Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Imagine Peace on our Planet - Happy New Year !

Happy New Year, everyone ! We wish you all a wonderful 2016, full of health, joy, prosperity, peace, and time to create beautiful, inspired quilts !

Note: Stay tuned for a NEW Free Pattern Day!  Also, we're posting free patterns on Twitter... please join us @QuiltInspire! 

Imagine Peace, app. 80 x 80,  by Linda S. Schmidt, 2015 Pacific International Quilt Festival.


From Dublin, California, Linda S. Schmidt is the 2003 national  "Quilt Teacher of the Year" award winner. She is a prolific art quilter, having won more than 300 ribbons in local, national, and international quilting exhibitions. Coming from a long line of quilting women, Linda has been quilting since she was 8 years old and has made all of her own clothes since she was 12 years old. Linda's work is so extensive, that this past year, 2015, she was given her own one-woman show-within-a-show titled, "The 'Whatever It Takes School of Quilting' Exhibit" at the Pacific International Quilt Festival.
We loved this stunning full size work, in which the earth sits cradled in a large hand with multicolored fingers. Linda has done an outstanding job of combining the soft, pastel watercolor shades in a modified "Trip Around the World" background pattern, with brightly colored threads and a vibrant array of fabrics in the foreground.

Closeup, Imagine Peace On Our Planet


Into the border, Linda has added lavender squares of fabric on all four sides, which say "Imagine Peace on Our Planet. "  If you look carefully along the top of the quilt, you can see the lavender blocks which faintly spell out the word "PEACE" in capital letters.Linda writes, "What if everyone did Imagine Peace on Our Planet ?........ we would all be working together, blending together in a rainbow of color to make one giant hand to support our world in all its magnificent differences."

Closeup, Imagine Peace on Our Planet


In this close-up, you can see the lovely metallic fabrics and threads used to construct the little finger of the giant hand. We really admire Linda's gorgeous details in this quilt. For example, the quilting pattern of the fingertip, is done in a spiral pattern to replicate an actual fingerprint, which brings a realistic touch to this most imaginative quilt.

To see more of Linda's fabulous work, please check out her website Short Attention Span Quilting. In one of her essays posted there, she writes some very inspirational words on why quilters choose to quilt:

" I think it's because quilting is Art, and because it is Art, we can't not do it. Oh, I have tried to get out of it. I told myself,..."that quilt you want to make is just too complicated. It's going to be too much work, you don't have the time, you don't have the right fabric, and furthermore, you don't have the skills and know-how to do it right.' By the time I admitted to myself  that I really was going to take my somewhat questionable creative talents, ...expensive fabric, and a considerable portion of my life making this quilt, it had sprung to life in my inner vision, and all I had to do was reach in and pull it out - fully formed. .... You know the vision of your next quilt won't go away, it will simply keep getting stronger and clearer until you DO have the time to get back to it. The fabrics then, will simply LEAP out of the stash onto the design wall, and you won't be able to stop them."

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Waves of Peace

From our house to your house:  Merry Christmas, everyone ! We wish all of you a wonderful holiday season. We can't wait to show you what we have in store for 2016.  Note: We're continually posting free patterns on Twitter.   Please follow us @QuiltInspire.

Waves of Peace by Eti David (Israel)


We really enjoyed seeing Eti's lovely contemporary quilt at the 2015 World Quilt Show - Florida. Eti notes, "This quilt was created for the Sacred Threads Exhibition. The subject was "Peace and Brotherhood."  It represents my desire for peace in my part of the world."
We chose Eti's depiction of the dove of peace to feature on Christmas Eve, because it reminds us of the Bible passage from Isaiah 9:6 "And He will be called "Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, [the] Prince of Peace."
May the spirit of peace abide in all of  our hearts this holiday season and throughout the coming years !

Closeup, Waves of Peace


Eti's techniques include fusing, machine applique, and machine quilting. She used cotton fabric and threads of various fibers. Note that Eti created a very interesting dimensional-looking background by piecing and quilting small patches of fabric on the diagonal. This gives us the impression that the peace dove is floating on the wind against a continuously changing sky.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2015 World Quilt Show (West Palm Beach, Florida).

