Improvisational piecing: Round Trip!

Today's featured quilt was inspired by the quarter circle or drunkard's path shapes. Seen another way, these resemble three-quarters Dresden wheels.  We love the complimentary colors and improvisational piecing! Also scroll down for two FREE patterns for Dresden wheel quilts.

Round Trip by Mary Landon (Florida) @addictedtofabric 

Mary Landon says she began piecing these blocks improvisationally, but then switched to newspaper foundations. She says, [I'm] "still trying to use up scraps, this time green, pink and blue."   The background was improvisationally pieced as well.The techniques used include machine piecing, improvisational piecing, and machine quilting on a longarm. 

Photos of Round Trip by Mary Landon were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 QuiltCon show.  For similar (but conventionally-pieced) designs, check out the FREE patterns below!

Four Eyes quilt, free pattern by Tamara Kate for Michael Miller Fabrics  (CLICK for PDF download!) 

Round Robin quilt, free pattern by Natalie Crabtree for Michael Miller Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download!) 

 

Dresden Carnival quilt: FREE pattern!

Wowza.  Check out this gorgeous FREE pattern from Carol Swift! The giant 4-foot-wide Dresden plate is made with 36 'blades' cut in 10-degree wedges. The results are stunning! Also visit our Free Pattern Day for Dresden Plate quilts (CLICK HERE!)

For more FREE quilt patterns, follow us on X/Twitter!  Also check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on jewelry, clothing, and collectibles.   

Dresden Carnival, 76" square, free pattern by Carol Swift at Just Let Me Quilt (CLICK for PDF download)

*The design uses the Phillips Fiber Art Two Piece Ten Degree Wedge Dresden ruler. Dresden Carnival has been featured in a Swedish quilt magazine; read all about it at Carol's website, Just Let Me Quilt!

For dozens of free patterns, check out our Free Pattern Day for Dresden Plate quilts (CLICK HERE!) 

 

 

HIghlights of Quilt Arizona! (1)

The annual Quilt Arizona show is a highlight of spring!  Here are some highlights of this year's show (part one of 4)!

p.s. Please visit our E-Bay shop for great bargains on jewelry, clothing, and collectibles! For blog highlights and free patterns, follow us on Twitter!     

Zerschmettert (1), made and quilted by Victoria Nelson  

Winner of the Exemplary Hand Quilting award, and 1st Place in the Art - Abstract category, Victoria Nelson says: "I started Zerschmettert (Shattered) in a workshop with Maria Shell. "Working from my own photo, I created a simplified composition, drafted shapes for the major areas and improvisationally pieced each area of the quilt.  Largely hand quilted after machine stitching to stabilize the main sections."

 

Pedal Power and Petal Pushers, made and quilted by Patricia Charity 

Winner of Best of Show - Solo and 1st Place in the Pictorial-Medium category, this art quilt was inspired by Patricia Charity's photo of a quiet street in Syracuse, Sicily. This quilt captures the charm of everyday life - the ever-present Italian bicycle leaning against a stone wall, backpacks, and sunlit textures. She layered fabrics to evoke the time-worn beauty and warmth of Mediterranean light and color.

 

 

Color Wheel Cha Cha by Kathi Shunn, quilted by B'nae Pulve.  

 

 

This stunning English paper pieced quilt is based on the Dresden Dance Party pattern by Sami Casanova for Darty Kite Pattern Co. Kathi Shunn says, "While creating a version of my company's Dresden Dance Party pattern, I was inspired to explore the color wheel. I love playing with color, fussy cutting, and whimsical motifs, using saturated hues and circular movement to celebrate color theory through rhythm, repetition, and joy." Winner of a 3rd Place ribbon in its category (Pieced - Duet - Medium). 

 

 

Tucker, made and quilted by Leilani Purvis   

 

Such a clever quilt! Winner of 1st Place in the Pictorial - Small category, and Award of Merit from the NACQJ,  Leilani Purvis based this original quilt on a photo of her grandpuppy, Tucker. "He has brightened our family for eight years. The gear-patterned background honors our maintain-biking daughter.  This quilt is a tribute to his love, energy, and companionship."  Leafy fabric was used to represent Tucker's furry ears.

 

 

Here's the original photo that inspired this wonderful quilt:

 

  

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2026 Quilt Arizona show.

