Prefurred! The Paper-Pieced Designs of Lisa Fryxell

Pets are family, and we love seeing quilts that honor them.  We also love the paper-pieced designs of Lisa Fryxell at PreFurred Quilts!  Her Etsy pattern shop includes pet portraits, Southwest designs, and more!  

The Doxie Race - Who Let the Dogs Out? by Lisa Fryxell 

 

 

What's more fun than a bunch of racing dachshunds?  Lisa Fryxell says she made this foundation paper pieced quilt just for the fun of it. Check out the humorous "sponsor ads" on the fence, featuring the Chow Hound Grill, Hund & Katz Veterinary Clinic, and Fetch's Sporting Goods.  Check out this cute doxie with his big ears:

Note: The pattern for The Dachshund Race is available at Lisa's Prefurred Quilt Shop on Etsy. 

Howdy Pawtner, made and quilted by Lynn Rubel, design by Lisa Fryxell  

How cute is this smiling Corgi?  Lynn Rubel says, "This banner is my corgi, Phryne, with her cowboy hat on ready for some boot scootin'."  We love the use of recycled denim, made from jeans Lynn collected from family members. Lynn says that the faded bandana is "from many miles on a horse in the Arizona sun."  There are lots of fun details in this quilt, including Phryne's button eyes and a silver concho on the cowboy hat.

 We didn't realize how many of Lisa Fryxell's designs we've photographed at the Tucson Quilters Guild shows!  Here are more quilts from posts at Quilt Inspiration:

Attention! by Lisa Fryxell (CLICK HERE FOR OUR ORIGINAL POST)

 

Painted Ponies by Lisa Fryxell (CLICK HERE FOR OUR ORIGINAL POST) 

 

Four Little Cowpokes by Lisa Fryxell (CLICK HERE FOR OUR ORIGINAL POST)

 

Rocky Mountain Trout by Lisa Fryxell  (CLICK HERE FOR OUR ORIGINAL POST)

 

  Phread on the Run (Running Afghan) by Lisa Fryxell (CLICK HERE FOR OUR ORIGINAL POST)

 

 

 Image credits: Photos of The Doxie Race by Lisa Fryxell and Howdy Pawtner by Lynn Rubel were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Tucson Quilters Guild show.

 

Modern Quilt Month: Improvisation! (3)

In quilting, improvisation refers to a freeform, intuitive approach to design where quilters create without strictly following traditional patterns, precise measurements, or pre-planned templates. It has its own category within modern quilt shows! We hope you enjoy these photos of improvisational quilts.

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

Lifelines by Emilie Trahan (Joliette, Quebec, Canada) @mili.tra 

Winner of Judge's Choice award at the 2025 QuiltCon show, Emilie Trahan says this piece was created at a point of exhaustion, as she was working as a healthcare professional during the pandemic in 2022. "Whether you see it bursting and being torn apart, or being held and pulled together, this quilt explores how sinuous the lines of our destiny can be, and how a narrow lifeline could change everything," she says.

Lifelines was created with improvisational curve piecing. Amazingly, the quilt was made entirely of upcycled fabrics (mainly sheets and pillowcases), improvisational curve piecing, and machine quilting without a frame (domestic).   

Scattered Thoughts by Deborah Boschert (Texas) @deborahboschert 

Here is a lovely art quilt collage made by Deborah Boschert with a variety of techniques: machine applique, hand embroidery, machine quilting without a frame, printmaking, and surface design. Notice the chair, stitched in red, in the open space at the right of the quilt. Deborah says: "For me, the chair symbolizes the importance of stillness. And making space.  And the idea that clarity can come from rest."

Deborah explains the quilt title, Scattered Thoughts: "Even when I have the opportunity to sit quietly and observe everything around me, sometimes my thoughts are chaotic and interrupted. Other times they are ordered and predictable. I created this textile collage during a time when I was grasping for control and predictability. And yet I made something completely random, irregular and unexptected."   

Embers by Barbara Danzi (California) @barbdanzi

 

Embers was inspired by the warmth of a campfire and the glowing embers; the red hot hues bring the embers to life. Barbara Danzi says that Embers is a study in figure/ground composition, with the ground, or negative space forming shapes so similar to the figures. Embers was improvisational pieced  and machine quilted on a frame (longarm) with matchstick quilting.  You can see more of Barbara's fine art quilts at her website.

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 QuiltCon show in Phoenix, Arizona.

Ties that Bind : Necktie Quilts!

Whenever we see a quilt made from neckties, we're intrigued! Silk ties make wonderful memory quilts and gifts for men. Here are some examples of what can be achieved with a silk tie collection and some ingenuity.

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For more Quilt Inspiration news and free patterns, please follow us on Twitter.

Silk Tie Twist, made and quilted by Jude Martin

We love the strong contrasts in this drunkard's path variation, made with silk ties against a bright white backdrop. Winner of a ribbon (3rd place) in the Scrap-Solo category at a 2025 show, Jude Martin says: "Many years ago I started collecting silk ties that I deconstructed and fused to interfacing. They sat in a box and every one in awhile I would pull them out and try making a block or two and decide I didn't like the pattern until I picked up a Sew Kind of Wonderful book and found just the right pattern. 

