Designed by Mary Metcalf

Quilt size: 80cm x 1.10m (31½” x 43½”)

One of my most popular patterns is this one of the Pohutukawa blossom and the sky filtering through its leaves.

The leaves are appliquéd either by hand or machine and the blossoms are very easy piecing, no matching of complicated seams. Choose your own fabrics for the variations of the red in the blossoms and for the green leaves – shiny dark green on top and silvery white on their softer undersides.

Here is another version of the Pohutukawa quilt made entirely from batik fabrics purchased from www.tulis.co.nz
 










Three original quilt designs, templates and full instructions are included plus patterns for pieced flower block and leaf applique.
This example is by Joy from Auckland.






Pohutukawa is a native New Zealand coastal tree and the spectacular dark crimson flowers occur just before Christmas and the flowering period extends well into January. The first settlers used pohutukawa blossom to decorate their homes at Christmas time, regarding it as a New Zealand substitute for holly, and it was they who first applied the now common name of Christmas tree.
 

Interesting fact:

Pohutukawa means "splashed by sea spray" in Maori.