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Free motion quilting is a beautiful, flowing technique that allows us quilters to stitch experimental designs onto our quilts. Most quilters will have a quilt and their free motion quilting machine at the ready; all they’re searching for is the perfect pattern!
There are hundreds of free designs on the web, so to help you narrow down your search, we’ve collected 12 of the best free motion quilting patterns. From hearts to flowers, these patterns will introduce a new level of detail to your quilting projects.
Before you browse our free motion quilting patterns, make sure you take a look through our complete guide to free motion quilting. This covers all the basics and will help you quilt these patterns easily!
We also have a step by step how to do free motion quilting tutorial to teach you how to use your sewing machine to make these designs.
Learn how to do this gorgeous seam foam design with Quilted Joy’s free video tutorial. Free motion quilting often reminds us of the swirling sea, so this pattern is perfect!

Fave Quilts has loads of wonderful free motion quilting patterns on their website, including this teardrop design. Ideal for beginners and advanced quilters alike, this pattern will add a modern edge to the plainest quilts!

We All Sew has a beginner collection of free motion quilting patterns, which includes this cool interlocking square design. This geometric pattern is brilliant for modern makers wanting to create modern quilts.

Curls add a beautiful effect to any quilt. Laura from New Quilt has created a video tutorial showing you how to achieve these simple C curls. Follow along and create your own spiralling designs.

Get a Quilting Studio sells some really unique free motion quilting patterns, including this fun flower design. This flower pattern is great as it will upcycle any old or plain fabric you have in your stash, eliminating the need to buy new, expensive, patterned fabrics!

If you’re looking for a quilt-a-long then Sew Can She is the blog for you. They regularly hold quilt-alongs, which often incorporate free motion quilting. Here she shows you how to quilt this stunning sunburst pattern in a video tutorial.

Make these gorgeous free motion quilting patterns with the help of some rulers! Discover the best free motion quilting rulers.

The Sewing Directory is one of our go-to sites for free motion quilting patterns. They have a range of patterns for different skill levels.
Once you’ve mastered the basic loops, you’ll be able to achieve this sweet heart design! Head over to their blog for the tutorial, tips, and tricks.

For quilters working on a Christmas quilt, this is the free motion quilting pattern for you! Fave Quilts teaches you how to do several different jolly designs on their site, but this mistletoe design is our favourite.
Head over to our collection of Christmas quilt patterns if you’re looking for more festive inspiration.

We just had to include this clamshell free motion quilting pattern from Sew Can She. This would look incredible on a huge range of quilts, including our geometric quilted cushion project.

Alongside their festive designs, Fave Quilts also has some patterns that are made for Halloween! This elegant web free motion quilting pattern would look fantastic stitched into the corner of a spooky quilt.
We have a range of Halloween quilt patterns for you to browse if you can’t get enough of this design.

How lovely is this cloud free motion quilting pattern? Megan Collins has created a PDF template and a step by step video to show you how to stitch them.
You can also purchase her rainbow quilt pattern if you fancy quilting the whole project!

Finally, we’re finishing with another free motion quilting pattern from Sew Can She. We can’t help it, her designs are just so pretty! Head over to her blog and YouTube channel to learn how to stitch this lovely flower design.
Free motion quilting patterns can elevate a plain quilt into something truly special.
No matter what pattern you choose, adding this decorative element will make you (or a lucky friend) appreciate your finished piece even more.
Find your favourite free motion quilting pattern and fall even more in love with the beautiful world of quilting.
If you’ve enjoyed these free motion quilting patterns, then we know you’ll love our Jelly Roll quilt patterns.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a beginner or a pro; there’s a project for you in our collection.

Phoebe has worked for Gathered for over four years and has experience within the digital marketing and publishing sphere for over eight. Specialising in Pinterest, Phoebe’s main focus is social media and content writing for Gathered with the aim to build our community of crafters! You may recognise some of her social campaigns which include the popular 12 days of Christmas. As well as writing for Gathered, Phoebe is a freelance copywriter and content producer with work both in print and online. Her work spans the tech, homes, DIY and small business advice. Aside from content writing, Phoebe’s main passions are travelling and crafting (diamond painting, paint by numbers and embroidery are her favourites). She’s backpacked across South East Asia and recently hit her goal of 30 countries under 30 years old!
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