Frond Quilt Pattern

My Frond Quilt Pattern is here!

When developing my Long Leaf acrylic templates, I knew I wanted more patterns to use along with them. The shapes have been so enticing to me, and it’s been fun to explore more project possibilities.

Frond is an exciting journey of a project. I think of any project as a journey if there is some creative story to tell as you move across the project, or in the case of Frond, as you wind your way around it.

The Design

The design winds it way out from the center in rows and rows of repeated shapes. I decided to make it a colorful journey as I worked my way through all of the pieces in my new Languid fabric collection. You can see how I transition through all of the different pieces as you spiral out from the center.

Another approach using these same fabrics (or any other fabrics, really) would be to forgo the groupings of like-fabrics and just mix them all up. This would work really well with scraps, and you can imagine how different the effect would be. (This makes me dream of making another version…) Since it’s such a symmetrical design, I liked how grouping the fabrics in these offset units broke up that symmetry.

When using a lot of different fabrics, your background selection is obviously an important one. I always like to audition many choices over the accent fabrics I’m using, and in this case this pickle-y piece from Languid really did it for me. It cast a beautiful shade for the project and was also able to highlight both fabrics lighter and darker. (I find pickle-y shades do this so well.)

On Technique and Challenge

In terms of skill level, this project can be a bit trickier if making one of the larger sizes and depending on the technical approach. It is a design that grows from the center, and so any discrepancies in seam allowances can compound. Being aware of this and being thoughtful in how you decide to piece your project can help you choose the best path for you. I offer up some tips and alternatives in the pattern.

Like with my Long Leaf project, you have the option to go with Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP) or Template Piecing. FPP may be easier to create a professional looking result. That process bakes in a perfect seam allowance, plus the paper will stabilize the blocks for you.

Template Piecing can be a bit faster, but you will need to be diligent about your seam allowances so that your pieces fit together well. This is when I like setting my seam allowance with a magnetic seam guide to keep me on track and consistent throughout the project.

I’ve been in such a template-piecing mood lately, so that’s how I put this version together. I enjoyed cutting out the shapes, auditioning them in their place and sewing them all together.

The Quilting

There are many ways to quilt this project. You could absolutely get fussy and highlight all of the individual shapes, or you could go with a curvilinear motif–sometimes that can work really beautifully with something so angular. Or you could hand quilt it too. I love a design that lends itself to a variety of options.

For me, I wanted an all-over, machine approach. I created an angular texture through free motion quilting that I changed up as I worked my way around the project.

In using so many different colors in the project, thread choice can be a bit tricky. I went with a light-medium neutral color that worked well with the background fabric. It also doesn’t stand out too much in the lightest or darkest fabrics either. Sometimes when you have such a spectrum it’s good to stay somewhere in the middle, especially if you have such a prominent background.

Project Details

Pattern: Frond Quilt Pattern, queen size

Technique/Templates: Foundation Paper Piecing or Template Piecing (using Long Leaf Acrylic Template Set)

Fabric: Languid