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

12 Days of Christmas Quilts for 2015

Christmas 2015 is almost here! Thanks to the many quilters who have inspired us with their beautiful creations throughout the year.  We can't wait to show you what we have in store for 2016.  Note: We're continually featuring  free patterns on Twitter...  please follow us @quiltinspire !


For more information about the designs, click on the hyperlinks to go to the original post(s):  Row 1, L-R: Winter Memories by Barbara Purser; Santa’s Secret by Ruby Koch; Holiday Feline by Jo Garvin.  Row 2:Old World Santas by Judy S. Fitzgerald; Christmas Jane by Barbara Shates; Glass Angel by Jane Tenorio-Coscarelli. Row 3: Magical Memories by Carol Archuleta; Simple Gifts by Diane Chambers; Ho, Ho, Ho, Holly by Kim Loar.  Row 4: Jane's Christmas by Linda Reid; Winter Fantasy Forest by Lynn Davidson; Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Anna Hammes.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Twelve days of Christmas quilts: Glass Angel

Christmas 2015 is drawing near, and we wanted to share some of the amazing, gorgeous Christmas quilts we've seen. Thanks to the many quilters who have inspired us with their beautiful creations!  Here is Day Twelve of  our series: Twelve Days of Christmas Quilts. Note: We're continually featuring  free patterns on Twitter...  please follow us @quiltinspire !

Glass Angel by Jane Tenorio-Coscarelli (Lake Elsinore, California); quilted by Pamela Dransfeldt


Glass Angel was shown in a special exhibit, “The Cities of Angels” (Los Angeles, California and Puebla, Mexico), curated by Jane Coscarelli, at the 2014 Road to California quilt show. The quilt was adapted from a stained glass photo.   Jane says: “While on our trip to Puebla and Mexico City I was overwhelmed by all the beautiful stained glass in the churches. And I felt you could see the angels watching over you."


This quilt was made with cut-away whole cloth and hand applique techniques.  Jane Tenorio-Coscarelli designs unique, creative quilt patterns at her site, Quarter Inch Publishing; including many wonderful folklorico designs.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.

Monday, December 21, 2015

Twelve days of Christmas Quilts: Jane's Christmas

Christmas 2015 is drawing near, and we wanted to share some of the beautiful Christmas quilts we've seen this year. Here is Day Eleven of  our series: Twelve Days of Christmas QuiltsNote: We're continually featuring  free patterns on Twitter...  please follow us @quiltinspire !

Jane's Christmas by Linda Reid


Here is a Dear Jane quilt with a twist!  Linda Reid says, “In our [Dear] Jane Group, we made Christmas squares to exchange. I added some of my own to complete [this] quilt.” The Christmas tree blocks, which add to the festive theme, were arranged symmetrically across the quilt.


Many blocks had fussy-cut images, such as the cute kitty shown below.


Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2015 Diablo Valley Quilters' Guild show.

Friday, December 18, 2015

Twelve days of Christmas Quilts: Merry Christmas to All

Christmas 2015 is drawing near, and we wanted to share some of the beautiful Christmas quilts we've seen this year. Here is Day Ten of  our series: Twelve Days of Christmas QuiltsNote: We're continually featuring free patterns on Twitter for the holidays and beyond...  please follow us @quiltinspire !

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, 55 x 55", by Anna Hammes


Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is based on the Merry Christmas to All block of the month quilt by Daisy and Dell.  Each of the letters is decorated with emblems of the season, such as Christmas tree lights, toys and gifts. Anna Hammes says, "It is so exciting to see how the design will turn out!"  Anna machine appliqued the blocks, and Judy A. Danz did the long arm quilting.


