Free pattern day! Optical illusion quilts

Optical illusion quilts give the illusion of shadows, movement, transparency, and/or three dimensions (3D quilts). We hope you enjoy these FREE patterns! To go to a pattern: Scroll down the page until you see the quilt you like, then click on the words "CLICK for PDF download" in the title above the quilt.

For more optical illusion quilts: Check out our Free Pattern Days for Attic Windows quilts, Tumbling Blocks quilts, or Lattice & Woven quilts!  p.s. Please see our E-Bay shop for great bargains on patterns and vintage collectibles. For continuous free quilt patterns and blog updates, please visit us on Twitter.

Dimension wall art, 4 x (18” x 14”), free pattern at Art Gallery Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

Dancing Ribbons mini quilt, free pattern by Cindy Round Richards for American Quilters Society (CLICK for PDF download) + (CLICK for fabric & color guide)

3D Popstar quilt, ~50 x 64”, free pattern at Fat Quarter Shop (CLICK for PDF download)

3D squares wall quilt, 33” square, free tutorial inspired by Marcia Harmening at All People Quilt (CLICK for )

Woven Radiance quilt, 77 x 95", free pattern for Tula Pink at Free Spirit Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Twisted Ribbons quilt, free pattern and tutorial by Suzy Williams at Suzy Quilts (CLICK for tutorial) + (CLICK for PDF download)

Zig Zag Stitch quilt, 63 x 72”, free pattern by Lisa Swenson Ruble for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

Bento Box illusion quilt, 48″ square, free pattern by Betsey Langford for American Quilters Society (AQS) (CLICK for PDF download)

Big Knit quilt, 60 x 75”, free pattern by Ruby Star Society for Moda Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Bumbleberries quilt, 54" square, free pattern by Sally Ablett for Lewis & Irene Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

Butterfly Illusion (panel) quilt, ~54 x 59”, free pattern by Patti Carey for Northcott Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Imagine Unicorn (panel) quilt, ~73 x 80”, free pattern by Patti Carey for Northcott Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Checkered Tiles quilt, ~64 x 72”, free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

Color Current quilt, ~66 x 84", free pattern by Natalie Crabtree for Anthology Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

Color Optics quilt, 48 x 64", free pattern by Wilmington Prints (CLICK for PDF download) 

Color Theory quilt, ~88" square, free pattern by Natalie Crabtree for Anthology Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Diamond Day quilt, 70 x 90”, free pattern in 3 colors at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Flip This House quilt, 66 x 78”, free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

Gelato Glimmer quilt, 52 x 64”, free pattern by Tiffany Hayes for Maywood Studio (CLICK for PDF download)

Apple Pie Paisley quilt, 66 x 72”, free pattern by Janet Houts for Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

Geode with a Twist quilt, 78 x 88”, free pattern by Lisa Moore for Hoffman California Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Goodfellow quilt, 58 x 74", free pattern by Weeks Ringle & Bill Kerr at Modern Quilt Studio (CLICK for PDF download)

Gridlock quilt, 60” square, free pattern by Leah Duncan for Art Gallery Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Handcraft quilt, 70 x 80”, free pattern at Art Gallery Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Ketan table topper, 21” square, by Elaine Theriault for Banyan Batiks – Northcott Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Mixtape quilt, 84” square, free pattern by Libs Elliott for Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Morse Code quilt, 57 x 69”, free pattern by Natalie Crabtree for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

Optical Illusion quilt, 40 x 52”, free pattern by Lisa Swenson Ruble for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

Optics quilt, 64 x 80”, free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Showcase quilt, 67 x 82", free pattern by Wendy Sheppard for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Pokedex quilt, 45 x 54”, free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Punxsutawney’s Nine Patch quilt, 38" square, free pattern by Betsey Langford for American Quilters Society (CLICK for PDF download)

Shadow Box quilt, 61 x 85", free pattern by Donna Jordan at Jordan Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

Positive Vibes - Shimmer quilt, 66 x 80”, free pattern by Elaine Theriault for Northcott Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Spinning Pyramids quilt, 32” square, free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

