Comprehensive Guide To Free Quilt Patterns Quiltmaker And Beyond

Dec. 3, 2025, 7:05 a.m.

Tags: quiltmaker

Quilting enthusiasts have access to a wealth of free patterns and resources from various designers and publications. Among the most prominent sources is Quiltmaker, which offers an extensive collection of free quilt patterns through multiple channels. This article explores the available free quilt patterns, their designers, skill levels, sizes, and where to access them, with a focus on Quiltmaker's offerings and additional resources from other established designers and publications.

Quiltmaker's Free Pattern Collection

Quiltmaker maintains an extensive collection of free quilt patterns through its Pinterest page, which features 496 pins of free patterns from Quiltmaker and other contributors. This curated collection includes designs from notable figures in the quilting community such as Bonnie K Hunter and Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting. The patterns span various categories and styles, providing options for different skill levels and project types.

The Pinterest collection showcases several popular pattern themes:

Cat-themed quilts: Including designs like Scaredy Cat Quilt Pattern, Witch And Cat Quilt Pattern, Black Cat Crossing Quilt Pattern, and Mid-century Modern Cat Quilt Pattern
Star quilts: Featuring designs such as Handmade Star Quilt Outdoors, Colorful Star Quilt variations, and Stars Samplers Quilt Throw Size
Seasonal and holiday patterns: Including Halloween Quilt Patterns and Christmas-themed designs
Traditional blocks: Offering classic quilt block patterns suitable for various skill levels

This collection serves as a comprehensive resource for quilters seeking inspiration and free patterns across multiple categories. The Pinterest platform allows users to browse visually and save patterns to their own boards for future reference.

Featured Quiltmaker Bonus Patterns

Quiltmaker Magazine offers bonus patterns to its readers, including the "Dutch Delight" quilt pattern designed by Jo Morton. This particular pattern is available as a free download with the following specifications:

Designer: Jo Morton
Skill Level: Intermediate
Finished Size: 40″ x 40″
Availability: Free until December 2, 2025

The Dutch Delight pattern represents the type of bonus content that Quiltmaker regularly makes available to quilting enthusiasts. These patterns typically feature traditional designs with modern interpretations, catering to quilters who appreciate classic aesthetics with contemporary execution.

Quiltmaker's bonus patterns are often time-limited, creating a sense of urgency for interested quilters to download them before they become exclusive to magazine subscribers or are removed from the free offering. This approach encourages regular visits to Quiltmaker's digital platforms and builds community engagement around their publications.

Project Linus Patterns and Community Quilting

Quiltmaker has contributed to community quilting initiatives through Project Linus, a nonprofit organization that provides handmade blankets to children in need. One notable pattern, "Warm Wishes," was first introduced by Quiltmaker in 2000 specifically for Project Linus Make-a-Blanket Day.

The Warm Wishes pattern offers several advantages for community quilting projects:

Versatile sizing: Available in multiple sizes to suit different needs
Efficient construction: Uses strip piecing techniques that allow quilts to come together quickly
Resource optimization: Includes instructions for making four crib-size quilts using a single queen-size batting

This pattern exemplifies how free quilt patterns can serve both individual quilters and community service organizations. The efficiency of the design makes it particularly suitable for production quilting, where multiple blankets need to be created in a timely manner.

The availability of patterns like Warm Wishes through official Project Linus channels demonstrates the quilting community's commitment to using their skills for charitable purposes. Free patterns that facilitate quick construction of quality blankets are invaluable for volunteers participating in such initiatives.

Other Designers Offering Free Patterns

Beyond Quiltmaker, numerous designers and publications offer free quilt patterns to the quilting community. These patterns vary in complexity, style, and purpose, providing diverse options for quilters of all skill levels.