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

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Twelve days of Christmas Quilts: Winter Fantasy Forest

Christmas 2015 is drawing near, and we wanted to share some of the beautiful Christmas quilts we've seen this year. Here is Day Nine of  our series: Twelve Days of Christmas QuiltsNote: We're continually featuring free patterns on Twitter...  please follow us @quiltinspire !

close up, Winter Fantasy Forest by Lynn Davidson, quilted by Alicia Sterna


Winter Fantasy Forest was the winner of third place in the machine embroidery category at the 2015 Arizona Quilters' Guild show. The digital machine embroidery patterns are by Kreations by Kara.  Lynn says: “I love the elegance and drama of these trees on black. Sparkle and glitz make my first embroidered/pieced quilt even more eye-catching."


Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2015 Arizona Quilters' Guild show.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Twelve days of Christmas Quilts: Ho Ho Ho Holly

Christmas 2015 is drawing near, and we wanted to share some of the beautiful Christmas quilts we've seen this year. Here is Day Eight of  our series: Twelve Days of Christmas Quilts.  Note: We're continually featuring free patterns on Twitter for the holidays and beyond...  please follow us @quiltinspire !

Ho, Ho, Ho, Holly, 37.5 x 49.5", by Kim Loar (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)


The pattern, July Sparkler, is found in the book Stars and Strips Forever by Carl Hentsch. Combining Rail Fence with Lemoyne Star yielded his Stars 'N Strips block.  Within each hue (red, green and gold),  Kim Loar used several values to impart a luminous effect to the blocks.


Last but not least, the green and red blocks were quilted with holly leaves!


Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2015 Pacific International Quilt Festival and the 2015 World Quilt Show (Florida).

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Twelve days of Christmas Quilts: Magical Memories

Christmas 2015 is drawing near, and we wanted to share some of the amazing, gorgeous Christmas quilts we've seen this year. Here is Day Seven of  our series: Twelve Days of Christmas Quilts.  Note: We're continually featuring free patterns on Twitter for the holidays and beyond...  please follow us @quiltinspire !

Magical Memories by Carol Archuleta


Magical Memories is based on the now-classic Baltimore Christmas pattern by Pearl P. Pereira. Carol Archuleta says: “I added to her design… by designing/appliqueing the following: My son’s Ellie the Elephant he carried as a child, and my husband’s bag of marbles. I changed the horse to a carousel horse my husband and I rode as teenagers in Santa Cruz. I took the pipe out of Santa’s hand and added the jingle bells “our Santa” carries when he arrives at our annual Christmas party. I also designed my own original borders and did all the hand quilting.”


The 24" center medallion Santa block is surrounded by twelve 12" album style blocks. We admired Carol's beautiful applique and hand quilting, and all the details she included. Here are close-up photos of two of our favorite blocks.



Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2015 Diablo Valley Quilters' Guild show.

Monday, December 14, 2015

Twelve days of Christmas Quilts: Simple Gifts

Christmas 2015 is drawing near, and we wanted to share some of the amazing, gorgeous Christmas quilts we've seen this year. Thanks to the many quilters who have inspired us with their creations!  Here is Day Six of  our series: Twelve Days of Christmas Quilts. Also, we're featuring free patterns on Twitter for the holidays and beyond... please follow us @quiltinspire !

Simple Gifts by Diane Chambers


Simple Gifts began as a collection of fat quarters and a pattern by Sandy Gervais  (Shopping's Done! Gifts Wrapped). Diane Chambers says, "I liked the red, turquoise and lime off-beat color combo for Christmas. The whack and stack assembly technique was freeing for me. I subbed out some colors and organized the layout into color columns."


Diane says, "This was my first attempt at ruler work on my [HandiQuilter] HQ-16, echoing the presents, leaving gifts unquilted so they’d pop a bit."

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2015 Diablo Valley Quilters' Guild show.

Friday, December 11, 2015

Twelve days of Christmas quilts: Santa's Secret

Christmas 2015 is drawing near, and we wanted to share some of the amazing, gorgeous Christmas quilts we've seen this year. Thanks to the many quilters who have inspired us with their creations!  Here is Day five of  our series: Twelve Days of Christmas Quilts.  Also, we're featuring free patterns on Twitter for the holidays and beyond... please follow us @quiltinspire !

