Colorful Chains

Trip Around the World quilts are traditional Amish patterns in which the design is made with small squares of fabric arranged by color to form concentric rings. Here is a beautiful contemporary quilt from a recent show! Scroll down for more examples and FREE patterns!

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Colorful Chains by Kathie Miller, quilted by Kim Votava  

Gorgeous taupe and indigo batiks distinguish this Trip Around the World quilt! Kathie Miller notes that everyone loves this traditional pattern, and that it's exciting to try up-to-date stripping techniques to improve the process. "The most difficult part of this quilt was selecting the fabric and coming up with the order!"  

For dozens of free patterns and variations, visit our Free Pattern Day (CLICK HERE!)

 

Image credits: Photos of Colorful Chains were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2026 Tucson (Arizona) Quilters Guild show. 

Glorious Scrap Quilts (SO much inspiration!)

One of the joys of quilting is using up leftover scraps. We're always looking for new and creative ideas!  Here are 4 gorgeous quilts made entirely from scraps. And for more inspiration, please see our Free Patterns for Scrap Quilts (>PART 1 and >PART 2).

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Make Lemonade, made and quilted by Katherine Kenward  

This is an original quilt by Katherine Kenward. Each block is monochromatic, but she arranged the blocks in a unique design and set them on point.  She says:  "I love using scraps, my own and those given to me. Scraps are like wonderful sweet lemons which by themselves may not be useful but when combined make sweet lemonade."

 Strips Leftover by Becky Ruhl, quilted by Barbara Angerhofer  

Here is a really lovely string quilt. Becky Ruhl created lots of contrast by using fabrics ranging from very light to dark, with plenty of bright colors.  She says, "This quilt was made as a challenge to my stash organization.  I cut up many smaller fabrics into cuts that can be used for other projects. This quilt is made from the 1-1/2" strips resulting in the process.  I'm very happy with the result."

 

Breeze by Kathie Miller, quilted by Tawnya Freeman

 

Gorgeous complementary colors distinguish this batik quilt, which is made from strips of different widths. The quilt was a collaboration between Tawnya Freeman at Quilters' Market and Kathie Miller.  Kathie says: "I got the fun part of stitching, forming blocks and determining the layout. Tawnya worked her quilting magic and the result is amazing." Kathie added the black-and-white striped inner border, adding tremendous interest to the design. The quilt was based on the pattern called Breeze by Claudia Pfeil. 

 

Bushel Basket, made and quilted by Marcia Jacobson  

Marcia Jacobson made this wonderful large quilt totally from scraps. She estimates that it used 7 yards of scraps (WOW!)  "It was fun to see what pretty blocks emerged from these random scraps of fabric!"  The quilt was based on the Bushel Basket pattern by Edyta Sitar in Scrappy Firework Quilts.  There are so many fun cotton prints to see throughout this quilt.

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Tucson Quilters Guild show. NOTE:  Quilt Inspiration is an Amazon Associate, meaning that Amazon pays us a small commission if you purchase something from a link on this page.  There is no extra charge to you. Thank you for your support of Quilt Inspiration!

"Woven" Quilt

We love optical illusion quilts! Here's a lovely "Woven" quilt done in seven different red, pink, and white valentine fabrics.  This would be so much fun to make!  No Y-seams are required.

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Woven by Kathie Miller, quilted by Tawnya Freeman

Kathie Miller says, "I think I must have wanted to be a weaver but couldn't master that whole loom and yarn thing.  Even better is creating a quilt that looks woven, especially on the diagonal.  I love the happy all-over quilting design that Tawnya [Freeman] picked to complement and complete my quilt." 

The pattern source for "Woven" is "The Libby Quilt" by Erica Jackman for Kitchen Table Quilting. 

If you love this look, you might also be interested in our Free Pattern Day for Lattice and Woven quilts (CLICK HERE!)

Image credits: Photos of "Woven" by Kathie Miller were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Tucson Quilters Guild show.

It's Modern Quilt Month! (5)

We're celebrating Modern Quilt Month at Q.I. This is the fifth of FIVE posts. As The Modern Quilt Guild says, modern quilts often use bold colors and prints, high contrast, graphic areas of solid color, improvisational piecing, minimalism, and/or expansive negative space. Enjoy!

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Raspberry Jazz, made by Pamela Dunlap, quilted by Jean Shute

Equilateral triangle blocks of warm reds and oranges, offset by black and white and gray, create a modern look for a quilt that is both visually and comfortably warm. Pattern source: based on Sheila Christensen's Caravan design in her book, Quilts with an Angle. 

Looking for Mr. Wright, made by Caroline Ellermann and Mary Huff, quilted by Mary Huff.  

This original quilt design was inspired by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Caroline Ellermann and Mary Huff say, "With our "nephew" in architectural school, we decided to make him a quilt he could relate to." The strong black lines and color blocks remind us of a stained glass window.  The quilting echoes some of Wright's themes as well (shown below).

Midnight Blues, made and quilted by Pamela Dunlap. 

Various blues paired with a black, night sky batik make for a starry quilt that seems to shimmer.  Pamela Dunlap says, "It was fun delving into my stash of fabrics to make this quilt." This quilt design looks complex but gives a beautiful result!  Pattern source: Sheila Christensen's "Hampton Ladies", Quick and Easy Triangle Block Tool book. 

Knot Today by Kathie Miller, quilted by Kim Votava.  

Kathie Miller says, "Graphic and geometric - this pattern just called my name.  Add to that a chance to use part of my batik scraps and this fun quilt became reality.  Kim [Votava] added her special quilting touches to bring everything together." [Pattern source: "Knot Today" by Angeles Jaso Tucker for It's So Emma.] We love Kathie Miller's fabric choices and Kim Votava's quilting designs!

Look Ma, No Stitches, made and quilted by Christine Nelson

 Christine Nelson says, "I enjoyed using a variety of fabrics in this quilt.   The pleated log cabin technique makes the stitching invisible on the front.  Measuring the strips carefully as you place them before stitching is important." Pattern source: Lynne Wilson's Pleated Log Cabin.  The centers of blocks have fascinating fussy cut motifs.

Big Hexies - Mostly Marcia by Janet Pugh.

Pattern source: Modern Quilts Unlimited, issue #19. Janet Pugh says, "Sarah Thomas used vertical rows of half hexies, [so] no set-in piecing is required.  I used nearly all fabrics designed by Marcia Derse.  Each piece uses a 4-sided half hexagon template.  Easy Peasy!"

 Note: For MORE hexagon designs, check out our Free Pattern Day for Hexagon Quilts (CLICK HERE):

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2024 Tucson Quilters Guild show.