GE Designs & Gudrun Erla: Modern Quilt Patterns Made Simple

If you’ve ever scrolled through a quilt show or an IG feed and stopped dead in your tracks at a stunning, graphic pattern that looks both fresh and timeless, chances are you’re looking at something from GE Designs. And behind that quilting magic? The incredibly talented Gudrun Erla, a designer who has made it her mission to prove that beautiful quilts don’t have to be overcomplicated. At Birdsong Quilting, we are absolutely smitten with her designs, and we’ll tell you why you should be, too!

Who is Gudrun Erla?

 

Born and raised in Iceland, the country of Northern Lights, Gudrun Erla brought her love of bold color and clean designs when she relocated to the US. In the US, she launched GE Designs with a clear creative vision: make modern quilting accessible, joyful, and achievable for quilters of every skill level. 

What makes Gudrun Erla a cut above the rest is that, aside from her sharp eye for color, it is her ability to look at a pattern that seems wildly complex and ask, “But what if we made it simple?” The result is a body of work that has earned GE Designs a devoted following of quilters who keep coming back for pattern after pattern, and for a good reason. 

The GE Design Signature Style

When you’re walking into a quilt shop carrying GE Designs patterns, you’ll notice something immediately: the covers practically leap off the shelves because of their colors. Gudrun Erla has a gift of combining striking geometric shapes with unexpected color pairings that feel modern without being cold, and structured without being stiff. 

Some hallmarks of the GE Designs include: 

• Strong graphic lines that create serious visual impact.
• Surprisingly simple construction that doesn’t match how complex the finished quilt looks. 
• Versatile colorways. Most of the patterns are shown in multiple color options so you can see exactly how changing your palette changes everything. 
• Clear, beginner-friendly instructions that don’t leave you confused over a diagram at midnight. 

That last point deserves its own round of applause because Gudrun Erla genuinely creates for the quilters who want to succeed, not just the seasoned pro who already knows what they’re doing. Erla’s instructions are clear, her cutting guides are precise, and her tips are genuinely helpful. 

Why We Love GE Designs

Once a quilter makes one of Gudrun Erla's patterns, they almost always come back for more. It’s that combination of “I can’t believe I made this!” satisfaction and “Okay, what’s next?” excitement that keeps the momentum going. 

GE Designs also shines in a variety of scales. From throw quilts that are perfect for gifting to larger bed quilts that become the showpiece of a room. If you’re a quilter who loves teaching others? These patterns are a dream to use in a class setting. Erla’s clear instruction style means students spend more time sewing and less time asking for any clarifications. 

Getting Started with Gudrun Erla’s Patterns

New to GE Designs? Here’s how to dive in:

• Start with a striped or block pattern - Many of Erla’s designs use strip-piecing techniques that come together faster than you’d expect. The simplicity of the construction is part of what makes the result so impressive.
• Follow the color suggestions, or throw them out - GE Design patterns typically include multiple colorway options, so you can follow Gudrun Erla’s lead or use the structure as a jumping-off point for your own palette. Both approaches produce wonderful results. 
• Trust the process - Some GE Designs patterns look deceptively complex until you’re actually quilting it. Stick with the steps, and you’ll likely have one of those “Wait, I did that?” moments when you lay out your blocks. 

Final Thoughts

Whether you're picking up your first Gudrun Erla pattern or you're on your tenth, we love helping quilters find the project that will light them up.

Modern quilting is all about joy: the joy of color, of geometry, of making something with your own two hands that is genuinely beautiful. GE Designs and Gudrun Erla embody that spirit completely, and we couldn't be happier to share them with our quilting community.

Stop in, browse our pattern wall, and let us know if you need help finding your next favorite project. We have a feeling it might just have a little Icelandic magic in it.