Free pattern day! Beach & Ocean quilts

Are you dreaming of summer? How about some FREE patterns for Beach and Ocean themed quilts?! 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 beaded jewelry, patterns, and collectible items !
For more free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.

Coral and Blue Wall Hanging, 24 x 30”, free pattern at Yarnspirations (CLICK for PDF download)

Dolphin Dream quilt, 41 x 53”, free pattern by Judith Sandstrom for How Stuff Works (CLICK for tutorial) + (CLICK for PDF dolphin templates)

Ocean Mist quilt, 48” square, free pattern at RJR Fabrics (CLICK for PDF instructions) + (CLICK for templates)

 Sea Feed quilt, 39 x 62”, free pattern by Melissa Lunden for Birch Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Glam Waves quilt, 64 x 83”, free pattern by Wendy Sheppard for Anthology Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Whale Sighting quilt, 63 x 77”, free pattern at Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Beach Baby quilt, 50 x 60", free pattern by Toby Lischko for P&B Textiles (CLICK for PDF download)  

Summer Lovin - Beachfront quilt, 60 x 72", free pattern at Dear Stella Designs (CLICK for PDF download)

Chomp quilt, ~57" square, free pattern by Stacey Day for Dear Stella Design (CLICK for PDF download)

Nautical Waves throw quilt, 55 x 75", free pattern by Eric Eisinger for Quiltmaker (CLICK for PDF download)

Shark wall quilt, 18.5 x 17.5”, free pattern by Rob Appell (CLICK for tutorial) + (CLICK for PDF templates)

On The Tide quilt, ~ 52 x 68", free pattern by Marsha Evans Moore for Michael Miller Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Surfin’ USA quilt, 60 x 74”, free pattern at Michael Miller Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Fluidity quilt, 49 x 62”, free pattern by Gina Gempesaw for P&B Textiles (CLICK for PDF download)

I Need A Vacation quilt, free pattern by Susan Emory for Michael Miller Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Jolly Whales quilt, 42 x 42”, free pattern by Janet Clare for Moda Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Low Tide quilt, 60” square, free pattern by Pink Hippo Quilts for Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Explore Mosaic throw quilt, 50 x 60”, free pattern by Shannon Brinkley for Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Tide Lines quilt, 52 x 52”, by Kim Andersson and Stacey Day for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Waves quilt, 55 x 64”, free pattern by Heidi Pridemore for Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Amazing Ocean quilt, ~38 x 50”, free pattern at In The Beginnings Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Blue Lagoon quilt, 64 x 70”, free pattern at Benartex (CLICK for PDF download)

By The Sea quilt, 60 x 72”, free pattern by Janet Houts for Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Whirlpool Basin quilt, ~54” square, free pattern by Konda Luckau for Timeless Treasures Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Ocean Current quilt, 50 x 58", free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

High Tide quilt, 86 x 94", free pattern by Jean Ann Wright for Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Tidal Quilt, 72 x 76”, free pattern by Emily Cross for American Quilter’s Society (CLICK for PDF download)

Peaceful Seas quilt, 50”square, free pattern by Marsha Evans Moore for Anthology Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Seahorse mini button quilt, tutorial by Pat Sloan (CLICK for tutorial) + (CLICK for template)

Seascape quilt, 57 x 68”, free pattern by Linda Fitch for Hoffman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Seaside quilt, 60 x 80”, free pattern at Art Gallery Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Sea Stars paper pieced blocks, row-by-row quilt, free pattern at Hoffman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Sheep to Shore quilt, free pattern at Michael Miller Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Splatter Ocean quilt, 72 x 86”, free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Stormy Seas quilt, 65 x 69”, free pattern by Natalie Crabtree for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Sunset Strip beach quilt, ~80 x 70”, free pattern at P&B Textiles (CLICK for PDF download)

Sunny Sandals quilt block, 9” block, free pattern by Eleanor Burns at Quilt In A Day (CLICK for PDF download)

Wesley The Very Big Whale, free pattern at Riley Blake Designs (CLICK for PDF download)

Whale Pillow, free pattern by Margaret Cronin for Dear Stella Designs (CLICK for PDF download)

Sea Star pincushion or pillow, free pattern by Kim Andersson for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

And here are MORE free patterns you might enjoy:

Free Patterns for Storm at Sea Quilts (CLICK) 

Free Patterns for Sailboat Quilts (CLICK)

Image credits:  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.

The CIRCLES quilt challenge (2)

We love quilt challenges!  One of the best we've seen recently was the CIRCLES challenge, which has been traveling the country. Put on by the National Association of Certified Quilt Judges (NACQJ), the challenge was to create an original piece (up to 20") using the provided yellow and blue fabric cut into circles. There were so many creative entries. Which are your favorites?

