A new year is the perfect time to rediscover the fabric you already love. If your shelves and bins are full of saved favorites, 2026 is a great year to turn that stash into beautiful, finished projects.

GE Patterns are designed to help quilters make the most of what they have—whether that’s fat quarters, scraps, leftover bundles, or those ever-growing strip collections.

Built by Quilters. Designed for How Quilters Actually Work.

Wool pressing mats didn’t start out as a quilting product.

When Gudrun began teaching quilting classes years ago, she saw the same problem over and over again, long before wool mats became trendy. Quilters were trying to create better pressing results, but the tools simply weren’t keeping up with how they actually worked.

If you’ve ever joined a quilting retreat or spent time with fellow makers, you know there’s something magical about connecting through creativity. Ideas flow, friendships form, and inspiration seems to pop up everywhere. That exact feeling-of community, joy, and shared passion-is what inspired Gudrun to create GE Quilting Escapes.

If you’ve ever inherited a box of thread from your mom, grandma, or stumbled across a great-looking spool at an estate sale, you may have asked yourself: Does thread go bad?

The short answer is yes—thread doesn’t exactly have an expiration date, but it does have a lifespan. How long it lasts depends greatly on how it’s stored. In her recent Tipsy Tuesday episode, Gudrun shared some eye-opening tips on keeping your thread strong, reliable, and ready for your next quilting project.

Quilting is a craft that combines creativity and precision, and at GE Designs, we love making it as easy and enjoyable as possible. That’s why Gudrun Erla has taken classic quilt blocks and Stripologized them—simplifying the process using Stripology rulers and techniques to make cutting and piecing faster, more accurate, and more fun.

At GE Designs, we’re always searching for the highest-quality tools to help you create quilts you’re truly proud of. That's why we're thrilled to officially spotlight Madeira Thread, a German-engineered powerhouse of premium threads, in production for over a century. This thread delivers flawless stitches, vibrant colors, and exceptional performance—whether you’re piecing, quilting, or adding delicate details.

Color is one of the most exciting parts of quilting, but it can also be one of the most challenging! Many quilters struggle with selecting the right colors to create a harmonious, eye-catching design. If you've ever finished a quilt only to feel that the colors aren’t quite right, you're not alone. Below, we’ll address some of the most common quilting color mistakes and offer practical solutions to help you solve color issues in quilting.

Quilting is a celebration of color, and nothing makes a statement quite like bold and bright fabrics. Whether you love the energy of fiery reds, the depth of rich blues, or the vibrancy of neon hues, knowing how to make colors pop in your quilt designs is key to creating eye-catching pieces.

When it comes to quilting, few color palettes evoke such timeless charm and elegance as pastels. These soft, soothing hues—from soft yellows to blush pinks and minty greens—bring a delicate touch to any project. Whether you're a traditionalist or love experimenting with modern styles, pastel quilting fabrics offer endless possibilities for creating beautiful, memorable quilts.

Discover how GE Designs and Gudrun Erla are making waves in the quilting world in the Twin Cities Business Journal. This article highlights Gudrun’s journey from Iceland to Minnesota, her innovative approaches, and the impressive growth of her business, GE Designs. Read more about her entrepreneurial success and contributions to the quilting community.

Read the article here

In episode 142 of the Quilter on Fire Podcast, Gudrun Erla shares how her community thrived during the pandemic. Discover how her innovative approach and engaging events helped quilters stay connected and inspired. Tune in to hear how GE Designs became a go-to resource for quilting enthusiasts.

Podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts.