Free Quilt Blocks
Round 3 of Moda Blockheads blocks
Good morning friends! I hadn’t planned to pop on with another blog post today, but had some things on my mind that I wanted to share with you today. =)
After sharing my blog post yesterday, I received so many nice comments from many of you both here on my blog as well as other spots about being glad to have permission to change things up in a quilt if a certain block doesn’t quite strike our fancy. I always think that quilt making should be enjoyable and sometimes that might mean swapping out blocks in a quilt or (if you’re like me) using 108″ wide backing in quilts when possible because you dislike piecing quilt backings LOL! =) I’m sure we all have things in quilt making we might not prefer and there are usually ways to get around a fair amount of those things. Maybe it’s changing our technique for making certain units (HSTs or Flying Geese have so many different approaches to making them—one method might work better for you than another), maybe we start off our quilt project by doing the things we dislike first (I know if I’d piece my backing before my quilt top, I wouldn’t dislike it so much!), maybe we have the option to hire out a part of quilt making (like long arm quilting to finish our quilt), maybe adding a tool to our sewing supplies would be helpful (I have some go to sewing tools that really help streamline my piecing).
Sewcialites Quilt Blocks
With that being said, I wanted to offer some alternative options for quilt blocks that you might not be aware of. I’ve said many times that one of my favorite things about piecing quilts is that we always have options…from the tools we use, to the techniques we use, to the quilt blocks we choose. This means that we can find the perfect combination of things so that we can really enjoy quilt making. In the years that I have been quilting, I’ve noticed that sometimes quilt makers can become down on themselves when a block or unit or fabric choice doesn’t quite turn out as they’d like. It can be easy to blame ourselves when this happens, but it’s really just a learning curve. Sometimes an easy technique or tool change, (maybe choosing a different quilt block) is all that we need.
With that being said, if you ever find yourself in need of a quilt block pattern, here are some handy resources:
- In regard to Moda Blockheads, you can find the blocks from Round 1 in this book, all of the blocks from Round 2 can be found here, all of the blocks from Round 3 can be found here, all of the blocks from Round 4 can be found here.
- Another great spot to find blocks is Quilter’s Cache. This website has sooo many quilt blocks!
- Generations Quilt Block patterns is another spot for free quilt block patterns in various sizes.
- Consider blocks from other quilt alongs. The Sewcialites quilt alongs have a wonderful backlog of great quilt blocks. These blocks are available in 3″, 6″ or 9″ sizes.
- If you are more familiar with drafting quilt blocks and are able to work from a picture of the quilt block (without written pattern instructions), these 2 books have thousands of quilt block pictures: 5500 Quilt Block Designs by Maggie Malone & Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns by Barbara Brackman
- Quilting magazine subscriptions & Monthly subscription quilting boxes (like Sew Sampler) that you might already be getting are great spots to take a peek at for quilt block patterns.
- Consider using a block from a quilt pattern that you already own.
- If you want to poke around a bit on the internet, you can always do a google search or pinterest search for “free quilt block patterns” and you will find so many great resources.
- And lastly, ask a friend! I’d love if you’d leave some of your favorite go-to spots for quilt blocks in the comments of this blog post. That way, we have a wonderful resource of quilt blocks we can all use when we want to change things up or start a new project.
Thanks so much for stopping by today!…I hope some of this information is helpful and useful in the future! Happy sewing, Corey
Thanks for this blog post. I remember when I started quilting in the 80’s and it was you MUST do this block in a sampler because that’s the way the designer wanted it! You have to give yourself permission to be creative…..even if you’re a beginner as we all were once…or an older quilter like I am!
Oh, my, I do remember those Quilt Police from the ’80’s, too! Thank you, Corey, for the great resources!!
Thanks so much for this information. I do get discouraged when I can’t do a paper piece block right. Love your blocks and colors.
What to thank you for the excellent article. So often we think patterns are written in stone and it takes awhile for us to realize it is all about our expression. Thanks again
The Moda & FQS websites also have a lot of free patterns. Following my favorite designers (i.e. Corey Yoder & others) is also a great way to get access to new block ideas/patterns-for example, all the cute blocks you’ve shared with Scrappy Irish Chain QAL updates! I don’t have local quilty friends so these are my go-to places.
Thx for the great resources. And thx “for the permission” we sometimes need to make our quilts a reflection of our joy.
Thank you for permission to change things up. I’ve done it “my way” on every Blockheads quilt I’ve made. You have included my favorite sources of alternate quilt blocks. Pinterest and Fabric406 blog are my other go-tos.
Thank you Corey! As always so practical and helpful. Love your blog, patterns and fabric lines!
Really good information. I find myself looking for “misplaced” patterns often. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you, saving this.
Great information! I teach quilting and always tell my students that there are no quilt police or pattern police that are coming to get you, and that with quilting, you can do you. You can change up the pattern at any time to make it “yours” and that not only makes you feel good but can also make for some wonderful creativity. I’ve had some students change up patterns or blocks and make some very beautiful quilts! Thank you for the helpful reminder of that.
