Free Pattern Day: Canadian Flag Quilts!

Canada Day is July 1!  In honor of the day, here are some FREE Canadian maple leaf 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" (or the hyperlinked website name) in the title above the quilt.

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

Canada block, free pattern by Celine Ross for Janome (CLICK for PDF download)

Maple Leaf block, free tutorial at Canadian Living (CLICK for tutorial)

Maple Leaf trivet or table runner by Elm Street Quilts; based on the free block pattern at Fat Quarter Shop (CLICK for PDF download)

 

Radiant Maple Wall Hanging, free quilting tutorial by Tamara Kate (CLICK for description) + (CLICK for PDF template)

 Oh Canada cushion, free pattern by Tamara Kate for Janome (CLICK for instructions) + (CLICK for template)

Maple Leaf block and quilt,free pattern by Northcott Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Our Home and Native Land quilt, 76 x 90", free pattern by Patti Carey for Northcott Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Maple Leaf Quilt block flag tutorial by Denna's Ideas (CLICK for tutorial)

Canadian Maple Leaf table topper, ~29" square, free pattern by Ann Johnson at Connecting Threads (CLICK for PDF download)

Maple Leaf, 12“ block, free pattern at McCall’s Quilting (CLICK for tutorial)

Paper pieced maple leaf, free pattern by Berene Campbell at Happy Sew Lucky (CLICK for PDF download)

Maple leaf block, free paper pieced pattern by Christina at Christina Creating (CLICK for tutorial)

Canada 150 years, free paper piecing pattern by Dana Szucs Hayden (CLICK for PDF download); the finished quilt below is by Jen Johnston 80 at Instagram

Festive Leaves quilt, 72" square, free pattern by American Quilter (CLICK for PDF download)

 Jumbo Leaf quilt, 72" square, free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Image credits: This post was updated on June 17, 2025. All 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.  If any links are broken, we'd love to know; email us at QuiltInspiration {at} gmail {dot} com.

Welcome Fall with Free Quilt Patterns!

Welcome Fall (in advance!) Yes, we know it's not September yet... but it's never too early for quilt makers!  Here are some FREE patterns to consider.

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, collectible items, and jewelry! For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter !

Little Leaves Garland, free pattern at Art Gallery Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Maple Leaf pillow, free pattern at Tilda's World (CLICK for PDF download)

Maple Leaf quilt, free pattern at Tilda's World (CLICK for PDF download)

Autumn Falls Runner at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Hello Autumn mini quilt by Pat Sloan (CLICK for PDF download)

Octoberama Leaf quilt, free block pattern at Birch Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

For MORE free patterns, check out our recently updated FREE PATTERN DAY (CLICK HERE):

Image credits: All 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.

It's Modern Quilt Month! (1)

 We're celebrating Modern Quilt Month at Q.I. This is the first of FIVE posts, and we couldn't be more excited!  So, what makes a quilt modern? According to The Modern Quilt Guild, the characteristics include the use of bold colors and prints, high contrast, graphic areas of solid color, improvisational piecing, minimalism, and/or expansive negative space.  Enjoy!

Also check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, books, fabric and jewelry items !
You can also visit us on Twitter. 

Patterns of the Heartland, made and quilted by Cathy Lillie.

We love the composition, colors, and flowing lines of this original design. Cathy Lillie says, "Patterns of earth and landscapes fascinate me. I created this pattern from an aerial photo.  During Sheila Frampton Cooper's class, I learned how to put this together.  It is 100% cotton with cotton batting." The machine quilting, resembling natural forms, adds so much to the effect.

Once in a Blue Moon, made and quilted by Cherie Swanson. 

Churn dash, maple leaf, flower, and house blocks make up this colorful sampler! The white spaces give plenty of room to show off the quilting. Cherie Swanson says, "A variety of blocks and techniques made this sampler quilt fun.  It was a good place to practice free motion quilting!" The pattern source was Autumn Acres by J. Wecker Frisch. 

Fascinating details can be seen under the blue moon, shown above. This house sports an American flag and a smiling puppy dog. Note the quilted "smoke" coming out of the fireplace. Further examination shows some very creative quilting in the blocks and open spaces. In the closeup photo below, an embroidered bee sits on the flower block.

Synopsis Spring 2023, made and quilted by Diane Hartman

Spring was in the air when Diane Hartman made this fun, colorful quilt assemblage (it's an original design!) Diane says, "Each small quilt (square within a square) was inspired by the painted fabric.  The intention was to make the whole greater than the parts but still make the parts distinguishable." Small fabric flowers and embroidery were used as embellishments.

Elemental, made and quilted by Jolene Ficklin

In this original 4 x 4 sampler, each small quilt is an art quilt. The eye is drawn to the different forms: triangles, circles, and lines (horizontal, diagonal, and curved.)  The mini quilts are connected by square tabs made from a graphic batik print. Jolene Ficklin says, "This quilt began as monthly prompts of art elements in my art quilt group.  Inspired by an installation at the Boise Art Gallery, it became an expression of elemental design."

