School Days

This time of year, the school bells ring again for so many of us and our children.  A house on a quilt is a symbol of our community and our lives together in society. It's no wonder that house quilts remind us of comfort and the togetherness of family, friends, and neighbors. They really appeal to us, maybe because "home is where the heart is." 

Little Old One Room Schoolhouse,  23 x 27", by Ruth Powers, at Ruth Powers Art Quilts

The traditional schoolhouse of the frontier, complete with a bell tower, beckons us back to learning, as leaves swirl in the early autumn breeze.  Quilt designer Ruth Powers offers this charming scene as a pattern, along with so many other beautiful designs.

Little Houses, 48 x 60", by Ruth Powers, at Ruth Powers Art Quilts

Ruth writes, "Much of my work is inspired by nature;  my daily walks fill my senses with color and design possibilities." In creating Little Houses, Ruth has done an excellent job of selecting different blues and greens for the sky and earth, while selecting the complementary colors of bright orange and orange-red for the homes. Ruth notes that this is a great pattern for using up fat quarters and scraps.

Welcome Home, 64 x 64", by Alex Anderson,at Alex Anderson Quilts

Here's a delightful neighborhood of cheerful houses done in russet and gold. Internationally-famous designer Alex Anderson has brightened the traditional fall quilt by adding contemporary colors of aqua blue and rose pink which make the maple leaves and houses sparkle against the dark background. Easily pieced using half square triangles, "Welcome Home" has become a classic best-seller from JWD Publishing. You can view all of Alex Anderson's books and patterns at Alex Anderson Quilts.

Schoolhouse Block, 19 x 22", from "There's No Place Like Home" by Sonya Chinn, at Sonya's Snippets

Long-arm quilter Sonya, creator of the Sonya's Snippets blog, sewed this charming applique scene as one of the blocks for a block-of-the-month quilt which she calls 'There's No Place Like Home'. This quilt was based on "Home Is Where the Heart Is", a block-of-the-month from The Stitch Connection.

Image credits:  Images are shown with the generous permission of the artists.  These quilts appeared in a series of articles on house quilts, including Our Town and Our Town Part 2.

Free Pattern Day: Halloween

We have a huge stash of free patterns in our Free Quilt Inspiration archive and we are excited about sharing them with you. Here are more than 50 free patterns for Halloween mini quilts, lap quilts, table runners and pillows ! Note: This post was updated on June 17, 2017 !

Ready Set Glow Halloween quilt, 42 x 42”, free pattern at Blank Quilting 

Disappearing Nine Patch quilt, 49 x 62”, tutorial by Jedi Craft Girl

Boo Crew 2 quilt, ~55 x 69”, free pattern at Blank Quilting

Moonlight Peaks quilt, 47 x 67”, free pattern by Linda Ambrosini for Hoffman Fabrics

Spooky Delight mini quilt, ~18 x 18”, by Carried Away Quilting,  based on the free Coffee Time mini quilt tutorial

Pumpkins and Patches quilt in black, 49 x 49”, free pattern by Denise Russell for Hoffman Fabrics (for the ivory version click here)
 

Halloween mini quilt tutorial and free pattern at Fort Worth Fabric Studio

The Great Pumpkin quilt, ~47 x 57", free pattern by Renee Nanneman for Andover Fabrics (PDF download)

Pumpkin wall quilt, free pattern by Dodi Lee Paulson for Landauer (PDF download)

Look Into My Eye, 43 x 43", free quilt pattern by Stacey Day for Windham Fabrics

Spooky Spider mini quilt, free applique pattern by Seasoned Homemaker 

All Hallow's Eve wall quilt, 42" square, free pattern by Amanda - Jedi Craft Girl

Spooked quilt, 60 x 72”, free pattern at Riley Blake Designs (PDF download)

Reversible whole cloth spiderweb quilt, tutorial by Polly Carlson for Fairfield World

Jazzy Jacks quilt, 48 x 51”, free appliqued and pieced pattern by AE Nathan (PDF download)

Pumpkin Patches quilt, 70 x 92”, free pattern by Renee Nanneman for Andover Fabrics (PDF download)

Spooky Windows quilt, 37 x 49", free pattern by Osie Lebowitz - From Needle and Thread

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

All Hallows Eve quilt, 62 x 62”, free pattern by M Studio for Blank Quilting (PDF download)

Spooky mini quilt tutorial by Amanda - Jedi Craft Girl

OZ - 75 Years of Wickedness quilt, 62 x 74", free pattern by Cindi Hershey for Quilting Treasures

Boomerang quilt, 80 x 80”, free pattern by Emma Jean Jansen

Spooktacular Eve Twilight quilt, 54 x 66”, free pattern at Blend Fabrics (PDF download)

Witches Celebrate quilt, 60 x 60”, free pattern at Riley Blake Designs (PDF: Pattern, PDF: TEMPLATES) (check out the finished quilt at Fabric Seeds)

