Introducing Nocturne: Kona Color of the Year 2025 in the Charlotte Quilt

Every year, I eagerly anticipate the “Color of the Year” announcements from Kona Cotton and Pantone. A few months ago, I got an exciting email from Robert Kaufman asking if I’d like to create a quilt for the Kona Color of the Year announcement. My answer? A resounding “Yes, of course!” Little did I know that when I saw the color, I’d be even more thrilled with my decision.

Meet Nocturne: Kona’s 2025 Color of the Year

The 2025 Kona Color of the Year is Nocturne, a bold and rich violet shade that exudes vibrancy and drama. As someone who adores purple (and feels it’s an often-underrepresented color in the fabric world), this choice is truly exciting. I have to admit, I was bracing for something more muted—maybe a tan or brown, like Pantone’s color of the year—but Nocturne is a bold departure that I’m absolutely here for.

The Quilt: Bringing Nocturne to Life

For this project, I submitted two quilt designs, and Robert Kaufman asked me to create the Charlotte Quilt Pattern. This decision felt perfect because it allowed me to highlight my favorite purples and pinks, blending them into a harmonious yet striking design. Scroll to the bottom to see the alternate quilt idea I submitted—it was a tough choice!

Here are the fabric requirements to make a Charlotte Quilt just like this one:

Fat Quarters: 

• Melon
• Camellia
• Blush Pink
• Medium Pink
• Candy Pink
• Sassy Pink
• Ballerina
• Gumdrop
• Geranium
• Lupine
• Violet
• Dahlia

Yardage:

• 1 1/8 yards of Nocturne
• 1/2 yard of Nocturne for the binding

The quilting was done by the amazing Heidi at Piece and Joy Quilting Co., and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. The panto design adds texture while allowing the boldness of Nocturne and the vibrant fabric palette to shine.

A Look Back at Previous Kona Colors

This is the third quilt I’ve made for a Kona Color of the Year project, and it’s been such an honor each time. You can check out my previous COTY quilts here:

• 2024 Julep

• 2016 Highlight

Seeing how each year’s color integrates into my designs has been a creative adventure, and Nocturne is no exception—it’s truly a standout shade.

Get the Charlotte Quilt Pattern

If you’re as inspired by Nocturne as I am, grab your copy of the Charlotte Quilt Pattern to create your own version of this quilt! It’s a versatile and approachable pattern, perfect for showcasing bold colors like this one.

And if you made it all the way through the post, this is the alternate idea I submitted to Kona. I would have loved to make this one as well, but I think Charlotte was the perfect choice for the announcement!

Head over to the Kona Cotton Instagram page to see all of the Nocturne Quilts!