• 8 Free Quilt Patterns That Only 'Look' Difficult

    Posted by Cathy Cooper

    8 Free Quilt Patterns That Only “Look” Difficult.jpg

    What kind of quilter are you?

    Are you an absolute beginner who wants the satisfaction of completing one of your first quilting projects? Or are you an experienced quilter who has a busy life—and perhaps needs a shower or holiday gift by the weekend?

    Either way, you might find the perfect project with this selection of free quilt patterns. We’ve chosen them here for you not just because they’re free, but because they’re fast and easy… and fantastic.  

     

    Volcano quilt

    Sarah Watts created a clever design that should just explode out of your sewing machine. The contemporary pattern is perfect for both the young and the young at heart.

    Because much of the design has a solid background, the quilt doesn't require as many different patches as most others do. Even though this might be considered a minimalist quilt, it's still very exciting.

    This is one of several free quilt patterns offered by fabric manufacturers that you can find on the web.

     

    Easy X's and O's quilt

    Janet Wickell's X's and O's quilt pattern can save you both time and money. That's because, although you could choose to carefully coordinate your quilt by buying new fabric, this design comes out great with a variety of quilting scraps too.

    One advantage of this particular design is that it's easy to customize the length and width. That means that you could use this pattern for a baby blanket or a throw for a king-sized bed. Since it's possible to vary the size and design so much, this is a really useful quilt pattern to master.

     

    Christmas quilt

    Kathy Mathews likes to collect fabric that has already been printed in Christmas designs and colours. She simply arranged strips of different fabrics until she created a Christmas quilt design that she liked. Fabric with a very faint striping offered the perfect border because it brought the whole thing together.

    If you wanted to get creative, you could also use this quilt pattern with strips of fabric that represented different holidays, or even other occasions such as weddings or baby showers.

     

    “One-Day” contemporary baby quilt

    This is another idea for a special-occasion quilt from Kathy Mathews’ collection of free quilt patterns. But where the Christmas quilt pattern above produces a very traditional appearance, this one-day quilt idea works because it uses irregular blocks that have already been printed with more modern and abstract designs.

    The end result is a quilt that looks like it belongs in a contemporary art museum's quilting section.

    The other great thing about this quilt pattern is it's very easy to vary the fabric to produce a quilt for a boy or a girl.

     

    Tulip garden

    This tulip garden quilt is one of Hallie O'Kelly's free quilt patterns. The big blocks of fabric that create rows of tulips make this a quick gift for Easter or another event in the spring. The boxy tulips give the finished product a look that appears traditional but is anything but boring. Quilters can select colours and even prints to harmonize this quilt with any colour scheme.

     

    Brick path

    This free quilt pattern by Alexia Marcelle Abegg is a brick path quilt that benefits from the large blocks of "white space" in the design. The basic pattern might almost be compared to a tic-tac-toe board—or, in these days of automatic phone systems and social media, to a pound (#) sign or hashtag.

    Large blocks of white alternate here with large blocks of simple and colourful patterns. The patterned blocks could be composed of scraps or designed to complete a theme.

     

    Heart quilt blocks

    Celebrate St. Valentine's Day, a wedding or baby shower, or even a friendship with this heart block pattern by Terri. The bold pattern offers a very classic look, but you can easily adjust the colour and size of your finished product. It's very simple to cut out the straight or diagonal lines on a grid too.

    This is sure to be a go-to design for many busy quilters.

     

    Four-patch

    Finally, if you'd like to begin with some neat, square shapes, consider this four-patch pattern from Amy Smart. You can choose to create your patches out of scraps or produce a theme with any colour or print of fabric that you choose. She considers this one of the most basic patterns for a quick baby quilt, but really, it could be transformed into a style that suits any occasion.

     

    Which of these free quilt patterns will you make first?

    You can find more quilt patterns—either paid or free—both on this site and on the web. It’s never been easier to get you started with a new quilting hobby, or exercise your skills with a quick project during a busy week.

    As these patterns demonstrate, even simple designs can appear elegant, artistic, and bold. Nobody will guess how easy these lovely quilts were to complete… And you certainly don't have to tell.

     

    Ready to get started? Runaway Quilting has everything you need

    Now that you’ve got your free quilt patterns, do you need quilting supplies or notions? You’re in the right place.

     

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  • 9 Quilt Patterns to Make with Kids or Grandkids

    Posted by Lukas Kowalewski

    9 Quilt Patterns to Make with Kids or Grandkids

     

    Quilt patterns for kids and grandkids range from overly “cutesy” to whimsical yet mature.

