35 Free & Easy Quilt Patterns Perfect for Beginner Quilters!
The world of quilting is full of wonder people, and I love sharing this art with you! The free beginner quilt patterns here use simple techniques and beginner-friendly designs so you can create beautiful quilts with minimal expense, and maximum reward.
This is a safe place for beginners – we all have to start somewhere, and I have met incredibly wonderful people in the quilting community. These easy quilt patterns are just what you need to build your confidence and get you making beautiful quilts.
Get Started with Free Quilt Patterns
When I was a beginning quilter, my first project was a queen-sized quilt; I found out later that it was ambitious! After that quilt, I was hooked, and I’ve been making quilts of all sizes ever since. Try a baby quilt pattern if a huge quilt sounds like too much, or try a mini quilt or table runner too; they are more bite sized and manageable, plus you can display them in your home!
A well-written pattern can make all the difference in your quilting experience. These easy quilt patterns are not only free, but they are presented in a way that is easy to understand, with comprehensive photos and cutting instructions.
Sometimes free patterns require you to sign up for a newsletter; it’s safe to do so. If you love the pattern from a site you might find that you love more than one from that designer. All my free beginner quilt patterns are right there on the screen. You can follow the instructions by scrolling, or you can print right from your screen. You can also pay just a few dollars to get a formatted PDF version to print if you prefer, but it’s not necessary.
You will find the following tools helpful in the quilting process:
- Sewing machine
- Standard thread
- 1/4″ piecing foot for accurate seam allowance
- Cutting tools (like a rotary cutter, ruler, and mat) for ease and precision
- Fabric – Whatever you have lying around (scraps included!)
Any Sewing Machine Will Work!
You only use the straight stitch setting to sew a quilt top, and you can even quilt your top with the same straight stitch; no need to spend lots of money on supplies to get started. If you’re looking for a starter machine, here are the best beginner sewing machines that I recommend.
The Easiest Baby Quilt Pattern Ever
This baby quilt pattern is literally the easiest quilt pattern ever. It is considered cheating just a little because it’s sewn from pre-made patchwork fabric. All you have to do is sandwich the layers together, add some straight-line quilting, trim, and bind!
Tied Summer Quilt Pattern
You can sew an easy tied quilt like this with nine-patch quilt blocks, flannel fabric for the back, and yarn or embroidery thread for ties. In my tutorial I teach you how to add batting to adjust the thickness.
The Easiest 3-Yard Quilt Pattern Ever
The Easiest Three Yard Quilt Ever is a perfect beginner quilt. It’s not huge so you can finish quickly, and you only need 3 yards of fabric. As a bonus, this pattern shares tips for picking fabric, cutting, and quilting.
The Twin Star quilt!
The quilt above is requires just 3 yards of fabric to make the top, and I’ll help you pick fabrics that work together. See the free Twin Star Quilt Pattern; it might look complicated, but you’ll soon see how these straight stitches turn into a stunning pattern right before your eyes. You can do it!
Bow Tie Baby Quilt Pattern
I love fat-quarter quilts! A fat quarter is just an 18” x 22” piece of fabric. Fat Quarters often come in coordinating bundles so you already know your fabrics will look amazing together.
The Bow Tie Baby Quilt Pattern uses just four fat quarters and 1 1/4 yards of background fabric. The Bow Tie block is a perfect pattern to learn as a beginner. I think you’ll love how it comes together.
Simple Patchwork Quilt Pattern
This is a pattern to show you the way to sew a patchwork quilt with simple 2 1/2” fabric squares. This free beginner quilt pattern is perfect for using up your scraps. If you know other sewists, ask them for scraps if you’re just starting out.
Pro Tip: Don’t throw away scraps! There are so many ways to use leftover fabric; you wouldn’t believe how many quilts (and other projects) you can make from scraps.
Easiest Plus Quilt Pattern
I think the plus block (more traditionally known as the cross block) is the most enduring of all quilt block designs. It’s one of the oldest designs there is, and yet it is popular in modern quilts too. Sew the Easiest Plus Quilt pattern either using a variety of scraps, or just two different fabrics.
Pro Tip: It’s helpful to know some terms and to understand how to match colors when making a quilt. This post about low volume fabric is a good resource to get you started.
Gnome Forest Quilt Pattern
This super easy quilt pattern uses flying geese, rectangles, and snowball corners, and half-square triangles. You can make as many quilt blocks as you want to size the quilt up or down. You can leave off the trees completely for just a gnome quilt! Show me what you decided to do @sewcanshe over on Instagram. The quilt pictured finishes at 33″ square for a small crib size or wall hanging.
