There's a question every designer asks themselves when they're about to start something new:
Where do I begin?
A new chapter. A new partner. A blank slate that isn't really blank — because you bring everything you've ever made with you, whether you like it or not.
My answer? Go back to what works. Go back to what you love. And then ask yourself: what comes next?
It Started With a Comma.
Years ago, I designed a collection called COMMA. Black and white, bold graphics, those big asterisks that somehow ended up in quilts all over the world. COMMA became one of those collections that takes on a life of its own. People still write to me about it. Shop owners still ask about it. It became, quietly and unexpectedly, iconic.
So when I sat down to design my first collection for FreeSpirit Fabrics — my new home, my new chapter — the question wasn't really a question at all.
What do you do with a comma?
You keep writing.
Enter: The Ampersand.
I didn't want to just repeat COMMA. I wanted to honor it — and move forward from it at the same time. And I needed a name that said exactly that.
COMMA got its name from a punctuation mark. A pause. A breath. And then there's more.
So I went looking for the punctuation mark that means: this AND that. The old AND the new. Connection. Continuation. Both.
The ampersand — & — was the only choice.
It stands for connection. It bridges my long design history with Moda and the new adventure at FreeSpirit. It's a sequel that respects its origin while stepping confidently into something fresh. And honestly? It looks pretty spectacular as a large-scale print on fabric.
Same DNA. New Energy.
Here's what I want you to know: Zen Chic stays Zen Chic.
If you loved COMMA, you will recognize Ampersand immediately. The graphic world is the same — bold contrast, clean geometry, prints that give your quilt room to breathe. The beloved Asterisk print is back, this time in a finer scale, because the stage belongs to a new hero now. The color palette is built on that strong foundation of black, white, and grey, with deliberate shots of warm mustard for energy and contrast.
But Ampersand also goes further. There's a whole Playful Extension — orange-red, olive green, multicolor — that takes the collection somewhere warmer and more expressive. Two directions that each stand completely on their own, or work together as one rich, layered world.
24 prints in total. Two coherent colorways. Zero boring fabric.
And yes — if you look very closely at the circles print? Those circles are made of exclamation marks. Because of course they are.
A Word About the Prints
The hero of the collection is, fittingly, the Ampersand print itself — bold rhythm, confident repeat, unmistakably graphic. Then there's the returning Asterisk, scaled down and more refined than its COMMA counterpart, quietly holding the visual system together.
Magazine brings something new: a collage-inspired energy — News Print and Ripples — that adds artistic texture and a little chaos in the best possible way. And Specs (yes, those are glasses) brings the playful geometry that makes Ampersand feel like it has a sense of humor. Because good fabric design should make you smile.
The stripe prints — horizontal and vertical — are there for exactly the reason stripes always are in a Zen Chic collection: to ground, to direct the eye, and to be quietly indispensable in every quilt you make.
Take a Look Inside
I put together a full Lookbook for Ampersand — two colorways, all 24 prints, the quilt patterns, and Whisp. Everything you need to fall completely in love.
Three Patterns. Three Ways to Work With Ampersand.
I designed three quilt patterns specifically for this collection, and I made sure they cover the full skill range — because Ampersand deserves to be sewn by everyone.
Featuring AMPERSAND and WHISP fabrics available through FreeSpirit Fabrics. Finished size: 61" x 61". Modern geometry meets Bauhaus spirit. Interlocking lines and bold rectangles create striking depth—surprisingly simple to sew. A confident beginner quilt with strong graphic impact.
This item is a digital product and no physical product will be sent. Upon checkout, you will be emailed a link to download, save, and print your pattern. Instant download items are not able to be refunded, exchanged, or canceled.
Between the Lines
(61" × 61" — Confident Beginner) Simple piecing, maximum graphic impact. This is your statement quilt — the one that highlights contrast and negative space and makes people ask "how long did that take?" when really it was very manageable. Clean, architectural, modern. And yes, there's a tiny & hiding in there. Find it.
Featuring AMPERSAND and WHISP fabrics available through FreeSpirit Fabrics. Finished size: 59" x 59". Bring rhythm and elegance into your home with this bold, modern quilt! Beaded features simple raw-edge appliqué and playful circle arrangements—perfect for Charm Pack lovers and creative spirits alike.
This item is a digital product and no physical product will be sent. Upon checkout, you will be emailed a link to download, save, and print your pattern. Instant download items are not able to be refunded, exchanged, or canceled.
Beaded
(59" × 59" — Confident Beginner) Raw edge appliqué, incredibly satisfying to make, and — here's the good news — it works perfectly with just 2 Ampersand charm packs plus background yardage. Easy to kit. Easy to sew. Easy to fall in love with.
Featuring AMPERSAND and WHISP fabrics available through FreeSpirit Fabrics. Finished size: 61" x 61". Dissolve plays with value gradients and geometric fragments to create a captivating circular illusion. Show off your favorite bundle—from soft lights to bold darks.
This item is a digital product and no physical product will be sent. Upon checkout, you will be emailed a link to download, save, and print your pattern. Instant download items are not able to be refunded, exchanged, or canceled.
Dissolve
(61" × 61" — Advanced) Foundation paper piecing. A showpiece. The kind of quilt that makes experienced makers reach for their rulers with a little gleam in their eye. Those spinning diamond shapes, all that color and movement — Dissolve is Ampersand showing off, and it earns it.
All three patterns are available in my shop.
Now Let's Talk About the Back.
Because a great quilt deserves a great backing. And the Ampersand White Album 108" Wide Backing is not just a backing fabric — it is a statement all on its own.
The Magazine print at 108" wide is a collage of vintage photography, newsprint, color splashes, and graphic energy. It's bold, it's artistic, it's completely unexpected on the back of a quilt — and it makes the finished piece feel like a real two-sided work of art.
Design with intention. From front to back. That's not just a tagline. That's a whole philosophy — and this backing is the proof.
At $27.98/yard, the White Album is already available for pre-order at Fat Quarter Shop right now.
And Then There's Whisp.
You've been asking whether Spotted would continue. I hear you — and the answer is yes, in spirit and in practice.
Whisp is the modern coordinate collection that follows the same philosophy as Spotted: reads like a solid, feels softer, works with everything. Calibrated specifically to pair with Ampersand, and beyond. If Spotted earned a permanent place in your stash, Whisp will do the same. But more on that another time — Whisp deserves its own story.
Where & When
Ampersand ships in November 2026 through FreeSpirit Fabrics.
In Europe, reach out to your favorite shop — or get it for example in my online shop
You Can Pre-Order Right Now.
No waiting. No "remind me in November." Fat Quarter Shop already has Ampersand available for pre-order — which means you can secure your yardage today and it ships straight to you when the collection arrives.
→ Pre-order Ampersand at Fat Quarter Shop
And if you prefer to support your local quilt shop: show them this post. Tell them you want Ampersand on their shelves. One sentence from a loyal customer moves an order — every single time.
New at FreeSpirit. Not new to the game.
— Brigitte
Made something with Ampersand? Tag me. I want to see every single one.