    That’s one of the reasons It can almost be overwhelming to try to find a quilt pattern that your child or grandchild might be interested in crafting with you. Baby quilts… Memory quilts… And a whole host of ideas in between. The choices are nearly endless.

    At the same time, kids these days have so much competing for their attention—sports, television, video games and electronic devices…

    But fear not. Kids still crave attention from adults; reach out and they’re likely to respond to you, even if they don’t fully embrace quilting right away.

    That said, they’ll probably take to quilting faster if you pick the right pattern

    If you’re searching for quilt patterns to make with your kids or grandkids, here are some of the most kid-friendly ideas to get you started.

     

    Sports quilts

    Sporting quilt patterns are all the rage with little baseball players, future basketball stars and football fans. Make your child’s favourite team or player the star of this quilt by incorporating team colours, logos, jerseys or numbers.

    Making this quilt would be a great chance for you to connect with children or grandchildren over sports.

     

    Strip quilts

    This simple strip quilt is one of the easiest ways to take leftover fabric and fashion it into a stylish quilt. As a way to make a keepsake for your kids will cherish, let them choose the fabric prints they want for this quilt. Thanks to the simple design this is a very forgiving pattern that makes quilting a cinch—great for younger beginning quilters.

     

    Gaming quilts

    If you have a video game loving grandkid, this Minecraft quilt is a great way to connect on a gamer’s level. Since Minecraft is all about squares, this makes for the perfect theme for an easy quilt for kids. Best of all, the quilt can be made to resemble a tree or other landscape from Minecraft—and it will still seem relevant when they’re old and grown.

     

    Superhero quilts

    Superhero quilt patterns can be the perfect choice for kids. After all, what child wouldn’t love to be protected in bed by Batman, Super Woman or Spiderman? Let your kids help you choose the superhero quilt theme, along with the patterned fabrics, to bring this quilt to life.

     

    Fidget quilts

    Fidget quilts are all the rage these days. From helping kiddos develop their motor skills to giving bored toddlers something to keep them occupied, fidget quilts have you covered.

    Choose buttons, zippers and other attachments that can be washed easily. Also look for different textures in your fabrics to add to the touch sensation of this active quilt.

    Remember though, don’t give this quilt to a smaller child that could choke on the attached pieces.

     

    Tree quilts

    For an awesome memory piece your child or grandchild will treasure for years to come, use a tree design on a basic plain quilt to make your very own family tree.

    Try getting your kids and grandkids to help you do the research to encourage their genealogy skills and educate them in a fun way about their ancestry.

    The quilt itself here is very basic, which will make the leaves and tree branches the star of the show.

     

    Animal quilts

    Animal lovers will fawn over this idea. Create an animal inspired quilt with your little ones, showcasing their favourite animals of the moment.

    You could stick with a single animal, such as with the Fancy Fox quilt, or you can opt for an overall theme, such as zoo animals or forest creatures. The backdrop is a basic wood grain that adds to the natural effect. (It also saves time while you and your little helper are finishing this masterpiece.)

     

    “I Spy” quilts

    For children who are huge fans of playing “I Spy” or other similar games, here’s a fantastic I Spy quilt pattern. Choosing random prints from some kid friendly fabrics, simply line everything up in a square.

    Get your grandchild or child to help you cut out the squares—it’s a great way for them to practice their fine motor skills.

    The fun continues after the quilt is finished when you spend hours together playing “I Spy” using the loud prints of this quilt.

     

    Baby clothes quilts

    All of those baby clothes that you can’t get rid of… What’s a mother or grandmother to do? Make a baby clothes quilt, of course. Here’s one of the cutest ideas yet to create a lasting memory with baby clothes you might have otherwise sold, donated or thrown out.

    If you’d like, attach small toys, blankies or stuffed animals to add interest to this adorable work of art. Just make sure everything you add is washable.

     

    So many quilt patterns, so little time

    Finding the perfect quilt patterns to use for quilting with kids and grandkids is easy. Just start by thinking about what your kids enjoy doing, and take it from there. The work your young partner puts in will make lasting quilted memories.

     

    Ready to get started? Runaway Quilting has everything you need

    Need quilting supplies or notions now that your quilt patterns are taken care of? You’re in the right place.

     

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  • From Chevron to Pinwheel: 9 Easy Quilt Patterns to Try

    Posted by Lukas Kowalewski

    9 Easy Quilt Patterns to Try

    Break out your betweens and grab your low-loft batting because you're going to love these deceptively easy quilt patterns.

