Liberty Patchwork Collective: Designing My Block for the 150th Anniversary Quilt
To celebrate 150 years of its iconic fabrics, Liberty invited makers from around the world to take part in a special project—the Liberty Patchwork Collective. Participants were asked to create a patchwork block using Liberty fabrics, which will be combined into a collaborative quilt honouring the brand’s rich textile heritage. I jumped at the chance to contribute to this significant piece, marking Liberty’s history with my own appliqué and patchwork block.
The Instructions:
25 x 25 cm (28 x 28 cm including a 1.5 cm seam allowance)
made with at least 60% Liberty fabric
unbacked to ensure the quilt’s structural integrity.
Liberty provided downloadable patchwork patterns, but makers were also encouraged to create their own unique designs. Personal touches such as embroidery and embellishment were welcomed, making each square a true reflection of its creator.
A Brief History of Liberty
Liberty has long been synonymous with fine textiles, intricate prints, and exquisite craftsmanship. Founded in 1875, Liberty of London became renowned for its distinctive floral and art nouveau-inspired designs, collaborating with artists and designers to create timeless patterns. When I studied textiles many years ago, learning about Liberty’s rich design heritage was a particularly memorable part of my studies.. Their connection to the Arts and Crafts movement, particularly William Morris, has always fascinated me, so I was excited to contribute to this collective celebration of Liberty's 150th anniversary.
Arts and Crafts Inspiration
For my block, I wanted pay homage to the Arts and Crafts movement by incorporating floral motifs reminiscent of William Morris’ designs. However, instead of intricate, intertwining patterns, I opted for a more folk-art style. I sketched out six different floral motifs, all loosely inspired by Morris but simplified into naïve, imagined plant forms rather than realistic botanical drawings.
My 6 initial designs and a range of potential Liberty fabrics to select from.
After selecting my favourite design, I enlarged it onto tracing paper to match the final block size—25 cm (or 28 cm with a 1.5 cm seam allowance). The tracing paper became the design and stencil outline for my individual appliqué shapes.
My chosen design enlarged onto tracing paper
Balancing Pattern and Colour
Stepping out of my comfort zone, I embraced Liberty’s signature floral prints, despite usually working with solid linens. I purchased the Harvest fabric bundle from Billow Fabrics, as it had the range of colours I was most drawn to. After unsuccessful attempts at arranging these fabrics, I ordered coordinating solid Tana Lawn from Alice Caroline: Liberty Tana Lawn Fabric Plain Ochre W, Liberty Tana Lawn® Fabric Plain Journal S, and Liberty Tana Lawn Fabric Plain Rust H. I felt the patterns needed space to breathe and I just couldn’t achieve the balance I usually like in my work with all that colour and pattern competing for attention.
Grouping and arranging colours to balance solids and pattern.
After experimenting with various colour and pattern combinations, I decided to simplify my palette, using mustard yellow as the primary colour. I settled on these two patterns: Summer Blooms B Yellow and Capel in Ochre Yellow with cream flowers—two similar but subtly different patterns. I pulled solid colours from within the patterned fabric to create cohesion, sadly dropping the beautiful rust colour which threw the whole design off balance. This approach allowed the flower motif to take centre stage without competing elements.
*these are not affilate links. I’m often asked where I purchase my fabrics and I like to support small businesses.
Positive and Negative Space
I wanted the block to still reflected my personal style, even though it’s such a different use of fabric for me. I played with positive and negative space by switching the foreground and background and alternating pattern with solid or light with dark. The background was made up of three bold rectangles in a simple patchwork: one pattern and two solids. The appliqué motif would overlay this background, switching between pattern and solid where the patchwork lines intersected. This interplay created contrast and balance while staying true to my usual aesthetic.
Working out where the intersecting fabric lines would sit.
Transferring the design
To ensure my design didn’t sit too close to the edges, I marked the seam allowance clearly on my tracing paper and my backing fabric. Next, I placed the tracing paper over the block to map out intersecting lines, helping me plan fabric placement. I labelled each section with its colour and whether it would be solid or patterned. Finally, I flipped the tracing paper over and transferred each shape onto thin card by redrawing over my lines in pencil to create the appliqué templates. I carefully cut them out ready to place on the fabrics.
Marking intersecting lines, transferring the design onto card, cutting out individual templates.
Constructing the Appliqué
For sections where the appliqué crossed over patchwork seams, I machine stitched two fabric pieces together. Using a heat-removable pen, I traced around the template onto the right side of the fabric—this guide helped me fold the edges before stitching them down. To ensure accurate placement, I also traced the appliqué shapes onto the patchwork background using the original tracing paper as a guide. This helped prevent distortion during the stitching process, ensuring everything line up.
Using tracing paper to line up my design and then drawing around the templates with a heat removable pen.
Appliquéing the shapes
I pinned down one shape at a time, carefully pre-folding the edges before whip-stitching with a mustard thread in tiny stitches. Paying close attention to the intersecting lines, I ensured the positive-negative space effect worked as planned.
The Finished Block
With everything stitched securely in place, I gave the block a final press, ready to send off for consideration in the collective quilt! I do hope it gets selected.
My appliquéd and patchwork quilt block for the Liberty Patchwork Collective Quilt.
Reflections and Lessons Learned
I should have tested my fabric pen on all colours of fabric before using it. Unfortunately, a faint marking remains on the mustard fabric because I assumed it would behave the same as on beige—lesson learned! Additionally, the pale beige tana lawn turned out to be quite sheer, making the seam allowances and underlying pattern slightly visible. While I appreciate textiles that reveal their construction, using interfacing or doubling the fabric could have improved the design. I also debated adding embroidery but ultimately decided to keep the shapes bold and clean.
Despite my initial hesitation about using patterned fabric, I’m pleased with the final result. This project reminded me how stepping outside our comfort zones can spark unexpected creativity. Sometimes, having a set of ‘rules’ to push against leads to the most interesting work! I’d certainly like to use this design again using linen and adding embroidered elements.
Did you make a block for the Liberty Patchwork Collective? I’d love to see your design!
Want to try Needle-turn Applique?
If you are interested in learning more about my approach to applique, then the following tutorial may be of interest to you. And of course, you can receive my free applique guide here.
Discover Rebekah’s straightforward method for needle turn applique in this comprehensive instructional ebook and accompanying video tutorial. You'll create a botanical-inspired appliqued square perfect for patchwork projects or stand-alone pieces like mini quilts or place mats.
Needle turn applique involves attaching fabric shapes to a background fabric by hand, neatly tucking under the raw edges and securing them with hand stitches.
Rebekah guides you through the entire process, starting from finding inspiration in your surroundings to sketching, cutting, and stitching down your applique design. She showcases examples from her own work and demonstrates various techniques for achieving both simple and intricate shapes.
Whether you're a novice or seasoned sewer, this tutorial is designed for you. Each step is meticulously explained with easy-to-follow tutorials, supplemented by written instructions and detailed photographs to cater to your preferred learning style. Feel free to customise your design, making it as simple or complex as you desire!
You will learn the following processes:
Finding design inspiration
Drawing a simple template
Zero waste approaches to composition
Suitable fabric choices
Needle turn applique
Ideas for how to use your applique square
Knife edge binding
Hand quilting
You can also purchase this as part of a bundle with 3 other tutorials.
Please tick the marketing permissions box at the checkout or you will not receive the automated email containing the links.