Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Field of Leaves

I love quilts with leaf blocks.  Scattered Leaves, the first quilt pattern I ever wrote featured leaf blocks, and I've written a few more over the years.   When Island Batik sent me an advance peek of their Earth Essence collection,  I couldn't help myslef.  I designed another leaf quilt.  

Qulit featuring alternating leaf blocks and stripe blocks.  Fabrics are gold and brown batik prints on a light background.  Quilt is draped over bushes.
Field of Leaves by Canuck Quilter Designs.
Fabrics from Earth Essence by Island Batik, a division of Lumin Fabrics
Photo by Jerry Khiev of Lumin Fabrics

I'm really pleased with the leaf block in this one.  In many of my previous leaf quilts there was a tiny bit of paper-piecing in the center leaf tip.  This one is FPP-free.  Stitch-and-flip corners make all the angles super simple.

Closeup photo of a leaf quilt block in dark brown batik print on a light print background
Closeup of leaf block in Field of Leaves
Fabrics from Earth Essence from Island Batik, a division of Lumin Fabrics

I had to fiddle a little bit with a frame around the leaf to get the leaf centered in the setting I chose, but I think it was worth it.

The alternate blocks could not be simpler.  They are squares cut from strip sets.  Easy peasy.

Leaf-themed quilt in a snowy lanscape, with a tree  trunk and blue sky in the background. Brown and gold patchwork leaf blocks alternate with brown and gold striped blocks, all on a light print background.  Blocks are set on point.
Field of Leaves by Canuck Quilter Designs
Fabrics from Earth Essence from Island Batik, a division of Lumin Fabrics


Another favourite feature?  This quilt requires no sashing and no borders!  I'm not a fan of measuring and sewing sashing and borders.  I do it because sashing and borders can be really useful and important design elements, but it's always fun to come up with something that doesn't need either.

Obviously, the golds and earth tones of this version strongly suggest fall, but go ahead and imagine something different.  Take a look at what Anja of Anja Quilts made with this pattern.  

A red and white quilt top featuring alternating red leaf blocks and stripe blocks.
Field Of Leaves quilt top made by Anja of Anja Quilts

Anja reports that different Kona cotton reds are very close in value. I can see some variation here if I look closely.  I'll keep that in mind when I select reds for my own red and white version, but honestly I think it looks stunning even with very little value difference.  It could be a two fabric quilt.

A scrappy version would probably look fabulous too.  I'm on a scrappy bender right now, trying to use some up to make room for more.  I wonder if I have enough red scraps?  Maybe I should dig into my fall rusts and oranges.  I wonder if I could bring myself to just throw all the colors together?  Probably not.  I know myself!  I need control of the scrappy!

I'm off to dig in my scraps.  I'll report more on that later.

Happy quilting,
Joanne

Pattern cover showcasing quilt with brown and gold stripe blocks alternating with brown and gold leaf blocks, both on a light background.  Blocks are set on point in the quilt.
Field of Leaves is available as a pattern download
 in my Etsy shop, or you can ask your
 favorite quilt shop for a print version.