9 Beautiful Types of Quilts Every Quilter Should Try

Quilting is such a versatile hobby, and there are so many different quilt styles and quilt types to choose from.

When trying to figure out what type of quilt you would like to create, you should first have a good idea of the different types of quilts and what skills you will need for each one.

In this article, we’ve curated nine different types of quilting patterns to peruse and decide which would be the best for you to try.

9 Types of Quilts Every Quilter Should Try

1. Patchwork Quilt

Patchwork quilts are the most common type of quilt, and if you were to ask me, “What is the easiest quilt to make?” this method is the answer I would give you.

Patchwork simply means you sew different pieces or “patches” of fabric together to create blocks. These pieces can be simple squares, triangles, hexagons, or any geometric shape. You could even use pieces with curves.

There are countless patterns available using the patchwork method. You can create all kinds of shapes, motifs, and even letters. 

Beginners and seasoned pros both love patchwork quilting because the end result is a beautiful, timeless piece. 

Charm Quilt

With Charm quilts, you use the patchwork method. However, you make Charm quilts with a different color or pattern for every piece. This style may seem a bit busy for some, which is understandable, but I love the look of these quilts.

This quilt is an excellent option for a child’s bedroom or for throw pillows in the living room with lots of fun pops of color.

If you are shopping for fabric and see “charm packs” for sale, this type of quilt is most likely where that term was coined. Charm packs have a bunch of different fabrics in them and are usually 5” squares — perfect for a charm quilt!

Crazy Quilt

The Crazy quilt design dates all the way back to the Victorian era. Women would create these unbelievably intricate quilts out of odd-shaped pieces of different fabric types and show off their impressive embroidery skills, embellishing the quilt tops with a wide variety of stitches and embroidery designs.

These odd-shaped fabrics would be stitched down to a foundation fabric to stabilize the designs and ensure it won’t rip or stretch over time. With the mixture of different stitches and fabrics, this type of quilt has a free-spirited, bohemian feel and would be a beautiful conversation piece of artwork.

Crumb Quilt

Like Crazy quilts, Crumb quilts (sometimes called Scrap quilts) use odd-shaped pieces to create beautiful mosaic-like designs. The difference is that you use one type of fabric with Crumb quilts, usually quilting cotton to create the blocks.

This design is an excellent option if you have a bunch of scraps from other projects, but you’re not quite sure what to do with them. You can use tiny pieces (crumbs) of fabric.

You can sew these little pieces of fabric in a uniform or sporadic way. If you choose to go the more sporadic route, it can also be called “improvisational quilting.”

This quilting project is an enjoyable process and a great way to express your creativity and make something abstract.

Applique Quilt

Applique Quilts are one of my personal favorite types of quilts because the possibilities are, literally, endless for what you can create for your quilt top. The applique technique requires cutting out a shape and applying it to your quilt top either by stitching it down or by using an adhesive to glue it down. 

There are several different ways to then finish the edges of your applique pieces. You can leave the raw edges, zig-zag stitch to ensure no fraying, or before you apply your piece you can roll the edge and then stitch it down to give it a clean edge.

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Embroidered Quilt

Embroidered Quilts are just that–quilts with embroidered blocks. The embroidery can be done either by a embroidery machine or by hand. These are a great option if you want to do a lot of personalization to your quilt.

You could embroidery the recipient’s name, favorite quotes, bible verses, cartoon characters, animals, flowers, the list could go on and on. This could be done on the entire quilt or just a few blocks and is a wonderful option especially if you are gifting the quilt you are creating.

English Paper Piecing Quilt

English Paper Piecing (EPP) is probably most recognizable as the technique used to make those tiny little hexagons that are then used to create flowers you see so often on vintage quilts. This technique is done exclusively by hand.

First, you need a shape in mind, such as those tiny hexagons, and have the shape cut out on a thick piece of paper. You then shape your fabric over that piece of paper, curling the edges of the fabric over the edges of the paper and stitching them down to create your little fabric hexagon.

Once you have stitched all the way around the edges of your fabric, then you gently remove the paper from the center of the fabric and there you have your tiny hexagon.

This technique is also used for circles or other shapes that may have multiple sides or curves. 

Machine Paper Piecing Quilt

Some may think that Machine Paper Piecing is the same as English Paper Piecing, but there are several differences between them. The most crucial difference is that, unlike EPP, machine paper piecing is done by machine.

A design is printed or drawn directly onto paper and then pinned to your fabric of choice. Then you take your paper and fabric to your sewing machine and stitch over the lines that you have printed or drawn your paper. Once you have finished sewing all your fabric pieces, you then rip the paper off and have your finished paper pieced block.

This technique may seem a bit confusing at first, but with a little practice, you’ll be making beautifully pieced blocks for your new projects.

Rag Quilt

Rag quilts are such a fun option for you if you are looking for a reasonably quick project. Traditionally, these are made with flannel or fleece fabrics. You can use any fabric type, but be sure to use fabrics that you know will fray really well.

Unlike most other quilts, you will not use batting in the middle of these quilts. Instead, you will use fabric as it is part of the fraying or ragging of the quilt.

It takes some getting used to sewing your pieces together because you sew your blocks together so the seams are outside the quilt. Once you have all your blocks sewn together, then the fun begins and you get to snip all your seams about ½” apart.

Throw your quilt into the washing machine, dry it, and let the magic happen! When you pull it out of the dryer you will see the seams have begun to fray and it officially a Rag Quilt!

With all these gorgeous types of quilts, your next quilt project is sure to be a hit. Whether you are making your first quilt or your 50th, I hope this list has given you some fresh ideas about what is possible with fabric and thread.

The fun thing about all these types of quilts is you can mix and match the different techniques and create something truly unique and one of a kind. Happy stitching!

About the author: Miriam Ronne is a lover of all things quilting and sewing. She is a self-taught quilter and is constantly learning and broadening her skill set to create one-of-a-kind quilts! When she’s not behind her sewing machine you can find her playing with her fur babies or trying her hand at other crafty things.