Quilt Panel Patterns, Tips and Tricks

Pick a fabric panel for quilting and create your own special masterpiece in no time!  Quilt panels come in so many different themes from baby quilt panels, to holiday panels, to lovely nature panels.

These panels work just perfectly as the centerpiece of a quilt to create everything imaginable.  Think table runners, placemats, wall hangings, bed quilts and so much more.

To make a larger project with a quilt panel, simply add sashing and borders. Panels also often come with coordinating fabrics and coordinating precuts that make it so simple to just add a line of 5” blocks, pinwheels, or other simple small blocks to add to the panel to change the size.

Fabric panels make quick and easy projects.  It is also possible to find tutorials based on a specific panel to provide ideas to form a quilt with a panel.

What is a fabric panel?

A fabric panel is a large piece of material that serves as the centerpiece for a quilt or another sewing project.  A single image may be featured or even a series of pictures that can be cut apart can be the feature of a quilt panel’s design. 

When coordinating fabrics are added as sashing or borders, the panel can be made into a different shape or size.  These make wonderful wall hangings and baby quilts, but can also be made into other quilt projects.

What are the different types of fabric panels for quilting?

• Quilt Panels
• Soft Book Panels
• Apron Panels
• Christmas Stocking Panels
• Pillow Panels
• Placemat Panels
• Doll and Soft Toy Panels
• And more

After purchasing a panel, take a good look at it and let the imagination flow. It is important before using the panel to study the panel itself to find themes, motifs, and design inspiration.

I don’t think I’m an anomaly by any means when it comes to purchasing quilt panels  I find them so intriguing and feel compelled to purchase them. 

My creative juices start to flow, and I am sure I will  eventually find the most exciting and fun project to make with the panel.

For example, I found this adorable baby quilt panel and, even though there was no baby in my life nor soon to be one, I had to purchase it.  It was so very charming.

I however, didn’t find that using the panel was simple or easy, because I alone made it very complicated for myself.  This panel was a multi-frame design, and I wanted to create something so very unique.

I found myself cutting and rearranging and needing to add small pieces to fill in gaps.  Here is my first panel made into a baby quilt.  I feel it is definitely not my best work.

Photo by Wendy Heim 

But I learned so much from the work I did on this panel quilt. From now on I will be more willing to keep it simple.  Panels are in fact, made to simplify and help to make a project in a cinch!

By scrolling down this page, there are many fun projects to be found that can be made with fabric panels.

Check out the beautiful Attic Window style of using the panel. Most often, a natural scene is chosen, cut into window pane squares, and separated with fabric to make it appear as if the viewer is looking through a window at the beautiful nature scene.

There are several links to the Attic Window technique to use for panels below. Take a look at Attic Windows Quilt with Panel from Quilting Tutorials at Missouri Star for a wonderful and clear tutorial on an easy way to make an Attic Window block.

Panels to be made into cloth books are very popular but are sometimes confusing to put together.  Check out our ABC XYZ Cloth Panel Book tutorial with many quick tips and tricks for sewing this particular quilt panel by Stacy Lest Hsu.

Annette made this cloth book and has some great tips for you as she worked to figure out the best and simplest way to put the book pages and flaps together.

You are sure to find a panel idea that fits your personal interest and creativity level.  Check out the links below for wonderful tutorials, tips and tricks for using panels for quilting! When the time comes to add sashing or other finishing touches to your quilt, check out our page on quilt finishing techniques!