Thank you Corey! You have a kind way of making quilting feel possible for even those of us who are relatively new to it. I really just want to make some quilts, pillows, etc that my family will enjoy. Sometimes it feels competitive and I just want to enjoy sewing as an art and act of love.
Corey, thank you for this information. Always enjoy you blog and videos.
Used Quilters Cache for years. Thank you for sharing other sites. You got my block making mojo just humming along.
Thank you, Corey, for the additional blogpost listing additional resources. You are a wonderfully sensitive and instructive educator. I know the quilting community is blessed with your talent and generosity. Another resource for free patterns is Donna Jordan of Jordan Fabrics at jordanfabrics.com. They live in Grants Pass, Oregon, and her husband, Matt, does precuts. Donna has a library of free tutorials, as well. Her son does the videotaping. Hope this info helps.
Thank you Corey. That was so very thoughtful of you. It is great to have alternative options available rather than try to tackle something that may feel defeating.
Thank you for reminding us that we don’t have to stay in the quilt block box we have been put in. It is our quilt and like a previous commenter said, there are no quilt police telling us we have to do it a certain way. Always enjoy your posts!!
I’m such a ruler follower that I never knew I had permission to change a block in a pattern. Thank you
Thank you so much for a great post. I am new to quiliting (just 2 yrs) but have been sewing for more than 50. I am quite used to switching out a sleeve in a garment or mixing several patterns together to get exactly what I want. The idea of changing a quilt pattern or even blending them is something that is exciting. Those are the projects I not only enjoy making but I find I like the end product even better. Quilt patterns are jumping point. Again, thank you for the reminder.
Great advice! I’m one of those people who follow the rules. I found freedom during blockheads 4 when I decided to sew only the blocks I wanted to, skipping the ones that didn’t appeal to me. Thank you for all the links to free block patterns. They’ll come in handy.
I love taking a pattern and making it my own.
It is what makes the process fun for me.
I love your patterns thank you.
Thank you, Corey! I love your quilts and appreciate all you share!
Absolutely love this post – Thank you Corey. I once read (or maybe saw in a video) that patterns are more like a suggestion since there is always room to create something new that wasn’t there before. Kinda like sewing a piece of fabric into a garment or quilt. Its is always amazing to me when that happens. I”m new to quilting and love the “learning curve” journey its been. My go to’s are usually YouTube and then I connect to blogs like yours and Moda’s. I then FQS for almost all my fabric choices.
Corey, this is not the 1st post of yours that has set me free! The one that you shared about not apologizing for how slow I sew helped me a lot. I’m the type that loves learning new ways to piece, so the videos from your channel, A quilting Life, and FQS are my go-to sources for fresh new projects. You have that down to earth nobody’s perfect way about you…my kind of quilty friend 🙂
Wanted to add that there are free patterns at Bear Creek Quilting, Riley Blake, Henry Glass and the Moda Bake Shop. There are a lot more than this, just look at any of the fabric companies. Their designers usually release free patterns with each fabric line.
Thank you, Corey, for answering my question from yesterday about previous Block Head patterns. You make quilting so approachable and give us confidence that we can do it our way and not have to follow ALL of the rules.
Corey, thanks for your wonderful videos and your beautiful patterns. Also thanks for your calming influence and your encouragement to quilters everywhere. You have the sweetest way of telling people to chill and I appreciate that. We need to enjoy this wonderful hobby! I am working on your sunny patches quilt with your beautiful day. Fabric.. I appreciate you every day.
Corey…..this was a great post; so helpful! Thanks so much!
Many thanks Corey, for this post and your previous post. It’s good to be reminded we can make our quilts in ways we love and enjoy. It also took me awhile to realize everything doesn’t have to be absolutely perfect. That can be so intimidating to new quilters. I’ve learned just do your best, and ENJOY THE PROCESS❣️. I must say over the course of the last 3 years my piecing has greatly improved by watching your videos and available livestreams. You learn best by doing, my techniques have improved by repetition. Thanks so much for all the great information you share with us.
Thank you for this information. I believe we quilters are our own worst critics. I love all the help you offer at your website. I will be looking into the resources you listed in your blog. Also I love the positive energy you have for quilting.
Being creative is important and if it means changing a block or a part of a pattern then that is good I want to enjoy the process not need to be perfect and have a lovely work of my art.
Thank you for all of the great resources. One resource I heard you speak of a year or so ago on your YouTube video was a place that carried fabric blocks that had the words to hymns on them. Would you mind sharing that information again?
Hi Corey! Thank you so much for the great suggestions. I love your style and your patterns so much. I know there are a few things I would like to hire out!! One sight that has a lot of free patterns is Pat Sloane’s I Love to Make quilts. She does several quilt a longs every year and her blocks are very straight forward and fun. Happy Quilting.
