Home

Free Quilt Patterns for Your Quilting Projects

By Janet Wickell, About.com Guide

Quilt patterns, all written to show quilters of every skill level how to make a quilt, even if it's a very first quilting project. You'll find lots of easy quilt patterns designed especially for beginners, but don't hesitate to try a project that seems a bit more difficult, because my patterns include all the illustrations and instructions needed to be successful.

The pattern links on this page represent a small sample of the hundreds quilt patterns found on the at Quilting website. Try the first section to find indexes of patterns grouped by type.

Quilt Patterns Archives
Easy Quilt Patterns
Baby Quilt Patterns
Rag Quilt Patterns
Pinwheel Quilt and Quilt Block Patterns
Applique Quilt Patterns
Sampler Quilt Patterns
Quick Quilting and Sewing Projects
Paper Pieced Quilt Patterns

Mystery Quilt Patterns
Star Quilt Patterns
Sailboat Patterns
Basket Quilts
Large Quilt Blocks
Designs from Nature
Jars and Lantern Quilt Patterns
Christmas Quilt Patterns and Projects

Quilt Patterns Archives

Each of the links in this section takes you to an index of free quilt patterns that are grouped into documents for specific types of quilt. Many patterns include directions for multiple quilt and block sizes.

Easy Quilt Patterns

Your first quilt should be a project that you'll finish with ease -- something that will make you say "bring on the next quilt." All of these quilt patterns are a good choice for beginning quilters, but I write all patterns with detailed instructions, so be sure to browse the Web site for more -- you might be surprised how many quilt patterns look difficult, but are actually quite easy.

Baby Quilt Patterns

Baby quilt patterns are always popular destinations on the Quilting Web site. You'll find a wide variety of quilt sizes here, some are suitable for crib quilts and others are a bit larger so that toddlers and young children can grow into the quilts.

Rag Quilt Patterns

Here are some direct links to rag quilt patterns, including Cathedral Windows, Four Patch and more.

Pinwheel Quilt and Quilt Block Patterns

I've had fun with with quilt block patterns lately, and until I started writing batches of instructions I didn't realize how many quilt block variations can be classified as pinwheels. All of these pretty pinwheels are easy to assemble.

Applique Quilt Patterns

Create these quilts using any applique technique that suits you, from traditional needleturn applique to quick methods that use fusible web. Hand applique or applique by machine... it's your choice.

Sampler Quilt Patterns

You'll find three 'project' sampler quilts on the About.com Quilting site. The first two samplers were released one block at a time, with layouts revealed after all blocks were published (that's Nancy's Anniversary Sampler quilt in the illustration). For the most recent quilt, the Backwards Medallion Sampler, I published the layout first.

Quick Quilting and Sewing Projects

These quick quilt projects are excellent choices when you need a gift, or anytime you want to get creative without devoting loads of time to actually finishing something.

Paper Pieced Quilt Patterns

Paper piecing is the term you'll hear most when this method is mentioned, but a more accurate description is foundation piecing, since the templates used to sew projects are not always made from paper.

Mystery Quilt Patterns

We've made mystery quilts on the last several New Years days, and I've written a few other mystery quilt patterns in-between those holidays. The patterns are all still online, of course, and written as mysteries (although you can indeed peek ahead to see the finished versions).

Star Quilt Patterns

I probably get more requests for star quilt patterns than for any other type of quilt. It's a good thing there are so many different kinds of star quilts -- I could write patterns for them daily for the next year and still not cover them all. These star quilt and star quilt block patterns will get you off to a good start.

Sailboat Patterns

Sailboat quilts, sometimes called Boats at Sea, do have design similarities, but their final appearances are varied. The quilts are popular for babies and toddlers, but every bit as suitable for an adult who likes water sports of any kind.

Basket Quilts

Sew a batch of baskets to represent flowers and foliage from any season of the year, or don't worry about realism at all -- just choose fabrics you love.

Large Quilt Blocks

Large quilt blocks can be used in many ways. Sew one at the center of a medallion quilt. Use a big quilt block to make a small wallhanging. Throw one over the back of a chair or on a small table. Sew large quilt blocks together to make a bed quilt.

Designs from Nature

Some floral and leaf pattern quilt blocks are intricate, but the majority are easier to assemble than you might guess at first glance.

Jars and Lantern Quilt Patterns

Jar quilt patterns (often called 'bug' jars) are popular with quilters. The patterns are easy to assemble, and you can create lots of variety by filling the jars with anything you like -- not just bugs. Lantern patterns are similar. They're traditionally known as Chinese Lanterns, and often created with oriental prints. Feel free to change lantern themes in any way you like.

Christmas Quilt Patterns and Projects

The quilts in this category are all good choices for Christmas patterns. You can turn nearly any quilt into a Christmas quilt (or make it suit another holiday) by choosing themed fabrics, so do keep that in mind as you browse the hundreds of other patterns on the quilting site.

Quilting