The flamingos in this quilt are angular and graphic -- patchwork birds built from 2-1/2" fabric strips that shade naturally from light to dark within each figure. Elizabeth Hartman arranges them in a flock across a pale background, with rows of warm pinks and corals at the top giving way to golds, then teals toward the bottom. The effect reads more like a modern art print than a typical animal quilt. The small quilt puts just two birds facing each other for a clean, charming result; the large quilt fills a generous 59" x 79" expanse with nine. Florence Flamingo has been updated through three editions since 2016. The 2026 version brings larger pages, a new fabric placement guide, and updated fabric options -- and arrives with nearly a decade of quilters' experience behind it.

What the Pattern Includes

This listing is for the printed paper pattern only. Fabric, batting, backing, and notions are not included.

The pattern booklet includes complete instructions for both quilt sizes. Each flamingo block measures 17" x 25". The pattern also includes:

• Fabric placement guides for planning colorways in both quilt sizes
• Diagrams and charts showing all pieces needed for each block, useful both while sewing and as a guide for making individual blocks or scrappy projects outside the main pattern
• Instructions for making a pieced back from leftover strips (large quilt)
• A leg cutting guide for tracing onto template plastic or paper -- a one-time tracing step, not traditional template work

What You'll Need

The flamingo fabrics are made from 2-1/2" strips, which makes this pattern an especially natural fit for Jelly Rolls and similar precut strip collections.

For the small quilt: 12 different strips, 2-1/2" x WOF -- available from a Jelly Roll, scraps, or 1/8 yard cuts of fabric.

For the large quilt, choose one option:

• 1 Jelly Roll plus 1/8 yard each of 9 coordinating solid fabrics
• 2 Jelly Rolls (at least 54 strips total)
• 1/4 yard each of 18 different fabrics

Both sizes also need:

• Dark solid detail fabric: 1/8 yard
• Light solid detail fabric: 1/8 yard
• Background fabric: 2-1/4 yards (small) or 4-1/4 yards (large)
• Backing: 3 yards (small) or 5 yards (large)
• Binding: 1/2 yard (small) or 3/4 yard (large)
• Batting: 49" x 49" (small) or 63" x 83" (large)

A fabric marking tool and a small piece of template plastic or paper are also needed. Fabric should be at least 42" wide.

Perfect For

• Experienced patchwork quilters who enjoy a project where careful organization pays off in a striking result
• Jelly Roll collectors looking for a pattern that uses them naturally and well
• Anyone making a wall hanging or statement quilt for a modern or eclectic space
• Quilters who worked through earlier editions of Florence Flamingo and want the updated version
• A handmade gift for anyone who loves modern quilts, birds, or bold color

Why You'll Love This Pattern

The 2-1/2" strip construction is satisfying to plan and sew. Each flamingo is made from a group of six coordinated fabrics that shade from light to dark, creating the gradation visible in the finished bird. The strip format makes this one of the most natural Jelly Roll patterns available, and because each block gets its own coordinated group, fabric curation is part of the creative work -- not just the sewing.

The two-quilt format offers real flexibility. The small quilt, with just two flamingos facing each other on a pale background, is a focused project that still carries significant visual weight. The large quilt, with nine birds arranged in color-grouped rows, is a more ambitious undertaking -- one that rewards the investment with a result that looks like it belongs on a wall.

Florence Flamingo is rated Skill Level 4 out of 5 by Elizabeth Hartman -- not because the techniques are unusual (all conventional patchwork), but because of the volume of pieces and the importance of staying organized as you work through the blocks. The instructions are detailed and clearly diagrammed, and the pattern includes charts showing every piece needed for each block, which helps considerably. Quilters who enjoy working methodically through a project with a lot of moving parts tend to find this one deeply satisfying -- and the finished result is in proportion to the effort.

Product Details

• Brand: Elizabeth Hartman
• Item #: EH093
• Designer: Elizabeth Hartman
• Category: Quilting Pattern
• Skill Level: Skill Level 4 of 5 (Elizabeth Hartman's rating); high volume of small pieces; experience with accurate patchwork piecing required
• Technique: Standard Machine Sewing, Conventional Patchwork
• Block Size: 17" x 25"
• Finished Sizes: 59" x 79" Large Quilt (9 blocks) | 45" x 45" Small Quilt (2 blocks)
• Format: Printed Paper Pattern
• Made in the United States