Highlights of the 2018 Pacific International Quilt Festival ! (part 1)

The Pacific International Quilt Festival is the largest quilt show on the west coast of the U.S.A. Many thanks to our good friend, quilt artist Bonita McFadden, for her excellent photos. Let us know which quilts are your favorites !

Note: For quilt patterns, vintage jewelry,  and other treasures, visit us on E-Bay - We're Top Rated Sellers! And for continuous listings of free quilt patterns, please check us out on Twitter.

Marie's Treasure, 77 x 77", by Marilyn Badger (St. George, Utah)

Best of Show winner, Marilyn says, "This quilt is a tribute to my favorite Aunt. She crocheted doilies like no other. When I saw this hand-dyed doily in [fabric designer] Wendy Richardson's booth, I knew I wanted to make this quilt. Tie that together with some beautiful Paula Nadelstern fabric and lots of beads and crystals; and this is what you get."

Closeup, Marie's Treasure

This stunning center medallion, done in radiant ombre colors,  is actually a crocheted doily carefully appliqued to the quilt background. Marilyn's spectacular original design is machine appliqued and longarm machine quilted. More photos of this breathtaking award winner can be found on The Quilt Show Blog.

In the Old Way, 48 x 36", by Linda Anderson (La Mesa, California)

 Linda explains, " Traditional textiles in Oaxaca, Mexico,  are disappearing over time. Each village has its own design motif that tells their story. Trying to continue this tradition, this woman still dresses her granddaughter in the old way from time to time. That'll be the day when she is as old as gradnma and carries on the tradition of textile with her granddaughter."

Closeup, In the Old Way

Linda's very artistic original design is machine appliqued. This exquisite quilting emphasizes the tender affection expressed by the grandmother as she imparts cherished cultural adornments to her little granddaughter.

My Rhodie, 54 x 46", by Andrea Brokenshire  (Round Rock, Texas)

Blue ribbon winner for Best Innovative Quilt and Viewer's Choice Award winner, Andrea notes, "I made this to celebrate my parents. This quilt was inspired by a visit to the Rhododendron Gardens in Portland during the spring high bloom.

Closeup, My Rhodie

These delicate light and bold deep tones of pink are so lovely!  Andrea's original design is machine appliqued and sewing machine quilted.

Water is Life, So Why Are We Doing This, 61 x 44, by Thom Atkins (Santa Cruz, California)

Blue ribbon winner for Best Use of  Color in an Innovative Quilt,  Thom states   "[This was] inspired by a painting of a breaking wave by F.J. Anderson. I decided to make it a commentary on what we are doing to our oceans, hence the bits of distressed plastic embedded in the foam. "

Closeup, Water is Life

Thom continues, "I machine appliqued cotton fabric and lace, then hand-sewed on glass, pearls, and shell beads around the bits of plastic. I was looking for "beautiful" and "terrifying."  Thom's unique original creation is designed for maximum three-dimensional impact; so the the viewer feels almost like being in the ocean, looking through the pipeline effect of the wave.

In Full Bloom 83 x 69, by Claudia Pfeil ,  (Germany)

Claudia writes, "That'll be the day..........when everything is 'In Full Bloom', a magic hidden garden. The day when you relax and enjoy the peace and nature."

Closeup, In Full Bloom

Claudia's gorgeous, fanciful garden with these vibrantly colored, bead-embellished happy flowers is machine pieced, hand-appliqued, and longarm machine quilted.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Bonita McFadden for Quilt Inspiration.

Quilts for Dia de los Muertos! (Day of the Dead)

Dia de los Muertos  (Day of the Dead) is celebrated throughout Mexico and in some other parts of Latin America. It coincides with November 1 and 2, which are All Saints Day and All Souls Day.

The purpose is to demonstrate love and affection for deceased family members, whose spirits are thought to return to the household to greet the loved ones.  We're featuring some of the most colorful and whimsical Day of the Dead quilts that we have seen over the last few years. 

Disparity by Karlee Porter (Salt Lake City, Utah)

Blue-ribbon winner for Best Surface Design at the 2017 Houston International Quilt Festival, Karlee remarks, "The inspiration for this design was the word "Disparity."  The skull was used as a centerpiece to remind the viewer that all life comes from something that must someday die.

Close-up, Disparity by Karlee Porter

Karlee's techniques for her original design include hand and machine embellishment, digital and professional fabric painting, and couching. 

Close-up, Disparity

For materials, Karlee used satin backing, printed wholecloth fabric, and two layers of Warm and Plush batting. Her intricate, finely detailed quilting patterns really give this striking image a great deal of energy.

El Muerto by Barbara Sferra (Cincinnati, Ohio)

A member of SAQA ( Studio Art Quilt Associates),  Barbara provided this lovely rendition of  El Muerto to the 2017 Benefit Auction, SAQA's premier fund-raising event.  Its proceeds benefit SAQA's exhibition and education outreach programs.