Tranquility quilt, 64 x 80", free pattern by Blend Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Simple Twist quilt, 56 x 64", free pattern by Janice Ryan for Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Tumbled quilt, ~62 x 72", free pattern by Nancy Mahoney for Timeless Treasures (CLICK for PDF download)

Aperture quilt, 60 x 72”, free pattern by Ariga Mahmoudlou for Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

Aperture quilt - Kona cottons, 60 x 72", free pattern by Ariga Mahmoudlou for Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Alexandrite quilt, 54" square, free pattern by Stephanie Sheridan for Anthology Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

 Image credits: This post was updated on March 21, 2025. Individual images are copyrighted by their owners. Please respect their generosity in sharing their free patterns, and the restrictions they have placed on the use of these designs; complete information can be found at the designers' websites provided in the links. The photo montage shown on this page is a derivative work that is the property of Quilt Inspiration. If any links are broken, we'd love to know so we can fix it. Please email us at QuiltInspiration {at} gmail {dot} com.

Fun in the Sun: Day 7 of the Arizona Quilters' Guild Show

What could be more entertaining than a show full of beautiful quilts?  Here we go for Day 7 of  "Fun in the Sun"  from the 2013 Arizona Quilters' Guild Show. You be the judges and let us know which ones are your favorites, in the Comments section below. 

Lilies, 50" x 35", by Rita Blocksom

These beautiful day lilies make an excellent subject for a quilt, as so much of the detail of their intricate petals, stamens, and pistils shows up perfectly. Second place winner in the Art/Painted or Digital quilts category, Rita writes, "This is from a digital image I took outside my dad's back door at the family farm in Illinois." The quilt is made on one sheet of fabric, not tiled like so many digital quilts are done.  Rita has been been teaching imagery on fabric for 20 years; you can see her website at Rita Blocksom.com.

Close up, Lilies by Rita Blocksom, quilted by Sharon Brooks

Sharon Brooks' excellent longarm quilting skills really show up here, especially on the gorgeous blended hues of reds, corals, and pinks which create a striking monochromatic and analogous color scheme.

Sundance, approximately 12 x 12", by Christy Schliesmann

Blue ribbon winner for miniature quilts, Christy says,  " The Cindy Richards design uses twenty different fabrics cut into 325 pieces, giving a twirling effect around the golden sun." 

Close up, Sundance by Christy Schliesmann

These tiny, perfectly sewn pieces measure anywhere from one-fourth inch to one inch long in a great display of Christy's workmanship.

Wild Woman by Donna Goldbeck

Donna says of her self-portrait, "The 3-D effect was achieved using yarn colors and textures. The paint makeup gives her [face] the wildness that I may have secretly longed for when I was younger." This quilt really appeals to the tactile senses with the juxtaposition of dozens of different yarn types, colors, and thicknesses.

Little Amsterdam by Marilyn Wood

Marilyn notes, "This pattern is from the [ North Sea Quilters of ] the Netherlands. The flowered fabrics in the houses and border are antique Dutch reproduction fabrics from Amsterdam, my husband's favorite city."  Marilyn's striped border adds to the lively, upbeat personality of this charming quilt.

Close up, Little Amsterdam by Marilyn Wood

Floral fabrics are perfect for portraying the highly stylised, almost baroque facades of traditional Dutch and Flemish architecture.

Jeremy's Quilt by Joan McNamara

Joan says, of her quilt in the Nearly Insane pattern, " I did this to learn to piece. Each block was drafted from a picture and some 6" blocks had over 280 pieces. Over 100 fabrics were used."  Joan has truly created a fascinating array of challenging block patterns, using predominantly reds and purples against a soft taupe background.

Close up photos, Jeremy's Quilt by Joan McNamara, quilted by Jessica (Jones) Gamez

Here's a montage of the intricate and precisely sewn 6 " x 6" blocks, many of which contain more than 50 pieces of fabric.

Quilt Inspiration has previous featured the Nearly Insane quilt pattern, which was inspired by an 1870's sampler quilt by Salinda W. Rupp.  In recent years, the Nearly Insane pattern has been re-created and popularized by quilt teacher and author Liz Lois. We've never seen a Nearly Insane quilt in person; it was fascinating to see Joan McNamara's quilt!

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.