Red Sky at Night Quilt Pattern Review

I have begun a quilting adventure and would love for you to come along! I recently picked up the Red Sky at Night quilt pattern and can’t wait to share my thoughts with you.

For years, I’ve been stashing away some beautiful Liberty of London fabric I purchased from DuckaDilly. I was waiting for just the right pattern to come along—and I’ve finally found it with Red Sky at Night by Tales of Cloth.

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Quilting has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, even before I fully appreciated it. When I was little, I’d tag along with my Great Grandma and my Grandma Naomi to their weekly quilting group. I have this vivid memory of sitting under the quilt frame, watching all the ladies gathered around, chatting and stitching away like it was second nature.

They’d meet at our local community building, spend the whole day quilting, catching up, and, of course, enjoying a potluck lunch. As a kid, I didn’t realize how special those moments were—the craft, the tradition, the wisdom in that room, what I wouldn’t give now to sit around that quilting frame again, listening to their stories and learning from those amazing women.

Why I choose Red Sky at Night Quilt Pattern?

Red Sky at Night is a beautiful sampler quilt pattern that blends both machine piecing and English Paper Piecing (EPP)—a perfect project for those who love variety in their quilting. It’s truly the best of both worlds, letting me enjoy the precision of machine sewing while also slowing down and being mindful with the process of EPP.

What really makes this pattern shine is its clever structure. Think of it like meal prepping: you batch-cut all your pieces at the start, so everything is ready to go when it’s time to sew. This makes the process quicker, and enjoyable.

What’s even more exciting is that this pattern comes with three different variations. You can choose to make it entirely with machine piecing, go all-in with English Paper Piecing, or combine the two techniques for a hybrid approach. It’s incredibly versatile, making it perfect for quilters who want to be creative.

I also love the quilting schedule that Jodi at Tales of Cloth provides. It was a game-changer for me. I need that kind of structure to make sure this quilt doesn’t become a UFO (unfinished object). Without a dedicated craft room, I knew that if I had to drag out my fabric every time I wanted to work on it, I’d procrastinate. But with everything prepped and organized, all my cuts and units are ready for sewing when I am—it’s such a win-win!

Overview of the Quilt-Along Experience

I’ve been doing the Red Sky at Night Quilt-Along for a few weeks, and I absolutely love it! I did get a bit of a late start, so I had some catching up to do, but once I got going, it didn’t take long to get on track.

One of my favorite parts of this quilt-along is the active Facebook group. It’s a wonderful community where members share their progress and post photos of their quilts. I especially love seeing all the different fabrics and color choices everyone uses—it’s very inspiring! And if you have a question, it’s a great place to ask for help.

Another thing I like is that Jodi from Tales of Cloth, the pattern designer, jumps in weekly to give feedback and answer any questions. It’s such a treat to have her so involved and supportive in the group.

As I mentioned earlier, there’s a quilt-along schedule to help keep you on pace. But it’s super flexible—you can start whenever you want, work ahead, or go at your own pace. It’s just a helpful guide, not a strict timeline, which I really appreciate.

Oh, and her weekly newsletter? It’s packed with patchwork history, inspiring stories, and helpful insights. Jodi also shares amazing quilt-along video tutorials, offering tips and inspiration. 

I look forward to reading them every week!

My First Impressions of the Quilt Pattern

Oh my goodness, I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am about the Red Sky at Night quilt pattern! I’ve worked on my fair share of quilt patterns over the years, and while they’ve all been good, this one? This one is in a league of its own! If you’re familiar with Jodi from Tales of Cloth, then you already know she puts her heart and soul into her patterns, but wow—she’s really outdone herself this time. 

I have to admit when I first saw the price tag of $35, I hesitated. It seemed a bit on the high side for a quilt pattern. But, in the spirit of treating myself (and maybe because I just couldn’t resist the design), I bit the bullet and hit that “purchase” button. Ya’ll, let me tell you that $35 was worth every penny. The moment I downloaded the pattern and started looking through it, I knew I had made the right choice. 

The pattern itself starts with cutting your fabric, of course. From there, you sew all your units together. But here’s the part I love—once you’ve got all your units sewn, Jodi walks you through how to assemble them into quilt blocks. It’s like a fun puzzle where every piece fits perfectly, and by the end, you’re left with something truly stunning. 

At 136 pages long, this quilt pattern is a thorough guide to creating a gorgeous masterpiece. I never once felt lost or unsure of what I was doing. Jodi’s instructions are clear and concise, and she even includes tons of extras like coloring design sheets (so you can plan out your colors), labels to keep your cuts and units organized, and templates for EPP. Honestly, she’s thought of everything to make this project as enjoyable as possible.

I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this pattern. You can tell that she has poured her heart into it, and all the little details just make my quilt-loving heart so happy. If you’re like me and love a good batch sewing method, you’ll appreciate how streamlined everything is.

So, if you’re on the fence about the Red Sky at Night quilt pattern, let this be your sign: go for it! I’m already looking forward to the next stages of this quilt, and I can’t wait to see how it turns out. You can get the pattern here!

Materials and Tools

When it came time to choose fabrics for my Red Sky at Night quilt, I wanted something that would make my heart skip a beat every time I looked at it. So, I reached for my treasured stash of Liberty of London fabric for the high-volume sections. Those delicate florals and soft prints are just dreamy, and I can already picture how beautifully they’ll come together.

For the low-volume parts, I opted for Hush Hush 3 by Riley Blake. It’s the perfect contrast to let those Liberty prints shine, but subtle enough to blend smoothly. I also threw in some scraps from the **Story** collection by Carrie Bloomston and another mysterious fabric I found in my stash (you know how it is when you can’t remember where you picked up that perfect piece!).