Witches Celebrate quilt: witch block detail at Fabric Seeds

Witches Celebrate quilt: pumpkin block detail at Fabric Seeds

Happy Haunting quilt, 74 x 88", free pattern at Riley Blake Designs (PDF download)

Happy Haunting mini quilt, 20 x 20", free pattern at Riley Blake Designs (PDF download)

Spooky Stars Halloween quilt, 57 x 68”, tutorial by Choo Choo Skadoo

Halloween Chevron Quilt tutorial at The Little Fabric Shop

Spiders and Webs quilt, 50 x 60", tutorial by Heidi Grohs for Moda Bakeshop

Ghoulies and Ghosties quilt, free pattern by Kelly Corbridge for McCalls Quilting

Endless Creaking Stairs quilt, 36 x 44", free pattern by Grace Wilson for Maywood Studios (PDF download)

Wicked Eve quilt, 70 x 89”, free pattern by Osie Lebowitz at From Needle and Thread

Barn Bats mini quilt block, 18 x 18", tutorial by Elizabeth Hartman at Oh Fransson

That Cat quilt,  Halloween version, 29 x 32", free pattern by Pamela Lincoln for McCall's Quilting

Stairway to Cat Heaven, 52 x 52, quilt by Marty Mason at Marty's Fiber Musings, based on the free Golden Quilts pattern at McCall's Quilting (also see templates)

Jack O Lantern mini quilt, 20 x 20”, free pattern at Riley Blake Designs (PDF download)

Trick or Treat mini quilt, 20 x 24”, free pattern by Susan Emory

Boo-tacular applique wall hanging, 25 x 27", free pattern by Sandi Colwell for McCall's Quilting

Which Witch is Which wall hanging, 30 x 17", free pattern by Sue Marsh for RJR Fabrics

Sweet and Spooky Halloween mini quilt, 21" square, tutorial by Lisa Calle of {Vintage Modern Quilts} for Moda Bakeshop

By the Light of the Moon Quilt with candy corn border, free pattern by Elizabeth Cecchettini for Babylock

Haunted House (Scribble Monsters) quilt, 32 x 36", including house, bat and moon template, at Clothworks (PDF download)

Haunted House quilt, ~37 x 40", by Liz Aneloski; free  pattern for RJR Fabrics; this quilt has 3-D folded windows and doors

Simply Spooky quilt, free pattern by Pearl P. Pereira (PDF download) 

Simply Spooky quilt by Belly Buttons Boutique

Cats, Bats and Vats quilt, 58 x 66", free pattern by Gayle Noyes and Jean Anne Sharrai for Clothworks (PDF download)

Wobbly Web Layer Cake Throw Quilt, free pattern by Cindy Sharp at Moda Bake Shop

Block Party Halloween Quilt, free pattern by Kathy Mack at Pink Chalk Fabrics

Spooky House in the Block Party Halloween Quilt by Kathy Mack

Creepy Crawlies at Midnight quilt, 29 x 43", free pattern by Dana Jones for Quilters Newsletter  (PDF download)

Spooky Spun Sugar Little Quilt tutorial by Vickie E. at Spun Sugar Quilts

Itsy Bitsy Spiders Wall Hanging, 19 x 26", tutorial at AJ's Bowtique

Halloween Applique Scene by Christina Sherrod at Crafts and Fabric Links

Jack Patchwork wall hanging, 36 x 36", free pattern by Sue Thornton-Gray for Janome (PDF download)

Halloween Wall Hanging, 24 x 24", free pattern by Carol R. Zentgraf at James Thompson & Co

 

Bat Wreath, free quilt pattern at Debby Kratovil Quilts

Spooky Halloween Wreath quilt, 40" square, free pattern by Jason Yenter at In The Beginning Fabrics (PDF download)

HALLOWEEN TABLE RUNNERS

Fall Pumpkin table runner tutorial by The Cloth Parcel

Halloween Table Runner by Quilted Delights, based on the free Easy Christmas Table Runner pattern at Sew Today Clean Tomorrow

Pumpkin Patch block table topper tutorial by Lindsey Weight at Fort Worth Fabric Studio

Pumpkin Table Topper tutorial by The Sassy Quilter

Endless Creaking Stairs table runner, 12 x 25", free pattern by Grace Wilson for Maywood Studios (PDF download)

Bargello style Halloween table runner, tutorial by So Sew Easy at GYCT Designs

Patchwork Pumpkin Table Runner tutorial by Amy Smart for Riley Blake Designs

Oh Pumpkin table runner, free pattern by Jennifer Morgan and Linda Ambrosini at Hoffman Fabrics

Floating Pumpkins table runner by Debbie Beaves, free pattern at RJR Fabrics (PDF download)

