approach to color, City Planning becomes more than just a modern quilt—it turns into a study in mood, balance, and flow. I’m already imagining a version in layered warm colors for my next go!
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