Prairie Diamonds - Radiant Flourish Batiks -

Out under a soft, cloud-washed sky and a fence line of weathered wood, this quilt glows like a field of wildflowers. It’s built from the humblest of units—the half square triangle (HST)—and proof that simple shapes can sing when you give them color, value, and a little intention.

The idea

I wanted to play with contrast and movement using simple, repeatable units. HSTs are perfect for that: they’re beginner-friendly, scale up or down easily, and they let you paint with light and dark. By arranging them in rings, the center blooms into concentric diamonds that radiate outward.

Fabrics & palette

This one leans moody and garden-bright: indigos and violets, leafy greens, periwinkle and slate, with pops of raspberry. To create the diamond rings, I sprinkled in lighter “low volume” prints—those are the pathways your eye follows to the center. Scrappy works beautifully here; the variety is what gives the quilt its sparkle.

Fabric: Radiant Flourish Batiks by Riley Blake Designs is the star of the show and really made this quilt pop.

Construction notes

Make the HSTs: Use your favorite method (two-at-a-time, four-at-a-time, or eight-at-a-time). Starch first, sew a scant ¼″ seam, and trim consistently—crisp points make the layout a breeze.
Pressing: I press toward the darker fabric and “nest” whenever possible. If your seams get bulky, press open in the center.
Layout: Build on a design wall (or a floor you can commandeer for a day).
1. Start with a small diamond in the center.
2. Add rings around it, rotating HSTs to keep a clear value path.
3. Work in quadrants so you can carry blocks back to the machine without losing orientation.
Borders: I framed the top with a slim light path and echoed the motif with an outer border of more HSTs—like a picture frame made of facets.

Quilting & finish

With so much pieced geometry, I chose gentle, flowing quilting—movement without competing with the diamonds. A tidy binding (pulled from the darker tones) frames everything and keeps your focus on the center glow.

Tips for your version

Value beats color. When in doubt, squint or take a black-and-white phone photo; if the diamonds still read, you’re golden.
Batch your making. Chain-piece all HSTs, then trim a little each day.
Keep a key. A sticky-note legend (“light path,” “medium,” “dark”) helps you place triangles quickly.
Scale it your way. Bigger units = faster finish; smaller units = more sparkle. The design works at baby, throw, or bed size.