Cherry Delight Quilt Pattern: A celebration of fruit, family, and summer joy

The trees are blooming in the orchard again, and it’s been such a full-circle moment seeing the Cherry Delight quilt come to life after a year of dreaming and stitching. From a spark of inspiration to a physical quilt blowing in the orchard breeze—it’s exactly the kind of joy-filled, color-loving project that reminds me why I design quilts in the first place.

This quilt started during cherry season in Montana. My cousin had just taken over her orchard—a place full of memory and meaning for so many in the valley. I had already sewn her some cherry table runners, and she asked if I’d make a quilt to go along with them.

I saw my chance and ran with it—I wanted to make something big, fun, and obnoxiously cherry. Something that wasn’t shy about its love for fruit and summer and color. So that’s exactly what Cherry Delight became: oversized appliqué cherries, bright and bold, and just as joyful as a fresh-picked handful of the real thing.

The green stems are a favorite detail—they’re a reminder that the cherries are fresh, just picked, still full of summer magic. There’s something so simple and grounding about celebrating everyday fruits in stitch form. Cherries have always been a sign of summer to me—sweet, short-lived, and worth savoring.

This pattern is part of a small series of Montana-inspired quilts I’m working on—grounded in place, seasonal living, and a deep love of design that blends nature with everyday life. I believe in farm-to-fiber creativity and letting the place you're rooted in inform your making, using what you have, and celebrating the beauty right outside your door.

Fabric & Yardage Suggestions for Throw Quilt (55" x 74")

• 1 ¼ yards (45”) of cherry red fabric for the cherries and borders. Embrace the playful scale! These cherries are meant to pop
• ¼ yard (7”) of light green fabric for stem. 
• ⅜ yard (12”) of dark green fabric for the leaves.
• 2 ⅜ yards ( 82 ½" of background fabric.
  
• ½ yard (17 ½" of binding fabric. 
  
• 3 ½ yards (approximately 62" x 74" of backing fabric)

A Note About Reds & Prewashing

This quilt uses deep reds—and they’re stunning. But here’s my honest advice: prewash and dry your red fabrics before cutting.

I didn’t prewash mine, and now I’m a little nervous to throw the finished quilt in the wash (even though I will use a color catcher). If you do prewash, just make sure to check your final dried yardage before cutting to ensure you still have what the pattern calls for.

Red fabrics are notorious for bleeding, especially saturated ones. A quick wash and dry ahead of time saves heartache later!

Tips for Making Cherry Delight

• Big appliqué = bold results. Embrace the playful scale! These cherries are meant to pop.

• Try fusible appliqué for easier assembly, or use needle-turn if you want a slower, hand-stitched approach.

• Choose high-contrast background fabrics so those cherries shine. Light backgrounds with rich reds and greens are a classic combo.

• Don’t be afraid to lean into whimsy. This quilt is meant to be fun!

This quilt is a love letter to simple pleasures: fruit season, orchard mornings, sticky fingers, green stems, and cherry-stained smiles. (Fun fact: green stems are the sign your cherries are truly fresh—just picked and full of flavor.) But it’s also a nod to farm-to-fiber values and the power of drawing creative inspiration from where we are. The colors, the energy, the place—it’s all connected.

The design itself celebrates the beauty of the everyday. It’s playful, nostalgic, and just modern enough. Whether you’re someone with fond memories of cherry picking, a fruit-stand regular, or you just love the deep reds and happy shapes, this quilt is for you.

Cherry Delight is a pattern made to bring smiles. Whether you use it as a picnic quilt, a cheerful summer throw, or a year-round reminder of fruit and family, I hope it brings you the same joy it brought me while stitching it.