Stash Bandit, for example, offers several original free designs:

Christmas Dance: A basic Baby Windmills quilt that finishes at 27″ x 31″. This pattern is suitable for beginners and provides an introduction to windmill quilt construction techniques.
To You, with Love: An 18-1/2" square quilt that uses stitch-and-flip techniques to create 3" finished blocks. The design celebrates themes of love and is an approachable project for quilters looking to use fabric scraps.
Moonshadow: A 15" x 25" fusible appliqué quilt designed to commemorate the total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017. This pattern includes a free quilt label and offers quilters the opportunity to experiment with appliqué techniques.

These patterns represent the diversity of free offerings available from independent designers. Each pattern includes specific instructions and finishing dimensions, allowing quilters to select projects that match their skill level and available time.

Robert Kaufman Fabrics also maintains an extensive collection of free quilt patterns and project inspiration on their website. Their database contains 1,939 quilts and projects, available across multiple pages. Each project includes a larger image and either a direct download link for the free pattern or a link to the quilt designer's website. This resource provides quilters with access to patterns that showcase Robert Kaufman's fabric collections while offering creative inspiration.

Using Quilting Design Resources

For quilters seeking to create their own designs or customize existing patterns, digital design resources can be valuable tools. Quiltmaker's Quilting Designs series, though Volume 8 is now discontinued, once provided quilters with printable designs that could be combined and repeated to create custom quilting patterns.

The features of Quiltmaker's Quilting Designs included:

Customizable sizing: Designs could be printed in any size to precisely fit borders, blocks, and sashes
Design instructions: Helpful positioning guides for incorporating motifs into quilt designs
Multiple marking methods: Video tutorials demonstrating how to use printouts for tracing, pouncing, and other quilt marking techniques
Software compatibility: The designs could be used with EQ6, EQ7, or EQ8 quilting software
Usage permissions: Granted for both personal and professional purposes, including digitization for computerized quilting systems

Though Volume 8 is no longer available, the concept of printable quilting design resources remains valuable for quilters who wish to create custom quilting motifs. These resources allow for greater creative control over the final appearance of quilts, particularly in the quilting stage where decorative stitches and motifs are added to the quilt top.

Additional Free Pattern Resources

The quilting community has developed numerous platforms for sharing free patterns beyond those offered by major publications and designers. Online forums and specialized websites serve as aggregation points for these resources.

QuiltingBoard, for example, features forum threads where members compile and share links to free quilt patterns found across the internet. One such thread includes an extensive list of resources, with links to:

Applique pattern collections
Holiday-themed quilt patterns
Nursery rhyme and fairytale designs
Animal and purse patterns
Various designer-specific free pattern offerings

These community-maintained lists provide quilters with access to patterns from diverse sources that might not be discovered through mainstream channels. The collaborative nature of such resources demonstrates the quilting community's commitment to sharing knowledge and facilitating access to free patterns.

Other specialized websites like FreeQuilt.com and SewingFreebies.com also maintain collections of free patterns, often organized by category or technique. These sites typically offer direct downloads or links to pattern sources, making them convenient resources for quilters seeking specific types of projects.

Conclusion

The availability of free quilt patterns from sources like Quiltmaker and other designers provides quilters with extensive options for projects across skill levels and styles. From traditional blocks to modern designs, from small wall hangings to bed-sized quilts, free patterns offer accessible entry points into quilting and opportunities for skill development.

Key resources for free quilt patterns include:

Quiltmaker's Pinterest collection featuring 496 pins of free patterns
Quiltmaker Magazine's bonus patterns like the Dutch Delight design
Community-focused patterns such as Warm Wishes from Project Linus
Designer-specific offerings from independent creators like Stash Bandit
Fabric company collections including Robert Kaufman's extensive pattern database
Community-maintained resources like those found on QuiltingBoard

These free patterns not only benefit individual quilters but also support community initiatives like Project Linus, demonstrating how the sharing of creative resources can have broader positive impacts. As the quilting community continues to evolve, the availability and diversity of free patterns remain a valuable asset for both newcomers and experienced practitioners in the craft.