As I began this quilt, I knew I’d need a few tools to make the process as smooth as possible. There’s a lot of cutting and piecing with this pattern, so having the right tools really makes a difference.

Tools I’m Using

• Machine Thread: For machine quilting, I’m using Aurafil 50 weight in Dove. It’s such a lovely neutral that blends effortlessly without taking away from the fabrics themselves.
• Rotary Cutter Blades: Cutting is a huge part of this pattern, so make sure your rotary cutter is ready for action! I treated myself to a brand-new cutter and blade, and it’s made all the difference. Crisp, clean cuts every time!
• Half Square Ruler: I picked up a new half-square triangle ruler for this project. While it doesn’t necessarily make the process faster, it’s been a game-changer for precision, and we all know that accuracy is key in quilting.
• Creative Grids Strip Ruler: If you don’t already have one of these in your collection, I highly recommend it! While you can certainly get by without it, this ruler has helped me speed things up. It’s great for cutting strips precisely and quickly, which is a lifesaver for a project with lots of repetitive cuts like this.
• Frixon Pen: I purchased this pen to mark my fabric. It’s really handy as when you iron your fabric the ink disappears.

For EPP (English Paper Piecing)

I have a whole blog post dedicated to my favorite EPP tools, but this quilt pattern inspired me to add a few more gems to my toolbox.

• Bohin Needles: I decided to give these a try, and I’m so glad I did! They’re sharp and glide through fabric like butter. My only critique is that the eye of the needle is a bit smaller than I’m used to, but it’s a minor inconvenience for how comfortable and precise they feel.
• Clover Dome Needle Case:  Let me tell you, I didn’t know I needed this little tool in my life until now! It holds up to 10 pre-threaded needles, which is a game-changer for EPP. No more stopping to rethread every time—you just grab the next one and keep stitching. Once all the needles are used up, I rethread them all at once and store them back in the dome for my next round of EPP.

Having these quilting tools on hand has definitely made the process smoother and a lot more enjoyable.

Starting the Quilt

I’ve been steadily working on my Red Sky at Night quilt for a few weeks now, and let me tell you—this project has been an adventure! The cutting phase is no joke. There’s a lot of cutting involved, and after what felt like endless fabric trimming, I decided to take a little breather. I swapped my rotary cutter for some hand sewing and made the Baton Rouge block. It felt so fitting since I live not far from Baton Rouge. 

The Baton Rouge block is English Paper Pieced (EPP), and once I started piecing it together, I was reminded why I love this technique so much. There’s something so relaxing and meditative about doing EPP. Once I finished the block and saw it completed, I was excited! It really helped me visualize what the entire quilt would look like once complete.

But here’s a little note to self (and anyone else doing EPP): Take more breaks! My wrist and hands definitely let me know that all that hand-sewing isn’t something to rush. It’s worth pacing yourself to avoid any discomfort. Trust me on this one—listen to your body!

Now, back to that cutting marathon.  Remember, we’re doing all the cutting first before we even touch our sewing machines (but you can approach it however you want). I finally got back into it and organized my cut pieces into labeled Ziploc bags to keep everything tidy and easy to grab when I needed it. I can’t stress enough how helpful it is to stay organized with this pattern—it’s really the key to making the sewing process a breeze later on.

Once I had everything cut and ready to go, it was time for the fun part: sewing units! After all that prep work, it felt like the sewing phase flew by. The blocks come together surprisingly quickly because, by this point, everything is cut and waiting for you. Seeing those blocks form was such an exciting moment—finally bringing the vision to life!

So, even though this pattern is a big project, taking those little breaks (like making the Baton Rouge block or just organizing my pieces) has made it a lot more manageable and even more enjoyable. I can’t wait to see how this quilt turns out.

Lessons Learned So Far

As I’ve been working through the Red Sky at Night quilt, I’ve definitely picked up a few lessons along the way. The biggest one? Measure everything. And I mean everything before cutting, while cutting, and after cutting—measure. Measure, cut, measure, repeat.  It might sound like overkill, but I’ve learned that precision is key with this pattern or quilting in general, and taking the extra time to double-check everything really pays off. I can already see how much my skills are improving just by being more careful with my measurements.

If you’re thinking about tackling this pattern yourself, here are a few tips I’d offer based on what I’ve learned so far:

1. Read the entire pattern before you begin. Seriously, read through the whole pattern! There are little details and steps that you don’t want to miss. I’d recommend highlighting or marking anything important so you can easily refer back to it.

2. Take breaks! This project is no sprint; it’s more like a quilting marathon. I learned the hard way that pushing through without taking breaks (especially during EPP) can lead to sore hands and wrists. Pacing yourself will make the process more enjoyable, and your body will thank you!

3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you hit a roadblock or feel stuck, there’s no shame in reaching out for advice. The Facebook group for this quilt has been such a helpful resource for me. Quilters are such a kind and generous bunch, and I’ve found that asking questions usually leads to a quick and friendly answer that saves me from stressing.

Final Thoughts

Whew! That was a lot to unpack, but if you’ve made it all the way to the end, bless you! I hope my journey through the Red Sky at Night quilt pattern has helped you decide whether to take the plunge. This pattern truly is a beauty and one that quilters of all levels can enjoy. You will definitely want to check back to follow my progress on this beauty!

I’d love to hear from you! Are you joining in on the quilt along? Or have you tried any of Jodi’s other patterns? This one has certainly raised the bar for me, and I can’t wait to see how it all turns out. Be sure to check back and follow my progress—this quilt is shaping up to be a stunner!