Before the final touches were put into my new Willow fabric line for Art Gallery Fabrics, I knew I would be remaking my Castle Garden quilt with this collection.

This quilt pattern from my Shop is the perfect way to show off 16 of your favorite prints and highlight a fussy cut center fabric.

The Castle Garden quilt was a pattern I designed originally for the May 2018 Quilter’s Candy Membership with Elizabeth Chappell. I used Maureen Cracknell’s Flower Child collection for Art Gallery Fabrics as the fabrics and used the Sisterhood print for the fussy cut centers.

Not only is this intermediate level quilt a fun way to use lots of different fabrics but don’t you think it looks like an aerial view of a castle, complete with turrets, banners, and flags? The Flower Child quilt even comes with a princess in the tower!

Speaking of princess, my granddaughter was my tiny model for this first Castle Garden photoshoot and I recreated this type of scene for the 2022 updated quilt!

My best model only second to her momma who was always my right hand in all my creative adventures. We had so much fun that weekend and you’ll see more of my little darlings modeling other Willow makes in the upcoming Willow Look Book in early May.

What’s New

Since I was remaking the Castle Garden quilt I thought it was also a great opportunity to update the pattern as well. I’ve sent out new versions of the PDF to my customers, minus 3 who’s emails bounced back. If you’ve purchased this pattern but did not receive an email update from me, first, check your spam folder and if not in there, then email me so I can check my records and send you a new version. If you purchased the pattern through Quilter’s Candy Membership, you will need to contact Elizabeth Chappell and she will send you the new updated PDF.

The updated pattern is now easier to use with fabric placement identification, a coloring planning sheet, and links to my tutorial on how to control directional prints in your patchwork units. The new version of the pattern also includes the new size with an added outer border. The pattern still only comes in one size for a 84-1/2’’ square quilt that fits a full size bed with a generous drop on the sides.

Every one of my new Willow collection prints were used in this quilt and lucky for you you won’t have to source out the different prints or yardage amounts because Brooke Becker of Lady Belle Fabric is offering kits to make quilts just like mine!

Brooke of Lady Belle Fabric also did the incredible long arm quilting on my quilt. We chose the Bush Berries panto that is so perfect to add to the secret garden feeling of this quilt and collection. I used two layers of Hobbs Tuscany Supreme 100% Unbleached Cotton inside for a thick, weighty quilt that really pops the quilting definition and has a luxurious feel to the quilt.

For the binding I chose Timeless Ticking Forest from the Willow collection and think it adds an elegant edge to finish the quilt. The backing is Willowy and I love this print so much and how it gives the quilt two looks—the patchwork side and a whole cloth look just in the Willowy backing. Lady Belle Fabric has yardage available for backing choices on your kit—there’s several great options!

Be watching the first week of May as the Willow Look Book is released from Art Gallery Fabrics with dozens of Willow sewing inspirations plus I’ll have plenty of my own project contributions to share with you as well!