Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Quilts of the World part 4: New Zealand

Part of the 2016 Pacific International Quilt Festival was the World Quilt Competition XX, which is a special exhibition within the larger P.I.Q.F. This competition, which is open to quilters from many countries, starts out each summer on the East Coast of the U.S.A.; the best quilts from that show then go on tour to the various regional shows in America. We hope you enjoy this presentation, continuing with quilts from NEW ZEALAND.

Please note: We're selling beautiful quilting and crafting books and fabrics at low introductory prices on e-Bay! Also, we're continuously posting free patterns on Twitter!

Tranquility, 36 x 40", by Sonya Prchal


Sonya Prchal writes," Mimiwhangata Coastal Park is a favorite destination of mine. This beautiful sunset inspired me to create a quilt to capture the memory. My design was composed from my photos. Whole cloth painting was my primary technique, as I felt it would depict the intensity of the sunset beautifully."


Sonya adds, "I used extensive free motion quilting to enhance the work, with a variety of thread types and weight. Tranquility was both challenging and satisfying to make."  This original design is sewing machine quilted. We admire the elegant sophistication of this work and the way that the colors of the water perfectly reflect the setting sun.

Fabulous Feathers, 94 x 94", by Carol Newsham


Fabulous Feathers won a Judge's Choice award at the 2016 Great New Zealand quilt show. The Princess Feathers quilt pattern is by Kim McLean; for the pattern see Glorious Color.  The fabrics are by Kaffe Fassett.


Carol Newsham notes, "I love doing hand applique. From the first moment I saw this pattern by Kim McLean, I was going to do it, but not in Kaffe Fassett fabrics. They were too big, bold, and bright, even for me. However, I soon realized that everything else would not give me that 'zing' I was looking for. Kaffe's magenta Bekah fabric grabbed my attention and subsequently provided the inspiration for the colors I would use in my quilt." Carol's lovely work is hand appliqued and hand quilted.

This Beats Chopping Firewood, 54 x 64", by Maree Le Comte


Maree Le Comte explains, "I learned the hexagon techniques at a class run by Shirley Mooney. I did the class because I was interested in the technique and so that I could have a day off from cutting firewood." We certainly agree with Maree. We'd much rather enjoy a day of quilting than cutting firewood, doing housework, or pretty much any other kind of work that we can imagine!


Maree continues, "Once I saw the technique, rather than following one of the suggested layouts, I played with the pieces to come up with my own layout. This is the layout which worked best with the quantity of fabric I had." This original design is machine pieced and sewing machine quilted. We really appreciate the quality of  Maree's worksmanship and her sewing accuracy, which gives these bold geometric lines a stunning appeal.

My Nearly Insane Journey, 95 x 96", by Sue Flego


This wonderful "Nearly Insane" quilt was based on the 1870 Salinda Rupp quilt, patterned by Liz Lois. The Salinda quilt has 93 six-inch blocks and the finished quilt has over 5,500 pieces. Sue Flego says, "All the 6” blocks were paper foundation pieced and I tried to replicate the colors on the front of the book." Sue's intricate and precise piecing of these small blocks can be seen in the photo below. My Nearly Insane Journey was quilted by Judi Schon from Auckland on a longarm machine.


For more information on the Nearly Insane quilt and other 19th-century samplers, see our 2010 post: Crazy About Jane, Nearly Insane, and Just Plain Nuts.

Abstraction, 28 x 52", by Rosemary Rush


Rosemary Rush says, "This quilt was started as an exercise in design, emphasizing line and shape. I challenged myself to then use colors which I would not normally juxtapose. This quilt is my own design which I machine appliqued and free motion stitched on a domestic sewing machine."  Rosemary's beautiful quilting stands out on this glorious, flowing applique design.


At The Bach, 57 x 48", by Rachel Cadwallader


Rachel Cadwallader says, "A bach is a small rustic holiday home and often found at the beach. A quilt hanging over a door as an advertisement for thread evoked memories of an old beach towel my father used. I wanted to replicate the memory and so the quilt, originally designed by Heather Jones, was made. I used my domestic machine to piece and quilt it.”


At The Bach was based on the free Around the World quilt pattern by Heather Jones at Olive and Ollie shown below.



Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.

Friday, November 25, 2016

Free pattern day: Cat and Dog quilts!

Here is a purr-fectly wonderful collection of FREE cat and dog quilt patterns, pillows, and dog beds !  For many more free patterns please check out our complete Free Pattern ArchiveTo 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 quilt patterns, books, and vintage items!
For more free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.