Close-up, El Muerto

Elegant and precise couching stitches provide a colorful embellishment for this lighthearted,  grinning countenance.

Flor de Muertos by Betty Busby (Albuquerque, New Mexico)

Betty Busby is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and a member of the Studio Art Quilt Associates. Her work depicts a young woman with long flowing locks and an elaborate earring.  She appears to be looking through a flower-bedecked portal from the spirit world into the earthly realm as she prepares to join her loved ones for a family visit on Dia de Los Muertos.

Close-up,  Flor de Muertos

In this close-up of Betty's mini-quilt,  you can see the circular/ diamond shaped design motif around the subject's eye serves as a complementary shape to the circular shapes of the small flowers surrounded the border.

My Inner Yogi by Debbie Schulze (Taos, New Mexico)

Debbie explains, "This is what you get when you combine a physical therapist, a yoga instructor, and a quilter. I found the Kaffe Fassett to be plenty whimsical enough to complement my happy, wacky, yogi."

Close-up,  My Inner Yogi

Debbie adds that her design source was her love of yoga, addiction to bright colors, and the lovable Mr. Chillingsworth, a top-hat wearing skeleton from Andover Fabrics.  Her techniques include machine piecing, fused applique, and machine quilting.

Close-up,  My Inner Yogi

Even this admiring kitty cat is done in imaginative polka-dot fabric, with an equally comical purple face and ears.


Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2017 Houston International Quilt Festival.

Quilts to Celebrate October and Halloween!

October is a most festive month, as we celebrate the ongoing harvest, cooler autumn weather, and the opportunity to create some very fun Halloween quilts !  Here are several of our favorites. 

Spells and Potions by Pam Hadfield (California), quilted by Heidi Stagno

Pam Hadfield's Spells and Potions won Third Place at the prestigious 2018 Road to California show.  This is a Crabapple Hill Studio pattern that is all done in hand embroidery; Pam also added some needle turn applique to enhance the design.  This design makes us smile! In the photo below you can see the bottles of "Lying Lotion" (deceit guaranteed)!, Eye of Newt (with stitched eyeballs inside), and French Knot Powder.

The Witching Hour clock, below, is placed above books that include Spells and Potions, Embroidery, and Hexing for Dummies.  The design is enhanced by Heidi Stagno's beautiful quilting.

The Witch by Thalia Patricio (Nevada)

Another Third Place winner! The Witch by Thalia Patricio was a crowd favorite at the 2018 Road to California show.  Thalia says, "I was taking a class at Quiltique (in Henderson, Nevada) and working on Laura Heine's The Dress [collage quilt pattern].  On the way home I realized the pattern would make a really great witch.  I love anything with Halloween colors and used Tula Pink's Nightshade as inspiration for her face."

We love the special features and Halloween fabrics which Thalia included in The Witch! In the closeup of the dress, below, you can see bats, black cats, and jack o'lanterns are all featured here.

Halloweenies by Cindy Greco, California

Cindy explains, "This is a McKenna Ryan design. Laser cut fusible pieces were provided with patterns for all blocks, so it went together quickly.  I love the ghosts around the border. I also purchased the embellishments kit which included the beads, ribbons, and decorations on the tiny pumpkins."

Close-up, Halloweenies

Cindy continues, "This was a lot of fun to make. Even though the precut pieces already had the fusible paper on them, each piece needed to be stitched to the background." We really like this block of the little owl sitting next to an acorn basket of goodies, which shows the whimsical, imaginative tone of Cindy's quilt. 

Edgar Allen Poe Door Interpretation by Claire Gimber,  Arizona

Claire Gimber is a member of the "Mavericks", an art quilt chapter of the Arizona Quilters Guild.
The Mavericks were invited to make a quilt or fiber hanging depicting the style of a door that a specific artist might create. The door on the quit is an invitation to enter the world of the individual artist. Claire chose to depict a door that might have been invented by 19th century author Edgar Allan Poe, author of  "The Raven"  Her door is in the midst of a barren, lonely wall, with small panes of leaded glass, and heavy hinges, such as might be found in a 19th century garret.. We think this door with the surrounding foreboding birds exemplifies very well the macabre, Gothic tone of much of Poe's work.

Birthday Challenge by Katie McCutcheon, Arizona

Katie McCutcheon's cheerful October pumpkin wall hanging was made for the Shoofly [Quilters] Birthday Challenge.  The Shoofly Quilters are located in Payson, Arizona. This quilt was exhibited in the Arizona Quilters guild 2018 show, celebrating their Ruby Extravaganza (1978-2018).  The falling leaves give a real sense of autumn!

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2018 Road to California show (The Witch, Spells and Potions); the 2018 Quilt Arizona show (Birthday Challenge); the 2018 Guild of Quilters of Contra Costa County (California); and the 2014 Arizona Quilters guild show (Edgar Allan Poe Door Interpretation).

