Cosmic Cactus Quilt - Colour Inspiration

Be inspired by these colours palettes.

There are plenty of colour options for you to discover! Or do you have something different in mind? Then try one of the colouring options available on our website. These include digitally colouring and downloading colouring pages to print.

Also read the Cosmic Cactus Quilt Along blog series that has a ton of additional information to help you complete your quilt.

The Cosmic Cactus quilt pattern is available in our shop.

 

ABOUT THE DESIGN

When I was designing this quilt my vision was to have four colours only. But as I was working on the pattern, the realisation came that the design could work equally well for a two-colour and scrappy (eight colour) quilt. With this in mind, my time was spent working out how to write the pattern to include all these different versions! So now the finished pattern has all three options: two-colour, four-colour and scrappy options to make very different looking quilts.

The main feature of this design is the centre star (the cosmic element). Other elements include the arrow heads, the spikey (cactus) blocks and the square blocks (with an option to fussy cut motifs).

While the quilt mock-ups depicted here are shown in solid colours, I encourage you to consider substituting the solid for a fabric print. There are a ton of gorgeous fabric prints out there!

QUICK LINKS (click to skip ahead)

 

TWO-COLOUR QUILT

A two-colour quilt offers a minimalist option.

Choose your favourite colour and pair with a crisp white fabric or another accent fabric.

Curry & White Bring a little warmth with  the golden tones of yellow.

Kona Curry & White: Bring a little warmth with the golden tones of yellow.

Windsor & Azure You don’t have to use  white! Choose another  accent colour instead.

Kona Windsor & Azure: You don’t have to use white! Choose another accent colour instead.

Windsor & White Choose your favourite blue  to create a striking blue and  white quilt.

Kona Windsor & White: Choose your favourite blue to create a striking blue and white quilt.

Reverse the colours to create a dramatically different quilt.

Kona Windsor & White: Reverse the colours to create a dramatically different quilt. You could use a low volume print fabric here too.

Everglade & White Choose your favourite  green to create a  cool green and white quilt.

Kona Everglade & White: Choose your favourite green to create a cool green and white quilt.

Two colour quilt - reverse the colours to get a different look quilt.

Kona Windsor & Azure: Reverse the colours in two blues or any of your two favourite colours.

 

FOUR-COLOUR QUILT

With the use of only four colours, you can create a striking quilt for the modern home.

COSMIC COLOURWAY:

Fabric A - Kona Azure; Fabric B - Kona Curry; Fabric C - Kona White and Background - Kona Windsor.

Create a dramatically different quilt with a yellow background.

Create a dramatically different quilt with a yellow background

Swap around the colours to create a different looking quilt.

Swap around the colours again for a different looking quilt. You could also use a low volume print here instead of a white solid.

Finished quilt top

Make the matching pillow! Pattern available here.

 
CACTUS COLOURWAY:

Fabric A - Kona Cypress; Fabric B - Kona Cactus; Fabric C - Kona White and Background - Kona Everglade.

Swap around the colours for a different looking 'cactus' colourway.

Swap around the colours for a different looking quilt!

A more subtle version of the cactus colourway with a white background.

A more subtle version of the cactus colourway with a white background

Not a fan of the cactus green, then leave it out  and create a more for subtle colourway.

Not a fan of the cactus green, then leave it out and create a more for subtle colourway.

 
Cosmic Cactus pillow in the cactus colourway.

Cosmic Cactus pillow in cactus colourway.

OTHER COLOUR OPTIONS:

A colourway with a red star, pink background and orange accents.

Fabric A - Kona Cantaloupe; Fabric B - Kona Wine; Fabric C- Kona Dusty Peach; Background - Kona Shell

A colourway using Fabric A - Kona Creamscile; Fabric B - Kona Dark Violet; Fabric C- Kona Dahlia; Background - Kona Sea Glass

Fabric A - Kona Creamscile; Fabric B - Kona Dark Violet; Fabric C- Kona Dahlia; Background - Kona Sea Glass

Another colourway for the four-colour quilt in grey, yellow, pink and white.

Fabric A - Kona Petal; Fabric B - Kona Pickle; Fabric C - Kona White and Background - Kona Graphite.

Cosmic Cactus Quilt in a neutral colourway.

Fabric A - Kona Sand; Fabric B - Kona Latte; Fabric C - Kona Snow and Background - Kona Pepper.

A red colourway for the Cosmic Cactus Quilt.

Fabric A - Kona Salmon; Fabric B - Kona Cayenne; Fabric C - Kona Snow and Background - Kona Mahogany.

Change the colours around for a different look!

Change the colours around for a different look.
The neutral colourway with a light background.
Colours are reversed in the warm red colourway.
 

SCRAPPY QUILT

The scrappy quilt introduces more colours into the quilt and uses eight fabrics or fabric groups.

