Quick Answer

Choose Mod Owls Revival if you love playful, modern motifs and want a coordinated kit option. Choose Long Walk if you prefer flowing curves and a serene, gradient-friendly design. Both use easy curved piecing, but their visual impact and fabric requirements differ.

When you're ready to start a new quilt, the hardest part is often picking the pattern. Sew Kind of Wonderful offers many designs that use the Quick Curve Ruler, but two stand out for different reasons: Mod Owls Revival and Long Walk. Both are paper patterns that promise easy curved piecing, yet they create very different quilts.

This comparison breaks down what each pattern offers, based on the catalog details, so you can decide which one matches your fabric stash, skill level, and the look you want to achieve.

Design and Visual Impact

Mod Owls Revival features owl motifs in two sizes, large and small, giving it a playful yet modern look. The pattern also includes traditional flying geese, which adds structure. The 'Revival' version uses the Pop Cloth fabric line, giving the quilt a cohesive, updated palette and style.

Long Walk, on the other hand, is described as having flowing curved shapes that blend and overlap, producing a soft, modern look. It's ideal for tonal fabrics or gradient palettes. If you want a quilt with movement and serenity, Long Walk may be more your style.

Fabric Needs and Quilt Size

Mod Owls Revival is available as a quilt kit in Pop Cloth, which includes fabric for the quilt top and binding. The kit is for a 62" x 75" quilt. If you prefer to choose your own fabrics, you can buy the paper pattern separately.

Long Walk is a 67" x 67" quilt. The pattern calls for 13 2/3-yard assorted focus fabrics and 1 yard of neutral background fabric. This gives you more flexibility to pull from your stash or create a gradient with fat quarters.

Skill Level and Techniques

Both patterns use Sew Kind of Wonderful's easy curved piecing method, which means no pins, no finding the center, and no snipping seams. Just cut, sew, and square up. This makes both patterns accessible to quilters of all levels.

However, Mod Owls Revival requires both the Quick Curve Ruler and the QCR Mini Ruler to make the different owl sizes. Long Walk is made with the Wonder Curve Ruler. If you already own one of these rulers, that might tip the scale.

Trade-Offs to Consider

  • Playful vs. Serene: Mod Owls Revival brings a whimsical, modern vibe with owl motifs. Long Walk (via Soft Focus) offers a calm, flowing aesthetic. Your choice depends on the mood you want in your quilt. Think about the room and recipient.
  • Coordinated Kit vs. Stash-Friendly: Mod Owls Revival has a quilt kit that includes fabric for top and binding, ensuring a cohesive look. Long Walk (Soft Focus) relies on your fabric choices, which is great if you want to use what you have. If you love the Pop Cloth line, the kit is convenient.
  • Ruler Requirements: Mod Owls Revival needs both the Quick Curve Ruler and QCR Mini Ruler. Soft Focus uses the Wonder Curve Ruler. If you don't own the required rulers, factor in that cost. Check your ruler collection first.

Pattern Details at a Glance

  • Mod Owls Revival (Paper): Mod Owls Revival pattern uses both the Quick Curve Ruler and QCR Mini Ruler to make this quilt. The quilt features owl motifs in two sizes (large and small), giving a playful but modern look and traditional flying geese. The 'Revival' version refreshes the original Mod Owls design, using the Pop Cloth fabric line which gives it a cohesive, updated palette and style. If you already own the Quick Curve Ruler and QCR Mini Ruler, you can start right away. The pattern also offers a coordinated kit, which simplifies fabric selection.
  • Soft Focus (Paper): Soft Focus Create a quilt with movement and serenity using the Soft Focus design. Made with the Wonder Curve Ruler, this pattern features flowing curved shapes that blend and overlap, producing a soft, modern look. Ideal for tonal fabrics or gradient palettes. Perfect for all skill levels. 67" x 67" Materials: (13) 2/3 yards assorted focus fabrics, 1 yard neutral... This pattern gives you more freedom to play with color and texture. If you're drawn to gradients or have a stash of tonals, this design will showcase them beautifully.

Which Pattern Should You Choose?

Best for

  • Quilters who love modern, playful motifs and want a coordinated fabric kit.
  • Those who already own the Quick Curve Ruler and QCR Mini Ruler.

Not for

  • Quilters who prefer a serene, gradient-based design and want to use their own fabric stash.

Ultimately, both Mod Owls Revival and Soft Focus (Long Walk) deliver the ease of curved piecing that Sew Kind of Wonderful is known for. Your decision comes down to the visual style you crave and the rulers you already have. If you're still torn, consider your fabric collection: playful prints call for Mod Owls, while tonal gradients shine in Soft Focus.