Modern Wedding Quilt Inspiration: Chanelle’s Big Island Sky Quilt

There are quilts we make for comfort, for fun, for gifting. And then there is a modern wedding quilt we make to mark a meaningful and special moment in life.

Today I want to share one of those projects with you—made by an incredible quilter named Chanelle J², who used our Big Island Sky quilt pattern as the centerpiece of her wedding ceremony. Her modern, graphic quilt not only played a starring role on her big day—it became part of the altar itself.

Wait until you see the photos!

Meet Chanelle — and Her Beautiful Modern Wedding Quilt Idea

I first met Chanelle in person last fall at the Kings County Fiber Festival in Brooklyn. She stopped by our pop-up shop with her fiancé (now husband). She told me she was a newer quilter (making her first quilt in 2022) and was working on a new quilt. Not just any quilt, but a version of Big Island Sky to hang as a backdrop for their wedding ceremony in early 2025. When her husband proposed, she told her mentor and quilt teacher Diana Rodgers (@wonderthreads) that she wanted to make a quilt for the wedding that would both celebrate and be a part of the big day but also be an amazing heirloom.

I was so incredibly honored and touched to hear that a quilt pattern I designed inspired Chanelle to create her own version—and that it would play such a meaningful role in one of the most special days of her life. Stories like hers are truly the most rewarding part of what I do. Designing quilts isn’t just about making something beautiful—it’s about helping quilters mark important moments, express themselves, create something deeply personal, find a joyful distraction from the heavy parts of life, and/or simply add more joy to our day. My hope is that when you use one of our patterns, you feel seen, supported, and connected—not just to the design, but to me and this amazing quilting community we’re part of.

Fast forward a few months later, and Chanelle sent me stunning photos of her finished quilt at the wedding, surrounded by flowers and love. She even used some fabric scraps that I was offering in Brooklyn last year when we met for the quilt’s sun!

A Sentimental Quilt for a Once-in-a-Lifetime Day

Here’s what Chanelle shared with me in her own words. With her permission, I’m resharing:

“Big Island Sky was the obvious quilt pattern choice for me. I’ve been stalking [Whole Circle Studio’s] designs for a while—I have half your shop favorited! I thought the quilt would represent the sunrise of Giovanny and I’s marriage. Super cheesy, I know! It’s hopeful with a high sun, and realistic in a way that any relationship will have a cloud or two… but that still makes it beautiful as a whole.”

How amazing (and NOT cheesy) is that?!?!

Chanelle used the throw size from the pattern as her base and added a bit of length to the top and bottom to fit a standard wedding arch frame. The colors are absolute magic — so dreamy! Her wedding had a citrus theme, and she paired the Big Island Sky design with Shell from Jennifer Sampou’s Sky ombré fabric line (which happens to be one of my favorites too!).

Behind the Seams: The Making of the Quilt

As any quilter knows, the quilt making process is full of its own stories. Chanelle joked that her ironing board became a permanent holding area for all of the cut pieces in her apartment, and that she sewed the whole quilt faster than she cut it out.

She pushed herself with this project—trying new skills like adding a hanging sleeve and even foundation paper piecing (FPP) a whole quote into the back of the quilt: “May our life be all it promises, a long day of sunshine.” (This line is from Bram Stoker’s Dracula, talk about romantic gothic vibes!)

The quilting was done by Orlando Ramos of Quiltysaurus.

The Wedding Big Day — and the Big Island Sky Modern Quilt in Full Bloom

Chanelle described the wedding day, which was in early March, as a perfect “false spring” in NYC—crisp, sunny, and full of emotion. Her quilt was dropped off with the florist, Molly Oliver Flowers, who built a gorgeous floral arch around it.

By the time Chanelle and Giovanny walked down the aisle, Big Island Sky was glowing behind them—literally and figuratively. It stood at the heart of their ceremony, and now it lives on as a keepsake, art piece, and functional quilt to wrap up in for years to come.

“Not one thing went wrong! Not a dry eye in the room. A wonderful way to start our marriage and end a whole sixteen years of dating!”

What a beautiful couple, a beautiful day, and a truly beautiful, meaningful quilt.
Special thanks to Chanelle J² for sharing her incredible story, and to photographer Khaki Bedford (@khakibedfordphoto) for capturing the magic. It’s a reminder that quilts can hold so much more than fabric and thread.

The quilt is now displayed in Chanelle and Giovanny’s home.

I hope this you to create your own quilt for a milestone, memory, or moment that matters.

Ready to Make Your Own Modern Wedding or Memory Quilt?

If you’ve been looking for a way to infuse more meaning into your quilting… or if you’re planning a wedding, anniversary, graduation, or other milestone—you might consider making a quilt like Big Island Sky or one of our other love-themed quilt designs as a part of your story.

Whether you hang your modern quilt at your ceremony, use it as a backdrop for photos, or create a statement piece for your home—it’s a quilt that tells a story. And best of all? It becomes an heirloom, that can also be used to keep you warm, that you’ll treasure forever.

Get the Big Island Sky PDF Quilt Pattern here.
Want to speed up the cutting? Optional acrylic templates available here.

Let’s Keep the Modern Quilt Inspiration Going…

Have you made a quilt to celebrate a special moment? I’d love to hear about it and see photos! Please send me an email.