You can choose from one of three options fabric options:

  • Option1: Use yardage to make this option in eight fabrics.

  • Option 2: Uses fat quarters and fat eighths only, allowing you to achieve a scrappy quilt.

  • Option 3: Stash buster option! Dive into your stash and have fun making this totally scrappy quilt. For an even scrappy quilt, follow the directions at the bottom of Page 14.

BLUE COLOURWAY:

The blue colourway is for anyone who loves blues and greens, and is teamed with a sunny orange yellow. Consider other neutrals or a low volume prints for the background to suit your colourway.

  • Group 1 - Kona Prussian

  • Group 2 - Kona Teal Blue

  • Group 3 - Kona Aruba

  • Group 4- Kona Seascape

  • Group 5 - Kona Pistachio

  • Group 6 - Kona Cabbage

  • Group 7- Kona Papaya

  • Background - Kona Natural

For the scrappy quilt below, I used the Kona Cotton colours outlined above and colour matched these to fat quarters I had in my fabric stash. The background uses a variety of low volume prints and some solids.

Scrappy quilt made using fat quarters and fat eighths.
Scrappy quilt on chair.

Same colours, but a totally different look!

Not a fan of the light background? Then try the Kona Teal blue or similar for a background instead.

Not a fan of the light background? Then try the Kona Teal blue or similar for a background instead.

Make the background scrappy!

Make the background scrappy!

 
PINK COLOURWAY:

This colourway is for anyone who loves pink and is teamed with a sunny yellow. Consider other neutrals or a low volume print for the background to suit your colourway.

  • Group 1 - Kona Sangria

  • Group 2 - Kona Valentine

  • Group 3 - Kona Medium Pink

  • Group 4 - Kona Azalea

  • Group 5 - Kona Melon

  • Group 6 - Kona Salmon

  • Group 7- Kona Corn Yellow

  • Background - Kona White

For the scrappy quilts below, I used the Kona Cotton colours outlined above and colour matched these to fat quarters I had in my fabric stash. The background uses a crisp Kona white.

Cosmic Cactus Pink - finished quilt top
Cosmic Cactus quilt pink - The finished quilt!

Make the background scrappy!

 
Make a scrappy background.
 
OTHER COLOUR OPTIONS:

A selection of purples with yellow.

Group 1 - Kona Morning Glory; Group 2 - Kona Pansy; Group 3 - Kona Thistle; Group 4 - Kona Lilac; Group 5 - Kona Ash; Group 6 - Kona Petunia; Group 7 - Kona Bright Idea; Background - Kona White

A subtle grey and pastel colourway

Light Grey - Kona Haze; Medium Grey - Kona Shitake; Dark Grey - Kona Graphine; Pastel Background - Kona Maize, Kona Light Parfait, Kona Ballet Slipper and Kona Sky.

A red, orange and pink colourway.

Group 1 - Kona Espresso; Group 2 - Kona Dusty Peach; Group 3 - Kona Nectarine; Group 4 - Kona Khaki; Group 5 - Kona Cobblestone; Group 6 - Kona Cantaloupe; Group 7 - Kona Wine; Background - Kona Shell

CENTRE STAR OPTIONS:

If you’re making the scrappy quilt and feeling adventurous, you can change the look of the central star by making a few changes. Here are a few examples:

Simple Star

Simple Star

Scrappy  simple star

Scrappy simple star

By changing a couple colours, you can change the look of the Scrappy simple star.

By changing a couple colours, you can change the look of the Scrappy simple star

The star tips are in the dark blue, with the remaining star in a teal blue creates an interesting shadow star.

Create an interesting Shadow Star by highlighting the star tips as shown in dark blue, with a teal blue inner star and a few other colours swapped around.

Star crossed: Create a star with a cross!

Star crossed: Create a cross within the star!

 

Grab your copy of the Cosmic Cactus quilt pattern and try one of these options!

I would love to see your finished quilts. Please share using the hashtags:

#CosmicCactusQAL #CosmicCactusQuilt #LouLouandBettyPatterns

Lisa Briese

Lou Lou & Betty is a culmination of my love of quilting, designing and sharing my quilting knowledge. From an early age I’ve had a love of craft and one early memory is spending my school holidays learning how to sew on my Mum’s sewing machine. After a number of years moving around on military postings, I’ve finally settled in the beautiful beachside city of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

I design modern quilt patterns that are thoughtfully written. In addition, tutorials are available on our website that allow even a beginner to complete their first quilt project. Discover how you can make a quilt with a basic sewing machine and quilting tools, so you can fall in love with this craft. With a growing library of resources, PDF patterns, quilt fabric kits and curated fabric bundles, take a look at what Lou Lou & Betty has to offer.

https://www.loulouandbetty.com
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