The Sun Salutations quilt pattern is a favorite for quilters who love playing with Half Square Triangles (HSTs) to create bold, graphic quilts. Inspiration for the Sun Salutations quilt pattern came from a photo of an amazing sunrise I took in Hilo while on my first trip to the Big Island of Hawaii.
The Sun Salutations quilt pattern offers endless possibilities for customization. Today, I’m excited to share how quilter Lee B. adapted the pattern to her own needs, creating stunning quilted runners for her home in Maui, Hawaii.
How Lee Turned the Sun Salutations Quilt Pattern Into a Stunning Bed Runner
When Lee purchased the Sun Salutations quilt pattern, she had a vision beyond a quilt to snuggle up under. She wanted a quilted bed runners, each measuring 100″ x 20“—the perfect size for the beds in her Maui condo. To achieve this, she resized the quilt blocks in the quilt pattern using 2″ Half Square Triangles and repeated the pattern five times across to get the width she needed. Curious about other ways to resize Half Square Triangles? I’ve got a Half Square Triangle tutorial for you.
This project at this resized version required over 1,000 Half Square Triangles. To keep everything organized, Lee used 2″ Triangle Paper, carefully marking her colors on the paper before sewing, cutting, and pressing. She left the paper on her HSTs until assembly, helping her keep track of the layout.
How Lee Selected the Perfect Fabrics for Her Quilt—Inspired by Sunrise & Sunset
While the original Sun Salutations quilt pattern was inspired by sunrises, Lee saw a Maui sunset in her version. Her condo in Kihei faces west, giving her front-row seats to breathtaking evening skies over the ocean.
To capture that beauty, Lee used mostly the Paintbrush Studio Painter’s Palette Solids that I recommend in the pattern, swapping in a few Kona colors by Robert Kaufman (also supplied in the pattern) because her quilt shop didn’t have all of the Painter’s Palette Solids in stock at the time.These colors provide a warm, glowing color story that brings a beautiful sunrise (or sunset) indoors.
To finish her quilted runners, Lee worked with Stitch, a quilt shop in Durango, CO, for longarm quilting. She selected a stitching pattern that reminded her of ocean waves and coastal breezes, a perfect fit for the tropical, beachside setting.
Quilted Pillow Shams: The Perfect Finishing Touch for Her Bed
Lee didn’t stop at the runners! To tie everything together, she also made matching quilted pillow shams. Instead of using HSTs, she went with colorful fabric strips and added her own quilting details. This creative choice kept the look cohesive while complementing her Sun Salutations runners.
Want to Make Your Own Sun Salutations Quilt?
I love seeing how quilters take my quilt patterns and make them their own! If Lee’s project has you inspired, now’s the perfect time to start your own Sun Salutations quilt—whether you stick with the original sunrise theme or put your own spin on it, like Lee’s sunset-inspired version.
✳️ Get the Sun Salutations Quilt Pattern → Download Here
✳️ Need help making or resizing Half Square Triangles? → Check Out My HST Tutorial
✳️ Curious about the original Sun Salutations inspiration? → Read the Behind the Scenes Story
Show Off Your Sun Salutations Quilt!
Have you made a quilt with the Sun Salutations pattern? I’d love to see it! Email me a photo of your quilt when you’re ready to share!
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I want one