’60s Curves Quilt retro geometry with a modern twist

After enjoying the rich handmade elegance of De Morgan Project Pouch by Saskia Wassing last week, let us jump from art history and florals to retro geometry with ’60s Curves Quilt by Monika Henry.

Some quilt ideas sneak up on you in the funniest places. ’60s Curves Quilt was inspired by a design Monika Henry spotted on a tissue box at a friend’s house, and clearly that little tissue box knew exactly what it was doing. The result is a bold, modern retro quilt with curves that look impressive but are wonderfully manageable.

skill level Intermediate
time A satisfying multi-session project, especially if you want to enjoy the curve piecing at a relaxed pace
ideal for Quilters who love retro design, modern geometry, bold shapes, and curved blocks that feel approachable
you will practice curved quilt blocks, patchwork, quilting, working with quarter circle shapes, and building a retro geometric layout
finished size 54” [137.5cm] square

This pattern by Monika Henry was featured in Issue 68, our Geometry issue. This theme celebrates the creative power of shapes, where triangles, circles, hexagons, and clever angles become quilts, needlework, crochet, and more. It’s a wonderful reminder that geometry is not just math; it’s movement, rhythm, balance, and beauty in fabric.

Here’s the project description from the pattern page. Pattern inspiration can come from unexpected places, and for Monika, it began with that memorable tissue box design. Once she sat down at the computer and played with the idea, she realized the quilt could be built with just one block, a quarter circle, made in two different sizes. Because the blocks are larger, the curves are very manageable, making this pattern a terrific project for building curve piecing confidence.

Get ’60s Curves Quilt here
https://www.aneedlepullingthread.com/product/60s-curves-quilt/

Get Issue 68 in print here
https://www.aneedlepullingthread.com/product/issue-68-print-version/

Get Issue 68 in digital here
https://www.aneedlepullingthread.com

What makes this project especially exciting is how much design power comes from one simple idea. You get to practice curved blocks, play with retro movement, and create a quilt that feels fresh, graphic, and full of personality.

Now tell me, if you made ’60s Curves Quilt, would you lean into true retro colors, or give it a sleek modern palette? You might also be interested in more curved piecing ideas; check out The Eclipse Quilt by Heather McArthur – see how color changes the mood…

Join me next week to find out which inspiring ANPTmag quilting project I’ll share with you!