Santa's Secret by Ruby Koch


Santa’s Secret won 2nd place – pictorial, at the 2015 Arizona Quilters' Guild show.  It was inspired by a class, Working with Inks, with Patt Blair. Santa was created with Tsukineko inks and fabric marks on pfd fabric, then cut out and adhered to the background, and thread painted with a variety of threads. Ruby Koch says that her goal was to achieve shading and dimension - we think she did a beautiful job!


Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2015 Arizona Quilters' Guild show.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Twelve days of Christmas Quilts: Old World Santas

Christmas 2015 is drawing near, and we wanted to share some of the amazing, gorgeous Christmas quilts we've seen this year. Thanks to the many quilters who have inspired us with their creations!  Here is Day Four of  our series: Twelve Days of Christmas Quilts.

Old World Santa by Judy S. Fitzgerald, quilted by Xenia Stirland


This is a closeup photo showing one of twelve embroidered redwork blocks in Old World Santas. The charming patterns are from the "Redwork Book of Old World Santas" by Curtis Boehringer (2006), and they were beautifully rendered by Judy Fitzgerald.


Judy Fitzgerald says: “I love to embroider.  I enlarged the patterns and traced them onto my material. I embroidered each Santa with Red DMC Floss. I designed the quilt top and then had my friend Xenia Stirland machine quilt it. It was a labor of love, but I loved the end result.”



For more information on his designs, visit Curtis Boehringer on Facebook. As of this post, another Curtis Boehringer pattern set - the Redwork Santa-of-the-Month - can be found at Bag Lady.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2015 Springville, Utah quilt show.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Twelve days of Christmas Quilts: Winter Memories

Christmas 2015 is drawing near, and we wanted to share some of the amazing, gorgeous Christmas quilts we've seen this year. Thanks to the many quilters who have inspired us with their creations!  Here is Day Three of  our series: Twelve Days of Christmas Quilts.

Winter Memories by Barbara Purser, design by Sue Garman


This quilt is entirely pieced and it is filled with three-dimensional motifs (floppy hats and beards and scarves). Barbara Purser says, "Winter Memories was the most fun quilt I have ever made. I didn’t want to do anything but work on it, mark it, quilt it and finish it. I only had to buy the backing and border fabrics. I used scraps and fabrics in my stash for the rest. I loved every moment of it."   Barbara quilted it by hand. 




The patterns for Winter Memories - the complete pattern set, as well as individual blocks - are available at Sue Garman's website, Come Quilt.


Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2015 Springville, Utah quilt show.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Twelve days of Christmas quilts: Holiday Feline

Christmas 2015 is drawing near, and we wanted to share some of the amazing, gorgeous Christmas quilts we've seen this year. Thanks to the many quilters who have inspired us with their beautiful creations!  Here is Day Two of  our series: Twelve Days of Christmas Quilts.

Holiday Feline, 42  x 44",  by Jo Garvin (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania)


Holiday Feline won 1st place in the Quilters' Treasure 11th annual fabric challenge at the 2015 Pacific International Quilt Festival.  Jo Garvin says, “I like hand applique and am always looking for unusual items to make my next wall hanging... "I came across this tiger in a clip art file on the internet about 10 years ago."


The 11th annual fabric challenge was to use Holiday Green fabric.  The hand appliqued border reminds us of Hawaiian quilting.  Jo says that she combined two different leaf stencils for green leaves; the decorated trees, shown below, came from motifs in her fabric stash. 


Image credits:  Photos were taken at the 2015 Pacific International Quilt Festival and at the 2015 World Quilt Show (Florida).

Monday, December 7, 2015

Twelve days of Christmas Quilts: Christmas Jane

Christmas 2015 is drawing near, and we wanted to share some of the amazing, gorgeous Christmas quilts we've seen this year. Thanks to the many quilters who have inspired us with their beautiful creations!  Here is Day One of  our series: Twelve Days of Christmas Quilts.

Christmas Jane by Barbara Shates


What a creative setting for 36 different Dear Jane blocks, made in reds and greens!  The blocks were made by Barbara Shates and other Dear Jane group members for an exchange in 2011. The original setting was designed and machine quilted by Barbara.  She encircled the design with a quilted feather wreath, and quilted a smaller wreath in the middle, surrounding the machine embroidered message holiday message: Joy.


