Fabric options for Hilltop Drive quilt in Stitch

Have you seen the new Quilting Arts Stitch? I’m itching to get my copy and see all the projects they’ve packed into the spring issue. One of the projects I contributed was a baby quilt inspired by a fabulous Japanese import fabric printed with rolling country hills with cars, cows, and windmills (the top half of the quilt).

I’ve already had an e-mail from a reader of the magazine (hi Gwen!) asking what that fabric was. It’s from Kokka’s Trèfle collection, and I picked up my half yard from Hart’s Fabric in Santa Cruz (totally worth the drive from the Central Valley). They seem to still have it in stock for online orders if you’re interested in using the very same print. For a different project, I have the fabric in a different colorway that could also be fun in Hilltop Drive:

Since sending the quilt off to Stitch, I’ve been keeping my eye out for other landscape prints that could be used in the pattern. Hart’s has another pink Japanese import:

Cute as they are, imported fabrics can get pricy (and hard to find), but American manufacturers have recently released a few prints that would work smashingly. I love this Willow Grove print from Alexander Henry, available in three colorways at eQuilter—ivory/lime, rose/turquoise, and my favorite, blush/honey:

For a softer look, Chez Moi’s Hunky Dory has a hilly stripe print (in deep aqua, petal pink, light honey gold, and buttercream at eQuilter):

There’re also some nice grassy hills in Kate Honarvar’s Red Riding Hood line:

But who says you have to use hills at all? Anything that could represent sky would work nicely instead of the landscape—try fluffy clouds, or a print dotted with stars for a nighttime drive. Do share any clever ideas you have in the comments, and check out Stitch to get the pattern—then upload a photo of your own version to the Feed Dog Designs photo pool!