A new year means there are new feature colours for you to consider in your quilty play! Right before heading off on holiday, I noticed that Robert Kaufman had revealed their Kona Cotton Colour of the Year for 2025 – Nocturne!
To help spark some inspiration, I decided to dive into some colour play featuring the Modern Aztec quilt pattern in Nocturne. It’s such an eye-catching quilt, and I was curious to see what possibilities it offered!
Let’s find out!
The Modern Aztec Quilt Pattern is available for instant digital download here.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission.
Have you pieced half-square triangles before?
Half-square triangles, or HSTs as we like to call them in the quilty world, as adorable quilt blocks that are super easy to piece. If you’ve never made them before, then I’ll forewarn you that they’re addictive to make!
There are also lots of different ways for you to make them, including:
Depending on how many you need to make, this is usually the method that you go for!
Kona Colour of the Year 2025
What is Kona Colour of the Year?
You might be wondering where this theme comes from, and it’s created by the team behind Kona Cotton. Every year they announce their feature colour for the year, and it means a new colour addition to their ever-growing fabric base, which now stands at 369 colour options – wow!
So, this year, they revealed that Nocturne was their new color of choice!
Nocturne
Is this deep purple with some bright undertones. It feels very jewel-like and reminds me of the purple I featured in my mum’s quilted coat.
Purple isn’t always my go-to, but I find these feature colours are a great way for you to explore and see what fun combinations you can come up with.
You know my philosophy is to challenge myself to step outside my comfort zone, and this applies as much to my colour selection as it does to my quilting techniques 😉
Past Quilt Examples
It’s been a while since I last played with a Kona Cotton Colour of the Year. But I had the best time stitching with Highlight from back in 2016. It’s such a happy colour and you can see it featured in this Pink Lemonade quilt.
Modern Aztec Quilt Featured in Kona Colour of the Year Nocturne
It’s always fun to mix up the quilts used to explore different colourways, and it’s been a while since I’ve shared inspiration for the Modern Aztec quilt. This is such a dynamic and visually impactful design. It’s very in your face – ha! And the colours you use can enhance this effect.
So, on a sunny cold winter day, I decided to sit at the computer and see colour impact Nocturne had to offer.
Ombré
I love a good ombré. There’s something super soothing about working with one colour in various shades and intensities. Plus, it gives you the chance to really see how the colour compares to hues within the same family. This probably explains why this is where my colour play started.
It’s always so cool to see how the same 5 colours can look so different just in where you place them.
Warm Tones
I don’t know what it is about red and purple, but ever since I played with these colours in this Shattered Star Quilt I’ve had a soft spot for them ever since.
After exploring Modern Aztec in the Nocturne ombré colourway, I was curious to see what adding a pop of warmth and vibrant red to the mix would have. I do love pink and red, so I also snuck in a little bright pink to the mix 😉
Here’s how that played out:
- Princess
- Pansy
- Sangria
- Bright Pink
- Nocturne
Cool, right?!
Cool Tones
Naturally, after exploring a warmer combination, I thought let’s go with the opposite of that and focus on cooler colours. This had me reaching for a super soothing blue with a pop of deep turquoise. Those hues add a calming effect, but the purples and that pink/lavender colour helps keep it from feeling too cold.
Tri-color
After my initial play that I shared with you, I thought I was done with featuring Modern Aztec in Nocturne, but I was curious to see what effect introducing green would have.
Then, on a whim, I decided to include some earthy brown tones with a little pop of orange. Not a colour combination I would typically gravitate towards, but that can be a fun way to get to know different hues.
The results are a little mixed. I find some a little on the light side and the motifs of the Modern Aztec pattern aren’t as defined. But that could be a statement in and of itself. This is why I’m sharing the mock-ups so you can visualize the impact the number of colours you use, their placement, and the values have on your quilts!
Digital Colouring Page
If you haven’t already, discover the fun to be had with digital colouring pages over on PreQuilt.
The Modern Aztec Quilt has now been added to the list of sfD digital colouring pages for you to explore. Use code Shannon to save 20% on your annual PreQuilt membership (basic or market).
Colour play, where would we be without it, right?!
I hope these mock-ups of Modern Aztec in Nocture have left you inspired to pull out your color swatches and see what fun combo you come up with.
Don’t forget to download the Modern Aztec Quilt Pattern from the shop!
xo,
Shannon
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Beautiful color pairings for Nocturne and your Modern Aztec quilt; I love the warm version – the Sangria pops with it!
That’s my favourite one too, Yvonne!! Always fun to see how colours impact a quilt design!
There is another way to make HST’s, and that is to use triangle papers. There is a program called Triangulations that generates triangle papers you print on your home printer. I have used it for years! It is the best way to make HST’s esp. if you have a lot to make…fast, accurate, easy. They used to offer a sample sheet to try out. https://www.bearpawproductions.com/shop/Triangulations.htm
Great tip, Janet! Thank you so much for sharing. I haven’t used the triangle papers, but I have seen them in action and they look super cool!