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

Circular Fusion by Maribeth Schmit (Cedarburg, WI)

Circular Fusion is a fun exploration of traditional and modern quilt design and techniques.  The blue and yellow circles (the theme of the challenge) are used as punctuation, the focus being on the asymmetrial circular design.  The straight-line quilting adds order to the design.

 Double Complements by Andi Perejda (Arroyo Grande, CA)

Complementary colors add interest to artwork, as do fascinating fabrics! Andi Perejda says,  "I decided to add complementary colors to our blue and yellow colors, using fabrics I had printed and/or dyed.  So, violet and orange were used in conjunction with blue and yellow.  Thus, a double-complementary color scheme was born!"

Inspired by Joan Miro by Linda Rasmussen (Monrovia, CA)

Joan Miro was a famous 20th century artist who combined abstract art with Surrealist fantasy.  Linda Rasmussen says, "When I saw the colors that were to be included in this piece and the challenge of a cricle theme, I searched the internet for art that featured circles and bright colors.  Who popped up but Joan Miro?  One of his pieces inspired me to make this quilt.  I loved the color and the abstract nature of his piece... this is my interpretation.)

Circling the Sun by Cindy Seitz-Krug (Luna, NM)

 

Circling the Sun shows the planets in their orbits, with fabric chosen to represent their appearances.  A corner of the sun was placed in the upper left, and thread painting was used to denote heat and flares emanating from the sun.  The names of the planets were quilted next to their image as shown below.

 Dot-Dot-Dot by Phyllis Manley (Plymouth Meeting, PA)

A really interesting clamshell design, where colorful circles punctuate the curves of the black-and-white clamshells. Phyllis Manley says, "Working with circles is not always a challenge. I enjoyed using the "fused interfacing method" to make clamshells, then applique onto the background.  I did not want the quilting to interfere with the design, so outlining the circles was an easy choice."

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

Highlights of the QuiltCon 2025 Show (1)

QuiltCon is the largest modern quilting event in the world, hosted by the Modern Quilt Guild. With attendees from around the globe, QuiltCon features a vibrant show full of competition quilts, community outreach quilts, and special exhibits. This year's show was in Phoenix, Arizona.  We hope you enjoy these photos!

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

I may be Square but not Fuddy-Duddy by Jackie Pang (California) @Charcoalbull

We kept this photo uncropped so you could see this 68" square quilt in perspective against the background of the huge convention center hall. Winner of the MQG Breakthrough Award at QuiltCon 2025, Jackie Pang says: "This quilt is a tribute to my '70s childhood memories - my mother's dress, my sister's scarf, and home's familiar curtains. Retro hues and geometric shapes from that era carry warmth and vibrance, reimagined here in a fresh, modern way." 

 
The design is "a rhythmic, modern twist on tradition - proof that a square can be innovative and anything but "fuddy-duddy." Techniques: Machine Pieced, Machine Quilted on a Frame (Longarm), Machine Quilted without a Frame (Domestic).

Unicorn Barf, 50" square, by Tara Faughnan (2016).  

Rainbow quilts are always a favorite! Tara Faughnan was the featured artist at the show, with many of her quilts in a special display (we'll be showing more in the days to come!)  She says: "When I first began teaching classes on color, I thought I needed a color wheel quilt.  I cut a few squares from every color in my stash at the time, and set about to make a color wheel."

Tara continues, "This quilt taught me about the importance of value and hue, how colors can be both warm and cool depending on who they sit next to, and how context determines how we see color.  I believe Cheryl Arkison came up with the name, and I thought it was perfect."  

View from the Window by Susan Skatoff (Florida) @susan_skatoff

We loved the composition and colors of this quilt, with its thin slices revealed by exposing layers.  Susan Skatoff says, "Irene Roderick told me that everything you see will impact your art.  As we create, our surroundings can influence, direct and shape our work.  I studied with her at Madeline Island School of the Arts and [I] didn't realize, until the quilt was complete, that I had abstracted the view from our classroom."

Techniques used: Machine pieced, improvisational piecing, machine quilted without a frame (domestic machine).

Clamshell Jamboree, 43″ x 58″, by Michelle Bartholomew (Washington) @michellebartholomew

 Winner of the MQG Excellence Award, Michelle Bartholomew says: "Stuck in a design rut, I decided to explore how far I could push the clamshell shape.  Pulling, stretching, adding rows and stripes, putting them upside dosn, is it still a clamshell?  Well I don't know the answer, but I do know that the result was a joyful and vibrant quilt."

 

Michelle says this quilt "taught me that on the other side of struggle and doubt there can be something special waiting if you just keep going."  Techniques used: Machine pieced, hand quilted, machine qulted without a frame (domestic machine).

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 QuiltCon show.