Free pattern day! FISH Quilts & Pillows

Summer is a great time for some FREE patterns for FISH-themed quilts ! (plus sharks, jellyfish, a mermaid, and fish pillows.) To go to a pattern: Scroll down the page until you see the quilt you like, then click on the words "CLICK for PDF download" (or the hyperlinked website name) in the title above the quilt.

Also check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, books, and collectible items !
For more free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.

Striped Fish quilt and pillows, free patterns at Tilda's World (CLICK for PDF for Quilt) + (CLICK for PDF for Pillows)

Commotion in the Ocean quilt, 41 x 53", free pattern by Denise Russell for Blank Quilting (CLICK for PDF download) 

Row by Row H2O pattern, 9 x 36”, free pattern at Stitchin Post (CLICK for PDF download)

Catch and Release quilt, 36 x 47”, free pattern by Linda Ambrosini for Hoffman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Just Keep Swimming mini quilt, 16” square, free pattern by Jen Daly for Moda Bakeshop (CLICK for PDF download)

Fish Exotic Batik quilt, 29 x 31”, free pattern at Fabric Editions (CLICK for PDF download)

Fish Frenzy quilt, 40 x 52”, free pattern by Ellen Maxwell for Michael Miller Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Hook Line Sinker quilt, 60 x 72”, free pattern by Lisa Swenson Ruble for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Jellyfish Gardens quilt, 84 x 70”, free pattern by Natalie Crabtree for Anthology Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Ocean Oasis quilt, 60 x 72”, free pattern by Sue Harvey & Sandy Boobar for Quilting Treasures (CLICK for PDF download)

Rod and Reel throw quilt, 47 x 54”, free pattern by Wendy Sheppard for Quilting Treasures (CLICK for PDF download)

Sardine Quilt, free pattern by Sarah Watts for Cotton + Steel (CLICK for PDF download)

Under The Sea quilt, 56 x 76”, free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Life in a Fishbowl quilt, 81 x 95”, free pattern by Wendy Sheppard for Michael Miller Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Fishing quilt block, 9” square, free pattern at Art Gallery Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Snorkel Quilt, 60” square, free pattern at Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Swimming Sharks quilt, 56 x 58”, free pattern at Riley Blake Designs (CLICK for PDF download)

Alpha Fish quilt, 71 x 83", free pattern at Studio E Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Chasing Waves quilt, 56 x 66”, free pattern by Red Brolly for Marcus Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Keep Swimming quilt, free pattern by Denise Russell for Michael Miller Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Whimsical Mermaid wall quilt, 30 x 26”, free pattern at Yarnspirations (CLICK for PDF download)

Nina & Neptune fish, free sewing pattern at Riley Blake Designs (CLICK for PDF download)

Pond Fish plushie tutorial, free pattern by Christina McKinney for Birch Fabrics (CLICK for tutorial)

Fishy Fishy pillow, free pattern at Yarnspirations (CLICK for PDF download)

Colorful Stuffed Fish, free pattern at Fabric Editions (CLICK for PDF download)

Drawstring Fish beach bag, free pattern at Cloud 9 Fabrics (CLICK for tutorial)

If you enjoyed today's fish quilt patterns, you might also like our Free Pattern Day for Beach and Ocean Quilts (CLICK to go to the post !)

Image credits: This post was updated on June 3, 2025. Individual 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. The photo montage shown on this page is a derivative work that is the property of Quilt Inspiration. If any links are broken, we'd love to know so we can fix it. Please email us at QuiltInspiration {at} gmail {dot} com.

Fun Fish Quilts & Free Patterns!

If you have some fishy fabrics in your collection, or a friend who loves fish, how about a fish quilt or pillow? We've collected some wonderful FREE patterns!  Check out the links below.

Also check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, books, fabric and jewelry items !
You can also visit us on Twitter.

Striped Fish quilt and pillows, free patterns at Tilda's World (CLICK for PDF for Pillows) + (CLICK for PDF for Quilt) 

 

Just Keep Swimming mini quilt, 16” square, free pattern by Jen Daly for Moda Bakeshop (CLICK for PDF download)

 Catch and Release quilt, 36 x 47”, free pattern by Linda Ambrosini for Hoffman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Pond Fish plushie tutorial, free pattern by Christina McKinney for Birch Fabrics (CLICK for tutorial)

 For more free patterns, check out our complete FREE PATTERN DAY (CLICK HERE):

Image credits: Individual 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. The photo montage shown on this page is a derivative work that is the property of Quilt Inspiration.

