The short version: Fat Quarter Shop, Moda's Bake Shop, Robert Kaufman Fabrics, Riley Blake Designs and Missouri Star Quilt Co are where to get free quilt patterns in 2026. Most are written around a specific fabric collection or precut, so check what the pattern asks for before you plan it around your stash.
Quilters are generous people, and fabric companies know it. Many of the best free quilt patterns come straight from the fabric makers and shops, written by their own designers to show off a new collection. That's good news for you, because these patterns tend to be tested and clearly laid out. It just helps to know why they're free, because it changes how you use them.
Five places to find quilt patterns
In no particular order:
- Fat Quarter Shop: best for a large library of free PDF quilt patterns you can sort by type and manufacturer.
- Moda Bake Shop: best for free patterns built around precuts, paired with recipe-style instructions.
- Robert Kaufman Fabrics: best for free quilts and projects linked to its fabric lines.
- Riley Blake Designs: best for free patterns that coordinate with its own collections.
- Missouri Star Quilt Co: best for free video tutorials when you'd rather watch a block come together.
Quilt pattern sources side by side
| Source | Best for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Fat Quarter Shop | Big free PDF library | Filter by quilt type and fabric manufacturer |
| Moda Bake Shop | Precut projects | Patterns pair with Moda precuts |
| Robert Kaufman | Free quilts and projects | Some link to the designer's own site |
| Riley Blake Designs | Collection quilts | Written for its current fabric lines |
| Missouri Star Quilt Co | Video tutorials | Watch first, then cut |
Free libraries change with each new collection, so save the PDF when you find one you love.
Fat Quarter Shop, Moda and Robert Kaufman in more detail
Fat Quarter Shop says it offers quilting patterns for free use for quilters of all skill levels, and that it has gathered its favourite free quilt patterns to coordinate with its fabric collections. You can browse by quilt type or by manufacturer, and it includes free PDFs from well-known designers as well as its own exclusives. It also runs quilt-alongs, where a pattern is released in parts so a whole community sews it together.
Moda's Bake Shop is the playful one. Its free patterns are paired with Cake Mix Recipes and lean heavily on precuts, and its blog shares round-ups such as jelly roll quilt patterns and free Moda Bakery pattern downloads from QuiltCon. If you've got a stack of precuts and no plan, it's the first place to look.
Robert Kaufman Fabrics has a Free Quilts and Projects section next to its designer quilts. Its page says you can either download the free quilt pattern, where one is available, or visit the quilt designer's website, so some entries send you elsewhere for the actual instructions. Its precut range includes charm squares, fat quarter bundles, roll ups, ten squares and mini charms, which tells you the formats many of its patterns are written for.
Why so many free patterns assume one fabric line
Here's what catches people out. Fat Quarter Shop says its free patterns coordinate with its fabric collections, and Moda's lean on its own precuts. That's the deal: the pattern is free because it shows off fabric. The cutting instructions, yardage and colour placement are often written around one specific collection or precut bundle.
That doesn't mean you need that exact fabric. It means you should read the materials list first and translate it. A pattern written for a roll of strips needs strips, and one written for charm squares needs squares of that size. If you're working from your stash, work out how many pieces of each size and colour value you need before you cut a thing, and you can make almost any of these patterns your own.
It's also worth reading the whole pattern once before you cut, because free patterns from fabric companies tend to be concise. They assume you know the basics, so a step like squaring up a block or pressing seams in one direction might get a single line. If you're newer to quilting, watch a tutorial for that technique first, and you'll find the written pattern far easier to follow.
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Planning a quilt from a free pattern
- Download the PDF and read the materials list before anything else.
- Note which precut or fabric amounts it's written for.
- Match your fabrics by colour value, light, medium and dark, rather than exact prints.
- Make one test block before cutting the whole quilt.
- Watch a video tutorial for any block that looks tricky on paper.
- Keep the PDF and your notes together, so you can make it again.
Stash busters, gifts and quilt-alongs
Free patterns are ideal for stash-busting, baby quilts, table runners and joining a quilt-along. Quilters often plan colour schemes on Pinterest, and my guide on making a secret board on Pinterest keeps a gift quilt hidden from the person it's for. When you're learning a block from video, looping a YouTube video lets you rewatch the tricky step.
My advice: start with Fat Quarter Shop for range and Moda for precuts, read the materials list before you fall in love with the picture, and always sew one test block. It's the quickest lesson in quilting.
Run a free quilt pattern site that belongs on this list? See how to get it featured.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find free quilt patterns?
Fat Quarter Shop, Moda's Bake Shop, Robert Kaufman Fabrics and Riley Blake Designs all offer free quilt patterns, and Missouri Star Quilt Co has free video tutorials.
Why are fabric companies' quilt patterns free?
They're written to show off fabric. Fat Quarter Shop says its free patterns coordinate with its fabric collections, and Moda's lean on its own precuts.
Can I make a free quilt pattern with different fabric?
Yes. Read the materials list, note the sizes and amounts it's written for, and match your own fabrics by colour value rather than exact prints.
Are Robert Kaufman quilt patterns free to download?
Some are. Its page says you can download the free quilt pattern where one is available, or visit the quilt designer's website for it.
What is a precut in quilting?
A precut is fabric that comes ready cut into set shapes. Robert Kaufman's range includes charm squares, fat quarter bundles, roll ups, ten squares and mini charms.