 

 

Wonky Wildflowers

Wonky Wildflowers is a fun mix of quilting and hand embroidery. With wonky log cabin blocks, wedge grass, Dresden sunshine, hexagon embellishments and embroidered flower petals, this project is as much fun to create as it is to look at. We love this colorful rendition, shown at the Arizona Quilters Guild show.

Note: Please check out our eBay shop for great bargains on gorgeous beaded jewelry, patterns, and collectibles!  

Wonky Wildflowers, made and quilted by Teresa Darling

 

A Dresden sun shines down on the embroidered flowers while a bluebird sings on a branch. Teresa Darling says she enjoyed this project as it gave me a chance to use a variety of techniques. The Wonky Wildflowers pattern is by Sandra Workman. We photographed this quilt at the 2025 Quilt Arizona show, under the theme Sew Whimsical.

 Image credits: Photos were tkane by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Quilt Arizona show.

Free pattern day! Rainbow quilts

 Here are more than 30 free patterns for rainbow and color wheel quilts. In a true rainbow quilt the hues are arranged in the sequence in which they appear in a rainbow: ROYGBIV (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.)

 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" (or the hyperlinked website name) in the title above the quilt.  

Also check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, fabric, and vintage jewelry!
For more free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.

Century Rainbow wall quilt or table topper, 42” square, free pattern by Janet Houts for Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Whatever the Weather wall quilt, 40 x 49”, free pattern by Tamara Kate for Janome (CLICK for PDF download)

Color Card Hearts quilt, 80 x 86”, free pattern by Elise Lea for Robert Kaufman Fabrics (PDF download)

Color Wheel mini quilt, 14” square, free pattern at Connecting Threads (PDF download) 

Chasing Rainbows wall quilt, 38” square, free tutorial by Shayla Wolf for All People Quilt (CLICK for tutorial)

Color Wheel pillow, 19” square, free pattern by LJ Simon for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

Prismatic Medallions quilt, multiple sizes, free pattern by Susan Kephart for Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Canyon Road quilt, 64” square, free pattern by Giucy Giuce for Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

Bartow quilt, ~66 x 76”, free pattern by Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Color Wheel quilt, 85” square, free pattern by Wendy Sheppard for Anthology Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

 

Bands of Color quilt, 52 x 60”, free pattern by Heidi Pridemore for Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Kite Flight quilt, 38 x 50”, free pattern by Janice Zeller Ryan at Better Off Thread for Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Cascading Rainbow quilt, 54 x 66”, free pattern by Elise Lea for Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

Pick-Up Sticks quilt, 60” square, free pattern by Kim Schaefer for Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Rainbow quilt, 67 x 78”, free pattern at Wilmington Prints (CLICK for PDF download)

Rainbow Rundle quilt, 62 x 75”, free pattern by Janet Houts for Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Rainbow Taffy quilt, 68 x 85”, free pattern at Christa Quilts (CLICK for PDF download)

Shimmering Cones quilt, 62 x 79”, free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Twinkle Rainbow sampler quilt, 60” square, free pattern by Yolanda Fundora for Blank Quilting (CLICK for PDF download)

Zig and Zag quilt, 54" x 60“, free pattern by Tiffany Hayes for Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

What Goes Around quilt, 60” square, free pattern by Alison Tudor for P&B Textiles (CLICK for PDF download)

Rainbow mini quilt, free tutorial at Purl Bee (CLICK for tutorial)

Steppin Up quilt, 70 x 88”, free pattern by Wendy Sheppard for Anthology Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Scribbles quilt, 68 x 85”, free pattern by Tiffany Hayes for Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Geese Race quilt, 55 x 63”, free pattern by Ariga Mahmoudlou for Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

Midnight Sun Quilt, 62" square, free pattern by Stacey Day for P&B Textiles (CLICK for PDF download)

Rainbow Bright quilt, 69” x 79”, free pattern by Wendy Sheppard for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Wake The Sun quilt, 92” square, free pattern by Wendy Sheppard for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Canyon Road quilt, 64” square, free pattern by Giucy Giuce for Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

Calliope quilt, 52” square, free pattern by Project House 360 for RJR Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Rainbow Twist quilt, free pattern at In The Beginning Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Colorplay quilt, 48 x 60”, free pattern by Christine Stainbrook for RJR Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

Laser quilt, ~72 x 76”, free pattern by Stacey Day for P&B Textiles (CLICK for PDF download)

True North quilt, 91 x 91”, free pattern by Christine Stainbrook for RJR Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Converge pillow, 22” square, free pattern at Art Gallery Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Image credits: Note: This post was updated on June 3, 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 within the pattern and/or 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.