Apparently one of my popular posts in 2007 here at Quilting and Patchwork was More Free Quilting and Patchwork Patterns.  This is a topic many quilters desire more information about.

I recently discovered another great listing of free quilting patterns at Quilting With Alison.  She has found resources among supply manufacturers, fabric distributors and retailers that might interest you.

Alison has just started her quilting blog, but I’m impressed with her information and musings.

(c)2007 Mary Emma Allen

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Sources for Free Quilting Patterns

I’ve heard of several quilters recently who have been recycling men’s shirts into quilts. 

*These might be shirts from a family member and thus evoke memories.

*They could be shirts you’ve acquired at a second hand store and thought would make a colorful quilt.

*You might have some colorful shirts with Hawaiian prints that would be very striking in a quilt.

*They may be shirts you were going to get rid of and then had an “Ah! Ha!” moment when you decided they’d make good fabric for a quilt.

Lauren Smith and Derek Fagerstrom at Design*Sponge created an interesting quilt from some of Derek’s shirts and a duvet cover.  Take a look at: diy wednesday: vintage shirt patchwork “quilt.”  They also give you complete instructions for making your own vintage shirt quilt. 

For variation, you could use women’s blouses, old dresses, skirts, and other colorful fabrics.  Their quilt reminds me of popular ones I made when I operated my at-home quiltmaking business.  Those created with large squares went together quickly and could be priced more reasonably than time consuming designs.

(I used 7-inch or 5-inch squares instead of the 11-inch ones Derek  and Lauren did.) 

How have you become creative with older fabrics or by recycling fabrics?

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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Memory Quilts from Old Shirts

 Has this become the latest fad or craze in the quilting world?  They are fascinating and some patterns appear very easy to make. 

Bug Jar Quilts simply consist of jar shapes, representing those children use for catching lightening bugs.  These jars are cut from various fabrics with bug designs.  (Although these that Janet Wickell shows at the links below show fish in a jar.)  What interesting possibilities!

Janet Wickell, at About.com: quilting, in her post, Bug Jar Quilt Block Duo, says:

A word of caution — bug jar quilts can be addictive. The theme possibilities are endless, and the fact that they’re easy to assemble doesn’t hurt.

Here, also, are Janet’s patterns for bug jar quilts:                     

http://quilting.about.com/od/blockofthemonth/ss/bug_jar_duo.htm

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Bug Jar Quilts…Now The Fad?

My daughter tends toward autumn colors and leaf motifs in many of her quilts and fabric art.  In fact she’s making a hanging to submit in an exhibit today, and it consists of falling leaves against a green, rust, and brown background, some of these made from her hand dyed or sun dyed fabrics. 

What are you doing in your quilting world that’s inspired by autumn?  (Now I realize in the southern hemisphere, you’re going into spring.  So do you have spring inspired themes?)

                                                    Here are some more fall or autumn inspired ideas for quilts and hangings.

  So quilters in other seasons don’t feel left out, here are some spring patterns and ideas!

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Autumn Quilt Pattern from the Domestik Goddess

Anna Maria Horner’s inner gypsy had to have been at play when she designed her 22 Lollipops Quilt and Bohemium Quilt – and the fabric collections that inspired them, too, mentions Jen.

The fabrics in the quilts shown on Jen’s blog remind me of fabrics my aunt and grandmother used in their quilts and dressmaking in the 1940s.  Lots to reminisce there for quilters who created quilts then…or those who like that type of fabric.  Anna Maria has adapted these fabrics into her unique patterns….which she’s willing to share.

Visit Jen’s blog to find where to get your patterns.  You’ll also find other free patterns there.

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Quilt Pattern for 22 Lollipops Quilt & More

You’ll discover many variations of this old time quilt and a number of ways to make it.  At Quilted Paradise, there are explicit instructions for piecing the Lone Star Quilt , thus creating a fabulous family heirloom .  

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Creating a Lone Star Quilt

This type of quiltmaking is gaining in popularity again.  Quilters can do the embroidery work by hand or by machine these days.

At QuiltedParadise.com, you’ll discover a great deal of information about Redwork…its history along with instructions on how to do it by hand and by machine.

Also, there are a number of books available with patterns and instructions.

A variation of this was Bluework, with the quilters using blue embroidery floss instead of the red.  The blue wasn’t quite so popular, but resulted in attractive quilts, too.

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Fascinated by Redwork – A Unique Type of Quilting

The directions are very precise and give fabric amounts, pattern pieces, and construction  tips.  Some of the patterns are:  Summer Spirit, 30s Something, A Beary Merry Christmas, A Day at the Beach, Americana Star, Autograph Album, and many others.

            For more pattern ideas, you can always pick up a book of patterns.

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More Free Quilting & Patchwork Patterns

There also is a great deal of information for the beginning quilter.

Are there any sites you’ve discovered that you find particularly helpful and offer, as well, patterns at no charge.

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Quilting Patterns & Classes at No Charge

I have photos of family gatherings.  Somehow the background for many was the flowers that grew in their gardens. 

(The Dresden Flower Graden book above also brings to mind the lovely dinnerware Nanny brought out for special meals we enjoyed around her dining table, the same table where she, my aunt, and a neighbor lady spread out quilts for tying.)

My daughter, Beth, has a tendency to create flower themes in her quilts and fabric art work.  Below is a piece of fabric she painted using some new techniques.  Of course, the resulting design resembled flowers and is one of my favorite pieces.

During this month of May, with flowers gathering into bloom, it seems appropriate that our theme at the Arts and Design channel is flowers, with Grandmother’s flowers and gardens coming to mind. 

(See more of Beth’s work at Meandering Threads.)

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Flower Garden Inspired Quilts Remind Me of Grandmother