Desert Daydreams Design Of the Month-Globemallow

Hi there, all you cool Pins and Needles!  It’s Melisa from Stitchology.  I’m back today to share with you our 9th block in the 2025/2026 Design of the Month program. On the 2nd Friday of each month, I release a new nine-inch raw edge applique block kit.  This year’s theme, Desert Daydreams, is inspired by my childhood in New Mexico. In addition to the monthly blocks, we will release a quilt that incorporates all 12 blocks as we approach the finish line.  The blocks are available as kits or PDF downloadable patterns and once the month is over that kit will no longer be available, so you will need to be sure to check back monthly to see the new design and to grab your kit while you can!

Kits can be purchased here:

Our ninth block is a zoomed in image of Dessert Globemallow flowers.  It’s a bushy, native wildflower that pops up all over the place and is great for pollinators and wildlife.  I found this one while hiking around Ghost Ranch in Northern New Mexico. 

I like this block because it is a perfect example of how using complementary colors can bring a design to life!

Complementary colors are two colors that are directly opposite from each other on the color wheel.  They have high contrast and when used together can intensify each other’s brightness and make vibrant color combinations.  If you don’t know how to find complementary colors, a color wheel or any other color deck will help with that.  Riley Blake makes a handy color wheel that matches the Confetti Cotton Solid colors making it even easier to pick fabric!

I find my color wheel to be a valuable tool.  It helps me select fabrics that work well together-even if you don’t have to have a strong understanding of color theory you’ll find it helpful.

For this block I started with the flowers and auditioned them on several backgrounds.  Nothing was quite right so I turned to my color wheel. 

I lined the arrow up with the color Pumpkin, as that was the mid-tone of the oranges I used, and found Denim to be a complimentary color.  I had a bolt in that color, so I tried it out, and it was the winner!

Once you finish your Globemallow block you can set it to the side until all the blocks are done.  We’ll be back next month for the 10^th block-we are getting close!

Thanks for reading.

Melisa