Color Options from American Patchwork & Quilting August 2013

Designers: Natalia Bonner and Kathleen Whiting of Piece N Quilt

A simple coneflower becomes an artful element when machine-appliquéd to a sunny background that was pieced with an optional dimensional technique.

Summer Windmills

Happy solid orange, cheerful solid turquoise, and bright polka dot white combine to make Flying Geese units. When arranged around a center square, the units look like blades on windmills rotating in a summer breeze. Fabrics are from the Wallflower Waltz collection for Michael Miller Fabrics.

Go to the free quilt pattern.

Designers: Darlene Zimmerman and Rachel Shelburne

Assemble a red, white, and blue table topper using precut strips for easy summer décor.

Designers: Darlene Zimmerman and Rachel Shelburne

Color palettes are the key to creating diverse moods in a pair of easy-to-piece quilts made from strips and squares. Using precut strips makes the project simpler yet! Fabrics are from the Arboretum collection of Artisan Batiks by Lunn Studios for Robert Kaufman Fabrics.

Easy Steps

The key to achieving the stair-step look is cutting the 2-1⁄2"-wide strips different lengths. The black-and-white prints allow the red squares to pop off the wall hanging. Fabrics are from the Tanglewood, Florina, and White Out collections from Blank Quilting.

Go to the free quilt pattern.

Designer: Wenche Wolff Hatling of Northern Quilts

Every fabric is a star performer in a throw where pieces are fussy-cut from favorite prints.

Starring Diamonds Wall Hanging

Fussy-cut motifs fill star centers in this bright wall hanging. Standout geometric prints mimic the diamond and hexagon shapes of the pieced quilt center. Fabrics are from the Sunburst collection by Studio 8 for Quilting Treasures.

Go to the free quilt pattern.

Designer: Avis Shirer of Joined at the Hip

Build this wall hanging row by row, pairing house blocks and bow tie blocks. The neighborhood appears to have angled streets as the bow-tie shapes run diagonally across the quilt top.

Where the Heart Is

House blocks surrounded by floral prints and connected by bow tie blocks create a street scene in this wall hanging. A stripe print cut in different directions changes up the look of the individual houses. Fabrics are from the Deco collection by Makower UK for Andover Fabrics.

Go to the free quilt pattern.

Designer: Rose Ann CookCreate a bed-size quilt that's deceptively easy. Repeating a single block in low-volume colors produces an almost plaid overall appearance. Fabrics are from the Paris Flea Market collection by 3 Sisters for Moda Fabrics

Multicolor Plaid Wall Hanging

Dark prints separated by striped sashing take on the look of plaid in this sophisticated wall hanging. Piping adds extra dimension. Fabrics are from the Hearthside Seasons collection by Kim Diehl for Henry Glass & Co.

Go to the free quilt pattern.

Designer: Monique Dillard of Open Gate Quilts

Don't be deceived. While this throw looks complex-as if a cream diagonal grid overlays a red grid atop a black background-it is composed of Jacob's Ladder blocks assembled using a simple stitch-and-flip technique. Fabrics are from the Royal Gardens collection by Monique Dillard for Maywood Studio.

Out of the Blue

A range of blues from light to medium to dark forms a grid look in this wall hanging. Dark floral squares emerge from assorted lighter blues to give the project depth. Fabrics are from the Indigo Blues collection by Pine Tree Country Quilts for Fabri-Quilt.

Go to the free quilt pattern.

Designer: Julie Comstock

Fusible web and satin-stitch appliqué combine for a picture-perfect quilt that will be an instant hit. Fabrics are from the S'more Love collection by Julie and Eric Comstock for Moda Fabrics.

Buy this pattern here.

Scenery Snapshots

Zoom in on favorite prints or fussy-cut designs with this camera-theme wall hanging. The lenses capture different scenes, artistically showcasing various prints. Fabrics are from the Field Notes collection by SEI for Robert Kaufman Fabrics.

Go to the free quilt pattern.