Bowl of Cherries
Sew another fast and easy throw quilt with just three yards of fabric! The Bowl of Cherries free quilt pattern was inspired by one of my favorite artists – Mary Engelbreit. Her illustrations captured my heart way back in the 1990’s and I love them still.
Add a Border for Any Panel
Make a quilt using any panel by adding a pretty border. Here is my free sewing pattern for adding a border to any panel.
It doesn’t matter what size the panel is, you’ll be able to sew sawtooth stars for each corner, and make a nice clean border to match. For the finished size you’ll just add 16″ x 16″ to your panel measurements.
Super Easy Four Patch Quilt Pattern
The photo shows a four patch quilt block. If you make lots of these and put them together you get a whole quilt top. You only need to choose three fabrics: light, medium, and dark. There’s even a free PDF for this easy four patch quilt pattern.
Pro Tip: Strip piecing is an easier way to make and continue the pattern of colors. I’ll show you how!
Giant Bear Paw Quilt Pattern
Quilts that use large pieces of fabric, and use large quilt blocks, are easy to sew because you don’t have as much cutting to do and because the pieces aren’t tedious.
This free pattern from Polka Dot Chair is a great example of easy. One thing that makes it even easier is if you use a layer cake fabric bundle which is precut into the squares from the pattern!
Basic Four Patch Quilt Pattern
This crib-sized quilt also uses the basic four patch pattern. Four patch means that each square block is made of four equal pieces.
Wrapped Candy Twin Size Quilt Pattern
This quilt uses strip piecing which makes it come together quickly. Strip piecing is a simple technique used to put multiple pieces of fabric together in a repeatable pattern.
This free Wrapped Candy Quilt pattern looks great with any colors. I would love to see what you come up with. Tag me on Instagram @sewcanshe and show me what you made!
Simple Nine Patch Baby Quilt Pattern
Like the four patch, nine patch means that each quilt block is made of nine squares. Once you get these traditional basics you will see other ways to add variety. In this Nine Patch Baby Quilt pattern I’ll show you a shortcut.
Pro Tip: You can use the strip piecing method to sew multiple nine patch blocks at once! I’ll show you.
Easy Quilt-As-You-Go Quilt Pattern
This Quilt-As-You-Go Strip Quilt is great for sewing with a small sewing machine, and easy to size up or down. For this method you use 2 1/2” strips of fabric and batting strips instead of one large piece of batting for the entire quilt.
Pro Tip: A walking foot comes in handy for this project to help keep the layers even.
Chandelier Quilt Pattern
I think you will love sewing this unique free beginner quilt pattern. The Chandelier is a specific quilt block, just like a Four Patch is a type of quilt block.
I have designed this quilt so that the chandeliers fit in a three yard quilt size, which is uncommon, but so pretty! Finished size: 48″ x 59″ to make a large lap or a small throw.
Jumbo Hashtag Quilt Pattern
Large 18” quilt blocks like the free Jumbo Hashtag Quilt Pattern are so fast and easy to piece, and before you know it you have a huge quilt! Since it comes together so quickly you can make it in just one day.
Rail Fence 3-Yard Easy Quilt Pattern
The free Rail Fence Quilt Pattern finishes as a 54” x 60” size lap quilt. You only need three yards of fabric to complete this quilt, and it’s perfect for beginners and experts alike.
Mosaic Tiles Quilt Pattern
This beautiful three yard quilt will have you feeling confident. You will enjoy the process of watching the pattern come together as you combine your favorite prints (or even your scraps!). Finished size: 44″ x 54″
Diamond in a Square Quilt Pattern
Choose three fabrics and let’s get started with this Diamond in a Square quilt. It’s a nice lap size when it’s all complete. You will love watching the pattern come together. Tag me on Instagram @sewcanshe; I’d love to see your first quilt!
Starship Baby Quilt Pattern
Sew this Starship Quilt for a space lover or a sweet new baby. You can alter the feel of this quilt by changing the background to dark and shifting to cool colors. It’s pretty amazing how changing the colors alters the quilt completely. Finished size: 46″ square
Hello Neighbor Quilt Pattern
You will make 16 house blocks for this darling free Hello Neighbor Quilt. Will you make all the houses the same color? Use this as a throw or hang it on your wall to show off your most recent accomplishment. Happy Sewing!
Easy Ombre Checked Quilt
Sew this beautiful Checked Quilt with Ombre Print. You can make it with other fabric prints too, but I think the ombre gives the quilt its originality.
Superstar Quilt Pattern
Superstar, my free beginner quilt pattern teaches how to make half-square triangles (HSTs) and Flying Geese quilting units. Because the blocks are so big, this one can be sewn quickly. The shape on this quilt is a sawtooth star!