Free Pattern Day! Jelly Roll Quilts, part 2 of 2

Here are more than 50 free jelly roll quilt patterns ! They include coins, bars, rail fence, log cabin, zig zag, and other fun designs. 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.  For more free patterns, see Part 1 of this series!

Note: For quilt patterns, fabric, and vintage jewelry, visit us on E-Bay - We're Top Rated Sellers ! And for continuous listings of free quilt patterns, please check us out on Twitter.

Center Point quilt, 50 x 70", free pattern by Elise Lea for Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Countryside Trail quilt, 50 x 62", free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

City Blocks quilt, 66 x 74", free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Neutralize quilt, 68 x 68”, free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Pixelated Rose quilt, 66 x 78”, free pattern at Riley Blake Designs (CLICK for PDF download)

Star Bright Quilt, 94 x 94”, free pattern by Modern Quilt Studio for Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Supernova quilt, ~42 x 42”, free pattern at Robert Kaufman (CLICK for PDF download)

Simply Joyful quilt, ~60 x 60”, free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Hashtag quilt, ~48" square, free pattern by Lisa Swenson Ruble for Paintbrush Studio (CLICK for PDF download)

Card Catalog quilt, 84 x 108”, free pattern at Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Dottie quilt, 72 x 72”, free pattern at Moda Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Around the Meadow quilt, 68 x 86”, free pattern by Jill Finley for Riley Blake Designs (CLICK for PDF download)

Woven quilt, 60 x 70”, free pattern by Elizabeth Hartman for Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Jelly Roll Ripples quilt, ~ 62 x 82”, free pattern at Fat Quarter Shop (CLICK for PDF download)
 

Modern Workshop quilt, free pattern by Oliver and S for Moda Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Gray Matters, 68 x 78”, free pattern by Laura Blanchard for PB Textiles (CLICK for PDF download)

Ascend quilt, ~52 x 63", tutorial by Corinne Sovey at Must Love Quilts (CLICK for tutorial)

Skinny Strips Quilt, ~62 x 74”, tutorial at All People Quilt (CLICK for PDF download)

Roundabout quilt, 72” square. free pattern by Melissa Peda at 100 Billion Stars (CLICK for PDF download)

Vortex Blue Crush quilt, free pattern at Wilmington Prints (CLICK for PDF download)

Zig and Zag quilt, 53 x 69”, free pattern at Hoffman Fabrics (CLICK For PDF download)

Threshold quilt, 70 x 84”, Art Gallery Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Fractured Pinwheels quilt, ~45 x 45”, free pattern at Timeless Treasures (CLICK for PDF download)

Asami quilt, 55 x 67”, free pattern by Lynne Goldsworthy for Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Sandcastle Dreams quilt, 61 x 49”, free pattern at Hoffman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Robin quilt, 56 x66”, free pattern at Clothworks (CLICK for PDF download)

Strips of Hope quilt, 76 x 60”, free pattern at Blank Quilting (CLICK for PDF download)

Interlocked Nature Study quilt, ~49 x 60”, free pattern by Wilmington Prints (CLICK for PDF download)

Just Around the Corner quilt, 46.5 x 57”, free pattern by Melissa Peda for Free Spirit Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Kite Flight quilt, 56 x 84”, free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Strip Set log cabin quilt, 62 x 76”, free pattern at Jordan Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

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

Stamped quilt, 56 x 70”, free pattern by Katarina Roccella for Art Gallery Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Straw Daisy chevron quilt, free pattern by Ellen Maxwell for Michael Miller Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Sequoia Quilt, 58 x 64”, free pattern by Edyta Sitar for Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Mondriation quilt, 65 x 80”, free pattern at Art Gallery Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Rubick Cube quilt, free pattern at Benartex (CLICK for PDF download)

Spools quilt, free pattern by Osie Lebowitz for Timeless Treasures (CLICK for PDF download)

Lucky 13 quilt, 48 x 53”, free pattern at Fabri-Quilt (CLICK for PDF download)

Dusk ‘til Dawn quilt, 62 x 62”, free pattern by Valori Wells for Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Vibrations quilt, 48” square, free pattern by Nancy Mahoney for P&B Textiles (CLICK for PDF download)

True Blue log cabin quilt, 50 x 50”, free pattern by Holly Elam at Fabric Mom (CLICK for PDF download)

Crooked Waves quilt, 71 x 82”, free pattern at Timeless Treasures (CLICK for PDF download)

Teatime in Bali, 55 x 63”, free pattern at Hoffman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Playful Pistachios quilt, 45 x 45”, free pattern at Timeless Treasures (CLICK for PDF download)

Loominous Logs quilt, 96 x 98”, free pattern by Anna Maria Horner for Free Spirit Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

NOTE: Also see our Free Pattern Day for Bargello Quilts, as many of them are made with 2.5" strips!

Image credits: This post was updated on November 20, 2024. 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.
Note:Jelly Roll® is a registered trademark of Moda Fabrics/United Notions.