Color Options from American Patchwork & Quilting April 2013

Designer: Lorraine Hofmann

Create a beautiful bed quilt with larger-than-life flowers and big-stitch quilting.

Fiesta Flowers

Bright colors, geometric prints, and appliqué shapes hold a quilted party on a background of lime green prints. The festive combination results in a bloom-filled modern wall hanging. Fabrics are from the Folkloric Blooms collection by Sue Spargo and Wendy Morris and the Fresco collection by Patrick Lose, both forRobert Kaufman Fabrics.

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Designer: Kimberly Einmo

Star light, star bright: Radiating stars composed of basic units sparkle in a night sky.

Star Burst

This bright quilt, perfect as a table topper or wall hanging, features a blazing star of fiery red, yellows, and orange batiks. The star shines against a pale green background.

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Patriotic Points

Fabrics in reds, creams, and blues turn simple blocks into patriotic patterns that are stunning when combined into a Americana wall hanging. An impactful star block in the center provides a shining focal point. Fabrics are from Linda Ludovico's Stonehenge: Stars & Stripes collection for Northcott.

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Designer: Lissa Alexander

Strip sets simplify 36-Patch blocks, which mimic the look of crocheted granny squares when joined.

Buy this pattern here.

Pixelated Diamond

Careful placement of scrappy blocks that are half dark prints, half light prints creates a large diamond shape. When you take a step back, the small squares in the diamond give it a pixelated look. Fabrics are from the Paula Barnes Companions collection from Marcus Fabrics.

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Designer: Becky Cogan for Need'l Love

Create the illusion of weaving with strips of pinks and neutrals for a romantic quilt. Strip sets and rotary cutting ease the process. Most fabrics are from assorted collections by Renee Nanneman forAndover Fabrics, including Bella Bliss, Stone Cottage, and Itsy Bits.

Columns of Color

Columns of bright prints stand out against darker prints for a dramatic quilt. Black squares in the centers of the columns give the columns a braided look. Fabrics are from the Misty Light collection by Yuko Hasegawa for RJR Fabrics.

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Designer: Holly Hickman

Precut strips make quick work of creating this fine feathered friend perched on a field perfect for showing off your machine-quilting skills.

What a Hoot

Strips cut from a variety of fabrics fit together like a puzzle to form a feathered friend. Plenty of open space on this quilt canvas means room for you to show off your creative quilting. Fabrics are from the Les Amis by Patty Sloniger, Cotton Couture, It's a Boy Thing, and Cream Puff collections, all from Michael Miller Fabrics.

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Designer: Julie Hendricksen of JJ Stitches

Tiny diamonds extend from center stars into Xs on an extraordinary antique quilt. Achieve the dream with strip sets and rotary cutting.

Tiny Treasures

An X marks the spot on this table topper, where Four-Patch blocks and X blocks form a large overall X. Sea blues and sandy tans contrast perfectly with pops of red and orange. Fabrics are from the Simple Marks collection by Malka Dubrawsky for Moda Fabrics.

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Designer: Mabeth Oxenreider

Experiment with gentle curved seaming, then reverse-applique embellished strip sets for an exuberant quilt.

Polka Dot Palooza

Mix polka dots and swirls in scrappy circles framed by polka dots for a playful wall hanging. Pops of red-orange balance the otherwise black-and-white color scheme. Fabrics are from the Mango Tango collection by Red Rooster Studio for Red Rooster Fabrics.

Go to the free quilt pattern.