Thank you Corey for taking the time to gather this great information and for sharing it. Deciding to create a quilt should be a very personal venture, whether you do your own thing or recreate another person’s pattern. I hope everyone takes the time to truly enjoy the process.
Thanks so much for all the great information. I have been quilting for over 30 years and really enjoy switching out a block now and then just to make mine my quilt a little bit different than others . I just finished quilting the Springbrook Sew-a-long quilt ( with your collection) for my granddaughter for Christmas. She is 15 and I am sure she will love it as much as I do!
What a wonderful post full of good links to use. I had some of these sites, but it was great to find some more. Blocks are so much fun to sew, almost more fun than putting the quilt together. Electric Quilt is always a fun way to design blocks and quilts!! Thank you so much.
Barbara Brackman’s Civil War Quilts blog has free annual Block of the Month patterns, both piecing and applique. The older BOMs are still available, but you need fish through the Blog Archive in the sidebar of her blog
Thank you for the reminder of changing things we don’t like. We all need to be reminded that this is our quilt in the end and the patterns are suggestions of how we might like it. I don’t think I have ever strictly gone by a quilt pattern…. now I might for the construction phase just because I might find an easier way or something just stumps me. I think I am going to get the Quilt Builder Card set because of the ease of looking for different blocks. I love seeing how you put things together and your choice of fabrics… Keep up the good work.
Thanks so much for the great references!
What a treasure trove of quilt block designs! Thanks so much, I’ve bookmarked all of them!
Thank you for sharing all of these amazing resources with us!
Thank you so much for this post. Wow, what a wealth of information and help. I appreciate your posts, your videos, your knowledge and your generosity. God bless❣️
As always, this is excellent information for everyone! Thanks, Corey! And welcome back from your trip, I hope you had a wonderful time and came back refreshed and with lots of fun memories!
Hi Corey! Thanks for the great information. I have followed along & completed 4 blockhead quilts and did not even think to go back and search for a block that I enjoyed doing, duh. You have giving me many great ideas. Thank you for sharing all these great resources. I love your fabric and patterns. Just finished “Oh Happy Day” and Rosebud Waltz #185.
Have a great fall.
Thank you Corey for all the blog posts and videos. Also the free quilt alongs. I have not made a full quilt from the Blockheads but save the patterns. Last year I was making a sampler pattern that had you repeat blocks. I wanted different blocks and “ borrowed 9” blocks from Blockheads 4📍
Corey, what a great resource for all of us. Thank you so much!!
Thank you so much for sharing this great information. Blessings to you.
Hi Corey, great resources. I have used several of them.
I gave myself permission to change up blocks a few years ago. I thought, “it’s my quilt, if I don’t like a block why should I (feel like I have to) include it?” so for the last several years I have been creating my own quilt block library. I follow several Quilter’s, like yourself, and when ever they (you) have a qal I save the blocks even if I’m not making the quilt right away. But I don’t always save all the blocks. I leave out the blocks I know I won’t ever make like ones with a gazillion pieces, no handwork and nothing small. I prefer larger blocks 9”, 12” and clean and simple. Most qal offer multiple size options and it’s really sew simple to just pull blocks from any past qal, or anywhere, to replace the current one you’re working on.
Thanks for all you do for the quilting world🙏
Thank you so much, Corey, for reminding people how many THOUSANDS of free quilt blocks are out there. Personally, I dislike FPP but last year Janet Clare presented a totally different way of doing it–her granny’s method–and she was so peaceful and calming in her tutorial I just felt happy after watching it instead of stressed like I usually do when I see FPP. I really love Brigitte Heitland’s design aesthetic so when I saw it was her block I was happy, then when I saw it was FPP I was conflicted. I’m going to give it a try–using Janet Clare’s calming granny’s method from BH4–and then I’m going to follow your lead (and copy Hildy Ebertzeder’s design choices) to just make a second block with traditional piecing. Just in case 🙂
But I appreciate your reminding everyone not to pout over BH5 having an FPP block–it’s such a pretty one!–and that we have literally thousands of choices. Don’t forget the FREE patterns that go back to the 1800s as archived by Ruby Short Kim at https://www.101patchworkpatterns.com/ (free but copyrighted). Such an amazing archive of quilt history, fun to look through even if you don’t decide to use one of those patterns :)m
Now wish me luck, after 7 days I finally have my sewing table assembled and today I can finally get back to sewing–I hope!!
Sarah
Great post. Some other resources that I did not see mentioned are the American Patchwork & Quilting site which is a great treasure trove of blocks and quilt ideas. And Pat Sloan also has an abundance of free QALs where you can pull out a block.
Another reason you are one of my favorites..such a thoughtful post. ✨️ 💓
Patchwork Square is another site that has many blocks
Thanx Corey for the reminder that the quilt I make is my vision of a pattern – it may not necesarily be the designers vision.