Cat and Bird Pillow, free pattern at Tilda's World (CLICK for PDF download instructions) + (CLICK for PDF download templates - letter size)


Cat and Bird quilt, free pattern at Tilda's World (CLICK for PDF download instructions) + (CLICK For PDF download templates - letter size)

My Dog Pillow, free pattern at Tilda's World (CLICK for PDF download)

Cheshire Cats quilt - Diva, 74 x 86", free pattern by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Knickknacks and Kitty Cats quilt, 55 x 63", free pattern by Wendy Sheppard for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Kitten Love quilt, 57 x 71", free pattern by Wendy Sheppard for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


 Dog Show Portrait quilt, 38 x 44", free pattern at Michael Miller Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Baskets of Fun quilt, 57 x 68", free pattern by Wendy Sheppard for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Cat Walk Quilt, 36 x 51", free pattern by Jessica Swift for Art Gallery Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Purrfectly Zen Quilt, ~36 x 48", free pattern at Dear Stella Design (CLICK for pattern download)


Chat and Charmed quilt, 73 x 88", free pattern at Dear Stella Design (CLICK for PDF download)

Happy Cats quilt, 50 x 50", free pattern by Stacey Day for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Pawsome quilt, ~50 x 62", free pattern by Stacey Day for Dear Stella Design (CLICK for PDF download)


Sleeping Cat quilt, 72 x 84", free pattern by Wendy Sheppard for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Cat Silhouette quilt, 30 x 40", free pattern at Camelot Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Hats for Cats quilt, free pattern by Lisa Swenson Ruble for Paintbrush Studios (CLICK for PDF download)


Cat applique block, 12", free pattern by Janet Clare for Aurifil (CLICK for PDF download)


Kaffe Cats quilt, 48 x 71", free pattern at Jordan Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Cat Love and Dog Love, 64 x 76", free pattern at Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Cool Cats quilt, free pattern by Stacey Day for PB Textiles (CLICK for PDF download)


Cool Cats quilt, 60 x 80", free pattern (including paw print template) by Casey York for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Silhouette cat quilt, free pattern by Luke Haynes at We All Sew (CLICK for tutorial)


Stairway to Cat Heaven, 56 x 56", quilt by Marty Mason at Marty's Fiber Musings, based on the FREE Golden Quilts pattern at McCall's Quilting (CLICK for tutorial; also CLICK for Templates)


In The Dog House quilt, 42 x 42", free pattern at Blank Quilting (CLICK for PDF download)


Le Chien quilt, ~34 x 34", free pattern by Hilary Bobker for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Hipster Kitties quilt, 46 x 57", free pattern at Michael Miller Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Cat Tales quilt, 80 x 96",  free pattern by Wendy Sheppard for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Los Gatos quilt, 45 x 54", free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Art Nouveau Cats quilt, 50 x 50”, free pattern by Marinda Stewart for Michael Miller Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Happy Cats quilt, 38 x 48”, free pattern by Caroline Reardon for project Linus at Quiltmaker (CLICK for PDF download)


Casting Cats quilt, ~58 x 58”, free pattern by Cate Tallman-Evans for Blank Quilting (CLICK for PDF download)


Kool Kats Kwilt, 73 x 89”, free pattern by Patti Carey for Northcott Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download


That Cat Halloween quilt, 29 x 32”, free pattern by Pamela Lincoln for McCall’s Quilting (CLICK for PDF download)


Best in Show Cat-tastic quilt, 60 x 68”, free pattern at Blend Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Cat Lady quilt, 60 x 60”, free pattern by Sarah Watts at Cotton + Steel (CLICK for PDF download)


Christmas Cat quilt, 58 x 73”, free pattern by Janet Kime for Martingale Publishing (CLICK for PDF download)


Hot Dogs quilt, 52 x 52”, free pattern by Vicki Stratton for Hoffman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download

Treat Time quilt, 48 x 64", free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Scotty Dogs quilt, 62 x 80", free pattern at Benartex (CLICK for PDF download)

Daddy and Me quilt, free pattern at Henry Glass Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Earthlight Scotty Dogs quilt, 60 x 60", free pattern by Yolanda Fundora for Blank Quilting (CLICK for PDF download


Preppy Pups quilt, 61 x 67”, by Emily Herrick for Michael Miller Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Remembering Katie flannel applique quilt, 50 x 68”, free pattern by Grace Wilson for Maywood Studio (CLICK for PDF download)


Fat Cats quilt, 41 x 41”, free pattern by Debby Kratovil for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Halloween Cats quilt, 70 x 78”, free pattern by Mickey Beebe for American Quilter (CLICK for PDF download


Patchwork Pup, free pattern from More Hand Applique By Machine by Beth Ferrier (CLICK for PDF download)

Phoebe quilt block, 12" square, free pattern at Art Gallery Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Cat Stripe Pillow, free pattern by LJ Simon for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)



Meowning Pillow, free pattern by Jessica Swift for Art Gallery Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Happy Cat by Nel Whatmore as seen at Cotton Patch (CLICK for PDF download)


Patchwork Scottie Dog, free pattern by Denyse Schmidt (CLICK for PDF download

Good Pup pillow, ~12 x 10", free pattern at Art Gallery Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download) 

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

Dog placemat, free pattern at Fabric Editions (CLICK for PDF download)


Daydream Dog Bed, free pattern at Art Gallery Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

 Dog Bed, free sewing pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Image credits:  This post was updated on October 4, 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.  If any links are broken, we'd love to know; email us at quiltinspiration {at} gmail {dot} com.
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