 

Paper Piecing Quilts: Rocky Mountain Trout

Paper piecing is a type of quilt making in which you sew patches directly onto a paper template (foundation).  You then join the different sections to construct the full quilt. It allows tremendous precision and can be used for nearly every type of quilt.  As Lisa Fryxell shows, you can even create stunning landscapes with this technique!

p.s. Please see our E-Bay shop for great bargains on patterns and vintage collectibles. For continuous free quilt patterns and blog updates, please visit us on Twitter.

Rocky Mountain Trout by Lisa Fryxell / Prefurred Quilt Shop (Etsy)

This original landscape brings to life the dream of "catching a big one"! A fisherman is standing in the stream with a huge fish on the line and Rocky Mountains in the background.   Lisa Fryxell says that she designed this paper-pieced quilt to celebrate a recent move to Colorado. This great pattern is available at Lisa's Prefurred Quilt Shop at Etsy.com.

As shown below, there is an actual trout fly in the mouth of the fish. Trout flies are tied with feathers and thread on a hook to resemble an actual fly. Lisa says that fishermen at their local fly-fishing shop were most helpful in picking out the 'blue dragonfly'.

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2023 Quilt Fiesta (Tucson, Arizona).

Get Ready for Summer Quilting!

Summer is fast approaching and we have some Quilt Inspiration to share with you! We recently updated our FREE Pattern Days for summer-themed quilts with NEW patterns. Click on the links shown below ("CLICK HERE") to go to the pattern pages.  Then follow the instructions to download the patterns you love. We wish you a fun, relaxing, and crafty summer!

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns and collectible items. For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter ! 

 Beach & Ocean quilts (CLICK HERE!)

 

 Sailboat quilts (CLICK HERE!)

Fish quilts (CLICK HERE!)

 Patriotic & Flag quilts (CLICK HERE!)

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. The photo montages shown on this page are the property of Quilt Inspiration. If any links are broken, we'd love to know; email us at quiltinspiration {at} gmail {dot} com.

A Celebration of Color

Are you ready for some color on this Friday? Here are some quilts from the Celebration of Color exhibit at the 2022 International Quilt Festival in Salt Lake City!

Note: please check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns and collectibles ! For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter !

Bubbles by Hanne Lohde (California)

Hanne Lohde says, "To catch a glimpse of a mermaid is never easy, but you might just be lucky enough to see one here in Bubbles  This quilt tells the story of endangered fish, like Helga, the black herring from the Baltic Sea, and Safia, from the Mediterranean. They come from all over the world to Bubbles to help the mermaid, Queen Pernille, harvest pearls.

There's so much fun detail in Hanne's vibrantly colored quilt, that it's difficult to decide where to look first. The embellishments and embroidery are superb! Her original design is hand appliqued, embellished, embroidered, dyed, and pieced; plus it's machine quilted.

Clamshell Surprise by Lou Ellen Hassold, quilted by Valerie Wagner

Winner of the Art Prize, Lou Ellen writes, "I wanted a vivid, interesting look for my version of Judy Niemeyer's  'Clamshells'.  The quilt was made from a variety of Kaffe Fassett scraps, paired with Moda Grunge fabrics. I was pleasantly surprised by the results as the quilt was even brighter than I imagined. It almost seemed to glow as if lit from behind. Valerie Wagner's quilting design adds a lovely texture."

What really sets off these color-saturated fabrics is Lou Ellen's choice of black background fabric. It provides a striking visual effect which separates each clamshell motif and highlights the intense hues.

Seven Sisters by Cathy Perlmutter (California)

Cathy explains, "This quilt is made from about 1,000 3.75" triangles, improvisationally pieced, Log Cabin style, on paper backings. The colorful central stars are in a traditional Seven Sisters layout and seem to be flinging out an outer ring of six ghostly half-stars." 

Cathy's very intriguing work is machine pieced and quilted. She explains that the traditional Seven Sisters quilt design is hiding deep inside this quilt.

Flamboyant by Linda Riesterer (Washington)

 Linda notes, "Bright colors make me happy, and this is one of the happiest quilts I have made. [This original design] was inspired by the Rhapsody quilts by Ricky Tims. "

Linda's purple background adds extra pop to these gorgeous floral motifs. Her quilt is hand appliqued, embroidered, pieced, and quilted.

I Danced Along a Colored Wind by Amy Kidd (Massachusetts)

Amy says, " This Flowering Snowball quilt is third in a series using variegated striped fabrics with a traditional quilt block. The subtle color changes, along with the curves and quilting pattern variation, dance across the quilt."

Amy concludes, "The dark background and flickering color created by the stripes produces a luminous quality." We admire Amy's quilt because the color scheme is so carefully planned and executed. It is machine pieced and quilted.

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2022 International Quilt Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah.