Free Pattern for Quilts of Valor

Are you looking for a free pattern for Quilts of Valor? Download one for a panel quilt and one for a bench pillow!

Hi, there! I went to Brazil to visit my family and returned to a pile of work! Now that I dug myself out from under that pile, I have a bunch of free patterns to post here and decided that the ones I designed for Fired Up!, a collection by Blank Quilting, will be featured first. The collection is already in stores, so get the fabrics and start sewing.

Quilt 1 measures 44″ x 64″ with blocks that finish at 3″. This project is perfect for beginners because all you need to do is stitch small squares to two corners of the bigger squares and sew on the straight borders.

The panel is trimmed down only a little bit, allowing you to use the full picture. It reminds me of all the fun I had in July of yesteryear with my young boys. The middle son was thinking of fireworks by the time June came around! He had pile$ of it (you read it right!) ready and a list of places to let them go off. We lived very close to the Wasatch Mountains, where fire was a constant concern.

I love the shades of blue and red of the prints in this collection!

I chose to focus on the blue fabrics for this project, with a splash of red and lots of white to brighten everything up. Using many hues of the main colors in your quilt adds depth and interest to your design. Just make sure the colors look harmonious, and there is a place for your eyes to rest when they have the same value.

In the quilt above, the white on the blocks and narrow borders ensure the fabrics do not overwhelm your gaze, the individual prints can be appreciated, and the quilt is not super dark.

You can make this quilt in no time as chain-piecing speeds up the block construction.

This diagram gives you an idea of the only work that is involved in assembling the blocks for the pieced border. Then, watch the fabric placement, and bam! The pieced border looks like a ribbon around the panel!

Simple blocks are a quilter’s best trick! Carefully select fabrics and try different block placements for surprising results. Take a photo of your design wall and check it out in your phone, or step away for a cup of coffee or tea, then return to take a fresh look at your composition.

I often do just that, except I am working with the EQ8 software instead of my design wall. When I return to my office and look at the design on my monitor, I either go WOW or OH NO. And that is how my process works. I love moving fabrics around the design or choosing different blocks without sewing a stitch. I get so much more done!

The Bench Pillow design continues with the festive theme with stars and on the border fabric. The movement is provided courtesy of the flying geese! The pillow fits a standard bench pillow form. You can easily insert it through the envelope-style back.

I like this type of backing because it helps when it is time to wash the pillow cover, particularly for bench pillows which may be ‘graced’ with dust and pollen.

Another idea for this pattern: choose fabrics for Fall, Winter, and Spring and use the same instructions. This way, your porch decor will always be up to date!

If your stash of red, white, and blue fabrics is overflowing, a free pattern for Quilts of Valor may be just what you need. Two patterns, I should say – follow this link for another free pattern that could put a dent in your stash!

All-Star is also a favorite, which you can download from my Etsy store. Yep, the festivities of July are still fresh in my mind…

Oh, before I forget: once the Fired Up! panel quilt is ready, look into your stash for other panels that can be trimmed to the same measurements. Then, gather fabrics that will complement the panel and use the pattern for this new quilt. Cool, right?

This is my inspiration for you today. As you get ready for these new projects, I will be here in my office designing your next ones!