We've include closeup photos to show the beautiful appliqued and pieced blocks.



Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2015 Diablo Valley Quilters' Guild show.

Friday, December 4, 2015

Free pattern day! Christmas stockings

How about a handmade quilted Christmas stocking? To go to a pattern: Scroll down the page until you see the quilt you like, then click on the words "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.

Merry and Bright Christmas Stockings, free pattern at Leutenegger (CLICK for PDF download)


Holiday Stocking with iron-on applique, free pattern at Fabric Editions (CLICK for PDF download)

Scrap Angels oversized stocking, free pattern at Tilda's World (CLICK for PDF download)


Scandi Christmas Stocking, free pattern at Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Stocking 'Stache, free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Starflakes Stocking, free pattern by Jackie Robinson for Maywood Studios (CLICK for PDF download)


Holiday Stocking tutorial at Dear Stella Design (CLICK for PDF download)


Felt Stocking, free pattern by Amy Butler Design (CLICK for PDF download)

Quilted Ornaments Stocking tutorial by Cherry Guidry as seen at We All Sew (CLICK for tutorial)

Cozy Christmas stockings, free pattern at Tilda's World (CLICK for tutorial)

Simply Modern monochromatic stockings tutorial by Melissa Corry for Riley Blake Designs (CLICK for tutorial)


Elf stocking, free pattern at Mod Kid Boutique (CLICK for PDF download)


Paw stocking, free pattern at Mod Kid Boutique (CLICK for PDF download)

Lined stocking with cuff tutorial by Allison Harris at Cluck Cluck Sew (CLICK for tutorial)


Christmas Stockings tutorial at Amy’s Creative Side (CLICK for tutorial; this uses the wonky stars tutorial by Victoria Gertenbach)

Chimney Charmers Stockings, free pattern by Jill Finley of Jillily Studio as seen at All People Quilt (CLICK for PDF download)

Spiral Stockings, free pattern by Mary Reddington and RaNae Merrill as seen at All People Quilt (CLICK for PDF download)


All The Trimming Stockings, free pattern by Denyse Schmidt (CLICK for PDF download)

Whimsical Christmas Stockings, free pattern and tutorial at Positively Splendid (CLICK for tutorial)

Merry and Bright Christmas Stocking, free pattern at In My Own Style (CLICK for tutorial)

Joyful Stocking, free pattern by Linda Lum DeBono as seen at All People Quilt (CLICK for PDF download)

His-and-Hers Christmas Stockings, made with gray denim fabric, tutorial by His and Hers blog (CLICK for tutorial)

Christmas stocking, free pattern and tutorial for baby and adults at Fleece Fun (CLICK for tutorial)

Quilted Christmas Stocking by Ellen Baker, free paper piecing templates at The Long Thread (CLICK for free pattern)

Simple Embroidered Stocking tutorial, with free reverse alphabet letters pattern, at Purl Bee (CLICK for tutorial)

Glad Tidings applique Christmas Stockings, free pattern by Lisa DeBee Schiller at McCalls Quilting (CLICK for PDF download)

Retro Space Age Stockings tutorial by Vanessa Brady at Tried and True blog (CLICK for tutorial)

Dala Horse Felt Applique Stocking tutorial by Jenny B. Harris from Allsorts (CLICK for tutorial)

Elf Stockings made from dresses, tutorial at DIY Home Sweet Home (CLICK for tutorial)

Denim Jeans Christmas Stockings Tutorial by Lynn at Nebraska Views (CLICK for tutorial)


IMAGE CREDITS:  This post was updated on September 8, 2023. 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.  Some of these are tutorials while others have downloadable (.pdf) patterns; we have tried to note which is which in the title above each photo.  We update these posts every 6 months or so, but patterns are often retired without our knowledge. If any links are broken, please email us at quiltinspiration {at} gmail {dot} com.
Related Posts with Thumbnails