    From a classic mid-century chevron motif to an artsy kaleidoscope design, they only look complicated. You won't believe how much fun you're going to have creating your family's next heirloom treasure.  

     

    Chevron

    There are as many methods for piecing a chevron motif as there are spare bobbins in your sewing box, but this easy quilt pattern for the classic chevron, found over at KelbySews, is a keeper.

    We love it because it shakes up the “usual” chevron construction and features a combination of large and small squares. Collect the prettiest fabrics you can find—and don’t forget to keep your iron handy to press open the seams—and you can easily create a visual masterpiece that echoes the vintage pop of the 1950s.

     

    Hunter's Star

    The Hunter's Star quilt block may look difficult, but we like it a lot it because it's really a simple 16-patch that utilizes two uncut blocks in each row. All other blocks are simple half-square triangles pieced together to form the design. You'll find an easy Hunter's Star pattern and tutorial by Janet Wickell, quilting expert, at About.com. One tip, though—not unlike the chevron design, the Hunter's Star requires a little extra attention to detail to ensure all the points line up precisely.

     

    Kaleidoscope

    A relatively modern design, the Kaleidoscope quilt wasn’t seen much before the mid-60s. Why? The colours and designs of fabric required in specific amounts to create this motif wouldn't have been feasible in the early days of quilting. Unlike more traditional motifs that made good use of whatever fabrics the lady of the house happened to have on-hand, the kaleidoscope is an art quilt that evolved as quilting became more pastime and less necessity.  

    To make yours, see the Kaleidoscope Pattern by Janet Wickell available at About.com.

     

    Log Cabin

    A favourite for quilters of all skill levels, the Log Cabin may be the most versatile patch in our repertoire. We love it most because it's an easy quilt pattern for using up small strips and pieces. Then, we love it all over again for its versatility. 

    The Log Cabin can be arranged to form a variety of designs. Make a traditional block, like this one found over on QuiltSocial.com, or go wild with zany-coloured strips to form a diamond or zigzag quilt. A simple and easy quilt for sure, but still quite satisfying.  

     

    Attic Window

    An easy-to-handle technique for piecing the multi-dimensional Attic Window block can be found on Straw.com. One of our favourite easy quilt patterns when done correctly, the Attic Window forms a breathtaking optical illusion, yet it's deceptively simple to make.

    This block sometimes utilizes a single square of print fabric in the middle of each window pane—forming the view from the attic. When the quilt is complete, the illusion is striking.

     

    Rail Fence

    Easy enough for beginners, the Rail Fence pattern over on About.com gets done quickly when you use strip-piecing techniques to create your squares. Once pieced and cut to the appropriate sizes, blocks are simply placed in alternating vertical and horizontal positions to form a zigzag motif.

    We love the Rail Fence because it's super simple, and there are no pesky points to line up.

     

    Pinwheel

    Straw.com offers up a whole page of easy quilt patterns dedicated to the traditional Pinwheel, ranging in difficulty from easy cut-and-piece to designs that use paper-piecing. If you like the whimsical Pinwheel pattern, this link is a jackpot of fun and fabulous ideas.

    We love every variation on the classic Pinwheel, because each one creates dynamic movement and flow.

     

    Bear's Paw

    Using a combination of half-square blocks, uncut blocks and strips, the Bear's Paw makes a lively motif that adapts well to quilts of all sizes. Easy to cut and relatively easy to piece with minimal attention to point placement, the Bear's Paw pattern is big on tradition.

    We like it because it's a classic design. You'll like it because it's a cinch to construct—and it looks much more complicated when you’re done.

     

    Four-Patch

    No list of easy quilt patterns would be complete without the most basic one of all: the Four-Patch. Use uncut squares, half-triangle squares or a combination of the two to create an assortment of simple or complex designs that go together to make surprisingly intricate patterns.

    We love the Four-Patch block so much we couldn't leave it out.  We're sure you're going to love it too.

     

    Easy quilt patterns: because who needs the stress?

    When it's time to bust out the rotary cutter and rifle through all your favourite fat quarters, don’t forget these nine easy quilt patterns. Whether you’re impatient and want to get started in a hurry, or you’ve got a reason to quickly construct a beautiful quilt, these patters will help you whip up a work of textile art in record time.

     

    Ready to get started? Runaway Quilting has everything you need

    Need quilting supplies or notions to get started on your easy quilt patter? You’re in the right place.

     

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