Free Quilt Patterns

Although it's traditionally called a Chinese Lantern quilt block, this pattern is suitable for any of your Asian themed fabrics. And if you aren't into Asian fabrics, use any brightly colored prints, including juvenile fabrics and novelties. You can make the lantern work nicely with lots of other themes, like the Halloween lantern shown here, or the butterfly lantern included in the pattern.

The traditional Cactus Pot quilt block has just enough half-square triangle "blossoms" to give the block a nice, prickly texture, but not so many that it becomes a chore to stitch them. Make it scrappy or go with a color theme -- it doesn't matter. Stitch up an entire batch and I guarantee that you'll have fun arranging the Cactus Pot blocks into different layouts.

This Christmas Stocking quilt block is super easy, with just a few pieces. You can leave the blocks as-is, or dress them up with ribbons and lace. And if you don't need a Christmas stocking, try cutting the patchwork from other fabrics -- how about sock monkeys? The stocking block finishes at 8" x 10".

Use this 10-inch square Christmas Tree quilt block in a holiday sampler quilt or to create an entire forest of trees. Dress the tree up with a bit of hand or machine applique if you like. Just cut out small holiday prints and applique or fuse them in place -- try little stockings on the tree branches, and teddy bears and presents near its base.

The traditional Greek Cross quilt block looks good no matter how you sew it -- scrappy or ultra-organized. You can change the appearance of the block dramatically by altering colors and color values, and you'll find that an on-point layout gives Greek Cross blocks a completely different character than they have when they're sewn side by side.

Hour Glass quilt blocks are proof that you don't have to make blocks with tons of pieces to end up with a quilt that has lots of visual movement and texture. Two quick-pieced half square triangles and seven plain squares -- that's all it takes to make an Hour Glass quilt block. I've included cutting instructions for two sizes, a 12-inch square block and a 6-inch square block. I've also included yardage and cutting instructions to help you make fifteen of the larger Hour glass quilt blocks.

Easy quilt blocks don't have to be boring -- this Mock Basket Weave block has tons of potential. Instead of piecing stripes within each patch, you'll simply choose one or two striped fabrics, then alternate the stripes and the directions they flow when you make the quilt blocks. The result will be a quilt that looks a whole lot like a true basket weave, but without all of the extra sewing. Try stitching this block in colorful, whimsical stripes to make a fun, and easy, baby quilt. The instructions include yardage and cutting charts for twelve 6-inch blocks and twelve 12-inch blocks.

The September, 2007, Block Lotto quilt block was the Ohio Star, with a choice of pink or orange stars sewn against a white-on-white background. The Ohio Star is a nine-patch block made with five plain squares and four quarter-square triangle units -- a classic design that's easy to make, especially when you use our quick-piecing methods to assemble it. Use the Block Lotto theme or change the fabrics to suit you.

I've had lots of requests for a patchwork cat quilt block pattern. This one is my take on the patchwork cat variations that have become pretty much traditional in recent years. The pattern lets you dress the kitty up or down as suits you. It finishes at 12-inches square, and is a cinch to assemble.

This simplified version of the traditional Maryland Beauty quilt block eliminates the little half-square triangle units that rim the straight edges of the three dark triangles. The traditional design is a lovely block, but the simplified layout can be just as effective if you choose fabrics with plenty of visual texture. The block is a perfect swap block -- it's not too difficult for beginners, it doesn't have a ton of patches, and a scrappy mixture of blocks will give you a super quilt.