Need Sampler Quilt Ideas
 

Having tired of making 642 or 1,066 or 3,896 identical blocks, I have turned my efforts to sampler quilts. I have completed Tula Pink's 100 blocks and am working on The Splendid Sampler. One of the most beautiful ones I did was from blocks collected on the Fab Shop Hop a few years ago. The last time I was on that site, it did not seem they were offering blocks anymore, which is way too bad.

I am looking for recommendations of FREE sampler quilt patterns. I prefer piecing to applique, so a Baltimore is not in my future, but if you have seen -- or done -- an interesting/exciting/lovely FREE sampler, I would appreciate hearing about it.

Thank you so much for any recommendations! (Did I mention FREE?)

How about designing your own? Quilter's cache has lots and lots of free block patterns, organized by size. Pick a block size, look thru the blocks available, then choose your favorite 12.
http://www.quilterscache.com/QuiltBlocksGalore.html

There is also the 365 challenge.

I did a Craftsy Block of the Month several years ago - 2012? - all half sq triangles. It was a good learning experience.

This is a fantastic idea, totally FREE!!!!!!

Google "sampler quilts" and see what pops up and inspires you. Google is often my go to source for ideas on borders, piecing, color choices, etc.

PaperPrincess and 117becca both have great ideas. I have seen so many different blocks on Google just yesterday. Depends on the look you want.

this was my first thought, too

It's really not hard to design your own sampler quilt. Pick out your fabrics that you want to use. Pick a different block pattern for each block, use the fabrics that you have picked out and begin. It is a lot of fun. I have used different star blocks and had a lot of fun.

Perhaps you could propose one here on the board and others will join you. I did one once with star blocks, and everyone picked a block. It made a great quilt.

Moda's Bee-utiful Sample is gorgeous and free. Check at the Moda Bake Shop for all twenty blocks and instructions.

I pull blocks from the book "It's OK if you sit on my quilt" and make my own. Getting block patterns from quilterscache is also an option (free).

Willferg, that sounds like a good idea.

what is a 365 day challenge?

Craftsy has several BOMs that are free. I did the one that Amy Gibson was instructor for in 2013 and enjoyed it. Also Pat Sloan offers one on her website, I have been collecting the blocks but have not made any of them yet.

I made a sampler quilt for a dear friend and I knew she loved red, white and blue. I went thru many of my books and magazines and just pulled out blocks that were all the same size and it was my own design. I bet you can do something like that. It is fun to just finish one block at a time and you feel so much accomplishment.

Here is the link: http://www.365challenge.com.au/

In 2013 I did the aurifil DOM (designer of the month) blocks and found them really fun, and a great setting. Here is a picture of how mine turned out [ATTACH=CONFIG]559187[/ATTACH] When you click on the link, scroll down to the 2013 DOM and each of the blocks look like they are still available if you like it. http://www.aurifil.com/patterns

I design my own. I have made sampler quilts from lap size to king just by adding more blocks. I pick a size (12 inch blocks) is my favorite. Then I select patterns from quilt books, magazines, internet, library and make each block different. The really beautiful thing about a sampler, if you select a pattern that is difficult, you only have to make one. I like to do different settings and different pieced borders on each quilt.

I just started a free quilt of the week from Moda-Be My Neighbor. It started this month, but I think I can catch up quickly. Patterns are free and available online-just Google.

What terrific ideas! Thank you everyone. I am really going to consider the 365 challenge. The finished project is lovely.

I made a sampler quilt years ago when I went to the Ag Center for the quilting group. Each square was suppose to be a different color but I decided to use 1 color consistently in each block along with other colors. It is our our king size bed right now and I use it every summer which reminds me it is time to change it for an autumn quilt. Good luck with the 365 challenge. Keep us posted on your progress.

Check out the many books of Block patterns and put together your own design. You can also experiment with different settings. The favorite I've done is a "streak of lightning" setting.

Here's the Moda Sampler Block Shuffle for 2015: http://www.pittsewing.com/moda-fabri...le-pattern.htm

Also, remember you can go to the Archives on this site and get the BOM patterns from previous years to do a sampler. I will see if I can find the one I did in 2013 and edit and post it here.
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There are SO many sources for free sampler quilts.

If you get the opportunity to buy Judy Hopkins' "501 Rotary Cut Quilt Blocks", get it!! It has 501 blocks, but even better, it tells you exactly how to cut each block in various sizes - ranging from 4" up to 12" (and even a few larger than 12").

I'm actually working on a sampler quilt right now and I've picked out the various blocks from that very book. My blocks are 9".

And I started the Moda Shuffle blocks last year... then (as usual), ADD kicked in, and that is now a UFO.... which reminds me that I need to pull that for the UFO challenge. :D

I was thinking the same as Paperprincess.

Craftsy does have LOTS of free piecing designs!!!

Here's another sampler from Moda on Bear Creek Quilting website, Moda Be My Neighbor Quilt 68" X 84.5".


https://www.bearcreekquiltingcompany...neighbor-2016/

I subscribe (free) to Block of the Day, which will give you a block everyday. You can usually click back several weeks of the month to download that block.

https://www.blockoftheday.com/page/BlockOfDay

I subscribe (free) to Block of the Day, which will give you a block everyday. You can usually click back several weeks of the month to download that block.

https://www.blockoftheday.com/page/BlockOfDay

Great ideas here!
I love civil war colors, so I am thinking about making a sampler quilt using a bunch of 6 or 8 inch blocks.

My quilt club did a block/month project from Eleanor Burns Underground Railroad book. It was a lot of fun and the blocks were quite simple to make. This was my very first sampler quilt, and now I'm in love with sampler quilts.

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I designed my own sampler quilt about 5 yrs ago for a friend. She loved RWB so I just looked thru magazines and books I had and picked out 12" finished blocks and put my own fabric in. She loved it and it was fun to do different blocks. I agree with you-it is not fun to do the same block over and over so good luck to you and I am sure many members on this board will help you out.

Sorry-I posted 2 times. My mistake.

I love sampler quilts. Using the same fabrics give unity to the quilt. Decide the highest number of different fabrics needed to make the most complex block. Then buy that number of different fabrics to use.

That is one of my favorites!! And "501 Rotary Cut Quilt Blocks".
These two together would keep you busy for quite some time!!

Some people like the 365 challenges. You make a block a day for a year.