You will find many uses for HSTs and Flying Geese. They are both so versatile, making them popular and useful quilting units to master.
Easy Signature Cross Quilt Pattern
You can do it! Use this free beginner quilt pattern to sew my Signature Cross Quilt. This is a throw size pattern, but it can be sized up simply to sewing and adding more Cross quilt blocks.
Whirlwind Quilt Pattern
My free Fat Quarter Whirlwind Quilt pattern is fast and easy. This simple patchwork quilt uses a repetitive block pattern that makes the quilt come together quickly . The pattern includes a free PDF template to cut the whirlwind blades.
Weathervane Quilt Pattern
The Weathervane Quilt Pattern finishes at 52” x 52”. It is a throw quilt pattern that showcases Weathervane Quilt Blocks mixed with some Windmill Quilt Blocks to add interest and movement. You will be pleased with the results of your work as you watch the whole thing come together.
Daydreams Baby Quilt Pattern
Use my free beginner quilt pattern and learn how to sew the classic pinwheel block pattern, then sew it into a beautiful Pinwheel Daydreams Baby Quilt.
Fat Quarter Fizz Quilt Pattern
The Fat Quarter Fizz Quilt pattern uses fat quarters (I know, shocker!) but it can also be used with other fabric pieces or scraps. The big chunky blocks come together to form a diagonal chevron design, fun!
Rainbow Color By Number Quilt Pattern
Another great quilting style is called bargello. First, you will cut strips of fabric and sew them together in rows. Then, you’ll cut across the rows making new rows of colored squares. Finally, you will arrange them in a specific pattern so that each color forms a diagonal design.
The free Color By Number quilt pattern includes a coloring sheet to help you plan your quilt.
Test Tubes Quilt Pattern
This quilt pattern comes together sew quickly you will be amazed. These darling test tubes can highlight some of your favorite prints, or use up plenty of scraps of any color!
Head over to Fabric Mutt for the free pattern. Finished size: 45″ x 69″
Kisses Jelly Roll Quilt Pattern
Quilting beginners love my free Kisses Quilt pattern. The entire quilt (background included) is sewn from 2 1/2” jelly roll strips. A jelly roll is a fabric bundle of 42, 2 1/2″ wide strips that are each 42″ long. You can easily cut your own 2 1/2″ strips with a rotary cutter.
Pro Tip: Invest in a quality cutting mat and you won’t regret it!
Fat Quarter Fancy Quilt Pattern
Fat Quarter Fancy is actually one of my most popular quilt patterns. Finished, it measures approximately 52” square and is perfect for a throw quilt. You only need nine fat quarters plus a little more than a yard of background fabric.
Big Star Quilt Pattern
Learn how to sew the fat quarter friendly Big Star Quilt using half-square triangles (HST)! This fast and easy throw uses my shortcut method for sewing two HSTs at one time. And since the blocks are large, it comes together quickly. It finishes at 64″ x 64″.
Half Square Triangle Baby Quilt Pattern
The Half Square Triangle Baby Quilt pattern is just a smaller version of the Big Star Quilt above. This will make a beautiful first ever quilt! The finished size is 40.5″ square.
Quarter Log Cabins 3-Yard Quilt Pattern
I am captivated by this design! Choosing fabrics might be more difficult than actually sewing them together to make this stunning quilt. The Quarter Log Cabins quilt comes together to be 50″ x 60″ and only requires three yards of fabric.
The Easiest Queen-Size Quilt Pattern
If you are an ambitious beginner and want to start with a queen-size quilt (like I did!), this is the perfect pattern for you. The Fat Quarter Fancy Star Quilt has big, easy blocks to piece and can be sewn with scraps as easily as fat quarters. With the border its finished size is an 88″ square.
Warm and Cozy Rag Quilt Pattern
The nice thing about this free rag quilt pattern is that you don’t have to sew precise seam allowances, or cut lots of tiny pieces. I would recommend getting spring-loaded rag quilt scissors so your hands won’t cramp up. Finished size: 56″ x 63″
Autumn Woods Baby Quilt Pattern
This crib or lap size quilt is a perfect beginner quilt. There is no pattern for this quilt as Brandy just sewed squares together, but you can still check out her photos and her story to recreate the gorgeous quilt. This photo also shows a pretty and simple way of quilting that you can easily do on your own machine.
More from SewCanShe:
25 Easy Quilts That Only Take 3 Yards: Free Patterns!
32 New and Favorite Quilt Patterns From Tilda: All Free
30+ Free Bunny Sewing Patterns for Easter Surprises
Disclosure: some of my posts contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of those links I may receive a small commission, so thank you for supporting SewCanShe when you shop! All of the opinions are my own and I only suggest products that I actually use. 🙂