I have generated some interest in French General fabrics with my latest post, so I thought I would show you some of the quilts I have made over the years using them. I have always loved their elegant fabric collections and have purchased a lot in my quilting history. I have also accumulated a very large stash of leftovers, so I will continue to make quilts with French General fabric as long as I am able.
The quilt in the top photo is Elizabeth, a Miss Rosie pattern. You can see that a quilt made with French General fabric does not necessarily need to be predominantly red. Their lines always have a good amount of tans, taupes, and creams, which are used heavily in this quilt. French General quilts always have such an air of sophistication.
French General comes out with an all-blue line every now and then, and this quilt is an example. It was a sew-along hosted by The Quilt Spot, but it is no longer available. It was called The Hourglass Sampler.
My favorite French General quilts are those that have red, cream and blue together. This is Belle Meade, a pattern from the Bonnie Blue Quilts Company, which was later called Red Crinoline (to much confusion), and closed forever in 2025.
Back to what French General is known for: their red fabrics. This quilt is one I made as a pattern tester for Carrie Nelson when she was creating the pattern Shortline. This quilt was made from one or two French General jelly rolls. There was also a honey bun version in the pattern.
There is a funny story behind this quilt. Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie’s Quilt Company designed a small table-topper-size quilt called Madeline (one of her Schnibbles patterns), and my friend Thelma (Cupcakes’n’Daisies) wanted to make a full-size version. We enlarged the blocks, and here’s what I came up with. Thelma’s quilt was better because she also made the smaller tabletop version and used it as a center medallion in her quilt. Click on the link and go look at hers, it is spectacular (as are all of her quilts).
I know I made this Chateau Rouge quilt, but for the life of me I could not find it. Here is a photo of my cut block strips, see?
And here is a pile of my finished triangles. You do need a 60 degree ruler to make them.
I must have given this quilt to someone. Whoever it was, I hope you are enjoying it. The good news is that this is a free pattern on the Moda website. You could have your own French General quilt in no time with this free, easy pattern. You just make a bunch of red strips, cut them with the triangle ruler and alternate them with solid triangles of tan in each row.
This is funny. I pulled this quilt out of the piles on my closet shelves, laid it out, and took a picture before I realized that it isn’t made with French General fabric at all. It was made with a collection called Cinnaberry by 3 Sisters. If it isn’t a dupe for French General, I don’t know what is. You could absolutely achieve the same look with FG fabrics. I don’t think the pattern is widely available, but I did find one on eBay.
Couldn’t resist one last picture of Archie acting the fool. Every single time I lay out a quilt on the floor to take a picture, he has to do this ridiculous groveling routine. Every. single. time.
I have made more table runners from French General fabric than I can show here, but here is one last image to leave with you. These simple log cabin blocks were made with leftovers and worked out so well for a little table runner. If you haven’t discovered French General fabric, I hope this introduction has encouraged you to give their collections a try!
16 Responses
Oh my goodness, so much French General goodiness!
I am resisting temptation and doing the “what I have” version. I went thru all my reds and came up with a shockingly good stack. And then I went thru my background fabrics and knew I needed more. One of my local shops helped me find a few, I will be on the lookout for more.
I ordered 6” paper piecing pineapple set.
I am very excited, but I have to finish my Pickle Dish and two Lottie’s first.
I have three quilts going which is very unusual for me. The two Lottie’s make sense, they are identical, I make two identical blocks, one for each quilt. And the Pickle Dish happened organically because I participated in the Vera raffle quilt and then started one of my own, it is for my daughter.
But all three will be done before I start another. . .
STUNNING quilt show! Thank you for sharing. I’ve just made one table topper with FG and you’ve inspired me, but I think I’m booked up for the next 150 years! 😉
Thanks for the quilt show! Elizabeth is gorgeous! You inspire me. Thanks for sharing! I have a few quilts i don’t know who got them. I wish I would have kept track, but I guess it really doesn’t matter in the long run.
What is it with dogs and quilts??
Thank you for this beautiful show and tell, Nicole! It is just great to see a compilation of all your hard and precise work. I came across your blog through Thelma’s. She had made a quilt (long ago forgotten) that I had wanted to make and her blog was my introduction to quilting blogs and any blog for that matter! Between you and Thelma, I have gotten years of inspiration and I Thank You for this!! Cheers to many more years of quilting and inspiration!!
Beautiful quilts as usual! I always love Carrie Nelson’s patterns. I wonder what happened to her??
Hi Jane! I asked about Carrie Nelson on March 26. You can read Nicole’s update on her in the reply to my question.
What a nice way to start my morning with seeing your beauties! That line of French General does having staying power.
How beloved French General fabrics are! Your quilts make a beautiful collection to display. My little Yorkie Gracie mimics Archie every time I’m trying to get a quilt’s photo. Maybe they are putting their stamps of approval on each finish.
What a gorgeous trunk show! They’re all made so precisely & reflect some of your best work…I’ve been following you long enough to know! And, so many are Miss Rosie’s patterns which is a tribute to Carrie Nelson’s design skill.
The top quilt took my breath away. When you stated it was a Miss Rosie one I though aha – I knew I liked it! I have it marked in one of the books as a must do! LOL! Funny puppy Archie. Cute as a button!
Thanks Nicole! I have been collecting for a while now and have a plan. Love all of yours!
French General fabrics are gorgeous as are all of your quilts! I would want them all out on display so I could see and enjoy them every day. Thanks for the lovely trunk show and inspiration. Now, back in the sewing room I go to see what trouble I can get in to, and by trouble I mean totes of red fabric. 😊
Delightful, one and all! Aren’t you glad they can surround you?!
Hugs!
another beautiful quilt show to lift my spirits. I’ve got a couple of FG quilts around here.
That’s Archie saying, “This one is my favorite!” “No, THIS one is my favorite!”
I think that’s what all the rest of us are saying as we look at your eye for color and handiwork!
I have a nice collection of French General fabrics. I have never made anything with them, because I love them so I hate to cut into them :-S I also have the Elizabeth pattern, which I had collected fabric for. Maybe I will go ahead and make Elizabeth with my FG fabric. You have inspired me.