Sharp Women Heart by Colleen Babcock, Diane Bootes, Alice Catallini, Cheryl Collins, Linda Cote, Natalie Furrey, Kenci Lewis, Laura Steiniger, & Judy Tenen. Quilted by Linda Cote. 

A puzzle of beautiful blocks create this dynamic heart quilt. This quilt was a collaboration by the Sharp Women Quilt Bee, hence the title (Sharp Women Heart). Each member of the group selected fabrics to complete the blocks in the Boho Heart pattern by Jen Kingwell and Andrea Blair. The quilt was pieced together by Alice Catallini, and quilted by Linda Cote.

Linda Cote quilted vertical columns of connecting hearts along the background strips, made from a medley of black and white fabrics, shown below.

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

Our Northern Neighbors

July 1 is Canada Day. Best wishes to all our Canadian readers!  Here are two beautiful quilts featuring intricate maple leaves and flying geese from a pattern called Northern Neighbours.by Deb Tucker's Studio 180 Designs.

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, fabric, and new & vintage jewelry. For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter !  

Northern Neighbors by Joyce Holley, quilted by Nancy Goans

Red and white quilts are instant classics.  The contrasts are perfect for these maple leaves! Joyce Holley says, "[With its] intricate maple leaves and flying geese, this quilt celebrates our Canadian Neighbors to the North. Made for Canada's 150th Anniversary."

Lake Superior, made and quilted by Jean Firestine

We love the wintry feel of this gorgeous blue and white quilt by Jean Firestine.  The quilt was "based on the maple leaf & flying geese blocks from the Northern Neighbors pattern, which was developed for an event between quilters in Minnesota and Canada." Beautiful batiks and creative quilting (by Jean herself) can be seen in the closeup photo below.

Jean explains, "I grew up on Lotus Lake in Minnesota and spent my freshman year of college in Duluth, which is on Lake Superior.  The quilt design contains snowflakes and waves to remind me of winter on the north shore."

Note: The Northern Neighbors pattern uses Deb Tucker’s Corner Beam, Split Rects, and Wing Clipper 1 tools for ease of construction.

For more quilt inspiration, check out this FREE Snow Geese pattern by Deb Tucker (CLICK for PDF download):

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2024 Tucson (Arizona) quilters guild show.

It's Almost Fall, Y'All

When will summer end and the cooler days of fall begin? The autumnal equinox—also called the September equinox—arrives on Saturday, September 23. Autumn is one of the best seasons to enjoy the glorious colors of our changing environment. Mother Nature brings out her prettiest deep greens, sunny golds, and vivid oranges and reds before beginning her winter repose. 

Third Weekend in October by Ruth Powers at Ruth Powers Art Quilts

A well-loved favorite at quilt shows, "Third Weekend in October" captures the very essence of sun-dappled warm hues. Ruth sprinkled fabrics with lighter values diagonally across the quilt and placed some leaves overlapping the borders. This technique gives the quilt a very natural, realistic, outdoors look, much as we might view a scattering of leaves on our front lawn. To purchase the pattern, visit Ruth Powers' website.

For a smaller project, here is a cute and easy FREE mini quilt by Pat Sloan for Olfa (click for the FREE pattern):

We also love the "Fall Ya All" mini quilt by Sandy Gervais. This quilt was part of the "Follow The Blue Bird Quilt Along" for Riley Blake Designs. Did you miss the QAL? As of this writing, you can still get the FREE pattern at Pieces From My Heart (CLICK):

For many more FREE patterns for Autumn Leaves quilts, check out our Free Pattern Day (CLICK HERE):

 

 

 

Free pattern day! Kim Diehl quilts

Folk art quilts are the coziest quilts around!  And Kim Diehl is one of everyone's favorite designers.  Her quilts emphasize traditionally-inspired patchwork designs, often combined with appliqué.  

NOTE: This post has been updated. Please CLICK HERE for free patterns for Kim Diehl quilts!

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, jewelry and collectibles! For more free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter !

Image credits: The photo montage is a derivative work that is the property of Quilt Inspiration.

Autumn Baltimore

November is here, and we thought we'd revisit a favorite quilt photo from years past. We hope that quilting - and the enjoyment of nature - provide you with inspiration, peace, and a respite from these difficult times. 

Autumn Baltimore, 71 x 71", by Sue Green, California

Sue writes, " A friend and I purchased this Baltimore Autumn pattern by Pearl Pereira together at PIQF in October 2013 from one of the many wonderful vendors. I love needle-turn applique and prefer working with batiks, as they don't fray when trimming and clipping."

Close-up, Autumn Baltimore by Sue Green

Sue continues, "This was my first ever Baltimore album style quilt and a real challenge to get it completed for this year. It hangs in my dining room from September through Thanksgiving. " We can only imagine the hours of loving work that went into this stunning quilt, a true heirloom. Color saturated batiks fabrics work perfectly to convey the intensity of autumn hues.  Sue's work here is hand-appliqued, machine pieced, and long arm machine quilted.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2015 Pacific International Quilt Festival.