Pattern of the Week - The Tessa Quilt
I love a quilt pattern that is both eye-catching and beginner-friendly and apparently you do too because this is my most popular pattern. The Tessa Quilt Pattern has no y-seams and is a joy for quilters who have made a few quilts, all the way up to the most experienced. It’s a great quilting project if you want to:
• Show off your favorite fabrics. The Tessa Quilt’s design really lets feature prints shine – sometimes you want a complex design, but sometimes you “just want to see the fabric” and this pattern is perfect for that.
• Create a woven, modern look. The pattern is composed of interlocking blocks that give a woven lattice effect (with zero tricky seams ). It has a traditional feel with a modern twist, combining classic quilt blocks in a fresh layout.
• Make a quick, satisfying quilt. With its efficient construction (strip piecing, anyone?), the Tessa comes together faster than you’d expect. No tedious techniques – just straightforward, fun sewing for a quick finish.
• Work with various sizes. The pattern includes Baby, Lap, and Twin sizes in the instructions, and even has an add-on for Queen and King sizes if you want to go big! (Find the size extension right here).
How to Choose Fabrics for the Tessa Quilt
One of my favorite things about the Tessa Quilt is how versatile it is with fabric selection. This pattern plays well with just about any fabric collection or color scheme . You can use an assortment of prints from your stash for a scrappier look, or use a single fabric line for something more coordinated – the design will highlight them either way.
Don’t be afraid to feature large-scale prints – the block pieces are big enough to showcase fun prints without chopping them up too much. In fact, Tessa is fantastic for those big bold prints you’ve been saving. Consider alternating busy prints with calmer, tone-on-tone fabrics to give the eye a place to rest and to emphasize the woven design. And here’s a tip: use the free Tessa Quilt coloring sheet to test out your color placement before you cut; it’s a handy planning tool to ensure your fabric choices create the movement and contrast you envision.
Previous Tessa Quilt Posts
For more inspiration and variations, check out these past Tessa Quilt posts on the blog:
The Tessa Quilt in Charley Harper
Another Charley Harper Tessa Quilt
The Tessa Quilt Size Extension Info
New Tessa Quilt Mockups Featuring Current Fabric Collections
I put together several new mockups of the Tessa Quilt using some of today’s popular fabric collections. It’s always exciting to see this pattern in different styles of fabric – it really proves how adaptable it is. For these mockups, I experimented with both bold and neutral background colors, and I have to say, using a dark background in one of them made the lattice design really pop!
Slow Summer by Suzy Quilts
Animal Animal
Moonlit by Jennifer Moore
Lighthouse by Laundry Basket Quilts
Bloomcore by AGF Studio
Pure Solids by Suzy Quilts
Favorite Flowers by Ruby Star Society
Which Version is Your Favorite?
I love how different fabric choices completely change the look and feel of the Tessa Quilt. Which mockup version of the Tessa Quilt is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!