The design is Contempo Twist by Jenny Pedigo & Helen Robinson at Sew Kind of Wonderful. The pattern is in the book titled One Wonderful Curve: 12 Contemporary Quilts (available on Amazon and other quilt book sources.)  There are lots of fun silk ties to see in this quilt!

Memory of my Brother by Gail Duffy, quilted by Jeanne Marquardt

This wonderful quilt was made by Gail Duffy in memory of her brother, who passed away.  She took his silk ties and made this quilt for his children.  We like the way in which this criss-cross design has points that mimic the original tie shapes.

The design for the above quilt was a pattern called Daisy Craze, in the quilt book titled Around the Bend by Janet Rae Nesbitt.  

If you have a tie collection, you might also be interested in this FREE pattern: Ties That Bind quilt, 72” square, free pattern by Deirdre Bond-Abel for Marcus Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)!

Also check out this cute Patchwork Tote bag made from silk ties; you can download the FREE pattern at Yarnspirations (CLICK for PDF download)!

 For more tie quilt inspiration, check out our very first posts: Necktie Quilts for Dad (CLICK HERE) AND All Tied Up: Quilts Made from Neckties (CLICK HERE)! 

 

Image credits: Photos of Silk Tie Twist and Memory of my Brother were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Quilt Arizona show.  This post has some affiliate links for products we think you’ll like. If you make a purchase from one of these links, we’ll make a small commission. There is no additional cost to you, but it helps us a little with our costs.

Free pattern day! Father's Day quilts

Dads like quilts too ! Here are some free quilting patterns selected for men.  Any of these would make a great gift for a family member or friend!  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.

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

Must Dash (mustache) little lap quilt, 38 x 47”, free pattern by Katy Jones for Art Gallery Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Recycled Denim and Plaid quilt, 64 x 72”, free pattern at Fabric Editions (CLICK for PDF download) 

Ties That Bind quilt, 72” square, free pattern by Deirdre Bond-Abel for Marcus Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Dad's Shirt quilt, 42 x 48", free pattern at Yarnspirations (CLICK for PDF download)

 Crossroad Flannel quilt, 48 x 60", free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Cobblestone Street quilt, 54 x 69", free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics CLICK for PDF download)

Buffalo Check quilt, 66 x 82”, free pattern by Shea Henderson at Empty Bobbin Quilting Studio (CLICK for PDF download)

Tie Tips quilt, 40 x 40”, free pattern by Whistler Studios for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Dapper throw quilt, 50 x 61”, free pattern by Briar Hill Designs for RJR Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Plaids a Plenty quilt, 56” square, free pattern by Laura Gilvin for Studio E Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Construction Zone lap quilt, 66 x 77", free pattern at Northcott Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

House Tie quilt block, 5” square, photo by Lacy Law, free paper piecing pattern by Shae Merritt for Fandom in Stitches (CLICK for PDF download)

Always and Forever shirt quilt, ~59 x 64”, free pattern by Elizabeth Cecchettini for McCalls Quilting (CLICK for PDF download)

Cabin Crossing quilt, 74 x 98", free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Bowtie Bash quilt, 64 x 73”, free pattern at Riley Blake Designs (CLICK for PDF download)

Tartan quilt, ~52 x 63", free pattern at Free Spirit Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Grandpa's Cupboard quilt, 54 x 72", free pattern at Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Wrench Set quilt, 57 x 78”, free pattern by Cate Tallman-Evans for Quilt Magazine (CLICK for PDF download)

Red Chevy Truck quilt block, 5” square, free paper piecing pattern by Cat Magraith for Fandom in Stitches (CLICK for PDF download)

Yellow Porsche quilt block, 5” square, free pattern by Cat Magraith for Fandom in Stitches (CLICK for PDF download)

City Lights quilt, 48" square, free pattern at Helen Howes Textiles (CLICK for PDF download)

Earth Light lap quilt, 48" square, free pattern at Helen Howes Textiles (CLICK for PDF download)

California Cubism mini quilt, ~15" square, free pattern by Tara Faughnan for Michael Miller Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Image credits: This post was updated on May 18, 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.

A Pajama Quilt (why not?)

Throughout history, quilters have incorporated used clothing into their quilts. The blocks in today's award-winning quilt are from Christmas pajamas! The quilter turned the scraps into pajama-wearing dolls, each one with its own unique personality.

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

PJ Quilt #1 (2021), made and quilted by Mary Anne Ciccotelli (Provo, UT).  

Winner of a Judge's Choice award at the 2024 Springville (Utah) quilt show, Mary Anne Cicotelli explains that the blocks in this quilt are from Christmas pajamas and other items she sewed through the years. "I collected the scraps and planned to make a quilt.  In 2019, I decided it was time to either make the quilt or get rid of the scraps. My daughter suggested making blocks with a simple pajama top."  

 

Mary Anne personalized the hair colors and styles, and added buttons to some of the pajamas. This doll shown below even has its own tiny nine-patch quilt as a coverlet! 

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2024 Springville (Utah) quilt show.