Pumpkin block tutorial by Chrissy at Sew Lux Fabrics

Reversible Holiday table runner tutorial at Simply Notable

Monster Munchies table runner (French Braid), 14 x 48", free pattern by Jean Ann Sharrai and Gayle Noyes for McCall's Quilting

Trick or Treat Table Runner by Rebecca Woods at Charley, Dee and Me, as seen at Riley Blake Designs

Pumpkin Crazy Quilt mug rug tutorial at Pellon Projects

Scrappy Pumpkin Table Runner tutorial by A Bright Corner as seen at Thermoweb 

Ribbon Table Runner tutorial at 7 layer studio

Ghouls Night Out table runner by Grace Wilson for Maywood Studios

Corn Toss Runner, free pattern by Gudrun Erla at GE Designs 

The House that Jack Built centerpiece mat tutorial by Katie Hennagir for Andover Fabrics (PDF download)

Boo to You! table topper - 2 versions, 40 x 40", free pattern at Wilmington Prints

 

Strippy Table Runner tutorial by Rachel Griffith at PS I Quilt for Art Gallery Fabrics

Halloween Table Runner from Nature's Table Toppers by Debbie Field, free pattern at Landauer Publishing (PDF download)

Spooktacular Spiderweb table runner, free pattern at Blend Fabrics

Pumpkin Table Runner tutorial by Judi Madsen at Green Fairy Quilts 

Halloween Table Runner free pattern at Jo's Country Junction

Pumpkin Placemat by Phyllis Dobbs

Improvisational Pumpkin Block tutorial at Pieced Goods

Spiderweb Quilt, 24 x 24", tutorial by Jackie Reeve at The Orange Room

Flying High oval table mat, ~15 x 19", free pattern by Debbie Field for Landauer Publishing (PDF download)

Spiderweb free-motion quilting, free video tutorial by Leah Day at The Free Motion Quilting Project

"Boo" wall hanging tutorial by A Bright Corner as seen at Fabric Mill

Halloween Boo Hoo? banner tutorial by Karin Jordan at Leigh Laurel Studios

Witch Shoe Treat Bag or Silverware Holder at Sharon Sews

FREE HALLOWEEN APPLIQUE BLOCK PATTERNS

Jack-o-Lantern, free applique pattern by Kimara and Michelle at Wee Folk Art

Black Cat applique, free block pattern by Kimara at Wee Folk Art

Spooky, 10” square, free black cat applique pattern by Wendi Gratz at Shiny Happy World

Ghost applique block, free pattern at Wee Folk Art

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“Say Boo” wall hanging tutorial and pattern by AnneMarie at GenXQuilters

 
Haunted House on the Hill, free pattern by Elizabeth Hill at Purple Kitty Yarns

Halloween Treat mini quilt, free pattern by Sandra E. Andersen at A Legacy of Stitches

FREE PAPER PIECED BLOCK PATTERNS

Coffin block by Jeni Baker, free pattern at In Color Order (use 9 blocks to make a Halloween pillow)

Jack-o-Lantern block, 8 x 10", free paper pieced pattern by Sonja Callaghan at Artisania

Pumpkin in three sizes, free paper pieced pattern by Jennifer Ofenstein at Sew Hooked

Witch, free paper piecing pattern by Sonja Callaghan at Artisania
 

Haunted House, free 10" paper piecing pattern by Cyrille Zellweger at Bubblestitch Quilts
 

Granny's Bats, free 10" paper piecing pattern by Amy Gay of Butterfly Angels Quilting

Vampire Fangs block, designed by Jennifer Ofenstein, pieced by Cat Magraith at Fandom In Stitches

Bats paper pieced block, free pattern by Jennifer Ofenstein at Fandom in Stitches

Trick or Treat Sue, free paper pieced pattern by Jennifer Ofenstein at Sew Hooked

 Batty About Halloween, free paper pieced pattern at Ruthie Quilts

My Little Monster, free paper pieced pattern at Orchid Owl Quilts

Candy Corn face, free paper piecing pattern and tutorial at Sonya's Snippets 

HALLOWEEN PILLOWS AND FABRIC PUMPKINS 

Halloween cat pillow, free pattern by Oh Oh blog as seen at U Create Crafts

Fall Pumpkin quilted pillow tutorial at The Cloth Parcel

Spider Web Quilted Pillows tutorial by Polly Carlson for Fairfield World

Spooky Halloween cat pillow, free pattern and tutorial by Amanda - Jedi Craft Girl

Scrappy Pumpkin Pillows, free pattern by Jean Etheridge and Shannon Miller at Sew Beautiful Magazine (PDF download)

Fall Fabric Pumpkins tutorial at Pink Suede Shoe
 

Funky Pumpkin Pincushion Tutorial and free pattern by Marjory Peck at Peck's Pieces

Fabric Pumpkins tutorial by Martha Stewart
 

Image credits:  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.  If any links are broken, we'd love to know; email us at quiltinspiration {at} gmail {dot} com.