How to Use Scattered Fall Leaves Fabric in Soft Autumn Quilts
A scattered leaf print is one of the easiest ways to bring autumn into a quilt without committing to a single large motif. The Awe of Autumn Leaves in Hazy, designed by Sandy Gervais for Riley Blake Designs, features scattered fall leaves, so the seasonal feeling comes from movement and repetition rather than from one big picture. It can carry a project on its own, or sit quietly beside stronger prints in the same collection.
What This Fabric Is
This is a 100% cotton quilting fabric, 43"/44" wide, sold by the yard. It is part of The Awe of Autumn collection by Sandy Gervais for Riley Blake Designs, and the product notes describe the collection as great for quilting, apparel and home decor. The print is a scatter design — fall leaves spread across the fabric rather than lined up in rows or stripes — so each cut shows a slightly different arrangement of leaves. The Hazy colorway is the softer option in the collection, suited to projects that want an autumn mood without a bold, high-contrast look.
What It Is Best For
Reach for a scattered leaf print when a project needs seasonal character that still behaves like a supporting fabric. In quilts, it works well for block backgrounds, sashing, borders, and large simple squares where the leaves can show at different scales. Because the motifs are spread out, small cuts still read as fall, which makes this fabric useful for patchwork, table runners, placemats, and pillow covers. The product notes also include apparel and home decor, so it suits simple seasonal pieces beyond the quilt top as well.
Cutting and Piecing Tips
Press the fabric before you cut, and study how the leaves are distributed. A scatter print is forgiving at the seams because no motif must line up across a join, but direction still matters: leaves tossed in different directions look natural, while a block where every leaf points the same way can look flat. Decide before cutting whether you want that tossed effect or a consistent direction, especially for borders and long strips. Cut on the straight of grain with a rotary cutter, mat, and ruler, and keep a consistent 1/4-inch seam allowance. If using this print as a background behind applique or feature blocks, sew one test block first to confirm the leaves add gentle texture without competing with the shapes on top.
Color Pairing Ideas
Start within The Awe of Autumn collection itself, where the coordinating prints were designed to sit beside this leaf print — the plaid and pumpkin prints from the same collection are natural partners. For a soft, hazy palette, pair it with muted companions such as cream, warm taupe, sage, and dusty gold, and let solid or small-scale fabrics provide resting places between prints. If a project needs more definition, add it in a controlled dose: a deeper binding or narrow sashing can frame the softness without turning the whole quilt high-contrast. View a test layout from a few feet away before committing, because scattered prints read differently at a distance than they do on the cutting table.
Project Ideas to Try
Try a simple patchwork throw that alternates squares of this leaf print with solid blocks, letting each cut show a different scatter of leaves. Use it as the background for appliqued pumpkins or a fall medallion, where its quiet movement adds interest behind the shapes. Make a table runner or set of placemats for a calm harvest table, or sew pillow covers that bring a gentle seasonal note to a sofa or guest bed. Leftover pieces are ideal for mug rugs, pouch linings, and small gift bags for autumn gatherings.
Care
Follow the care listed for this fabric: machine wash cold and tumble dry low. Cold washing and low drying help protect the cotton fibers and keep the colors true through repeated washes. Press finished pieces after washing for a crisp finish.
Shop the The Awe of Autumn Leaves Hazy 43"/44" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
