If you have spent any real time in quilting groups, you already know the name, Lindsey Neill. Her brand, Pen + Paper Patterns, has built a devoted following among quilters who want block-based designs that feel fresh, whimsical, and genuinely fun to sew. We have pulled together five of her most talked-about pen and paper quilt patterns here, the ones quilters keep coming back to season after season.
Things You’ll Need
- Acrylic quilting rulers for precise shapes
- Rotary cutter with a self-healing cutting mat
- Sewing machine with quilting foot attachment
- Soft batting for a cozy finished feel
- High-quality cotton fabric bundles
Pen and Paper Quilt Patterns to Try
1. Pen and Paper Sparrows Quilt Pattern
Bird lovers gravitate toward this one almost instantly, and if sparrows alone do not scratch that itch, our roundup of bird quilt patterns too pretty to pass up is worth a look too. Sparrows is a traditionally pieced, block-based design finishing at roughly 65 1/2 inches by 71 inches, and it was built with the advanced beginner sewist in mind, so you do not need years of piecing experience to tackle it.
What we appreciate most about Sparrows is how forgiving it is for a scrappy build. The pattern includes instructions for a scrappy version using fat quarters, meaning your leftover bin finally has a purpose, especially if you have been saving pieces for one of our best crumb quilting patterns to reduce fabric waste. Quilters who have made it often mention taking their time with accuracy on the smaller flying bird units, since those pieced sections are where the character of the quilt really comes through, and a sharp pair of Gingher dressmaker shears makes those tiny cuts far less fiddly.
If you want a project that looks intricate on a finished bed or couch but sews up in approachable steps, this is where to start, and marking your seam guides ahead of time with tailor’s chalk will save you some frustration on the smaller units.
2. Fresh as a Daisy Pen and Paper Pattern
Fresh as a Daisy is one of those patterns that feels cheerful the moment you look at it, and if floral designs are already your thing, you will probably also love our list of French Roses quilt patterns. It comes with instructions for two distinct looks, a modern version and a scrappy version, and both are available in either a 48-inch baby size or a 59 1/2 by 63 1/2 inch throw.
Because the scrappy option is fat quarter and jelly roll friendly, this pattern earns a spot in most stash-busting rotations, right alongside our favorite easy crumb quilt patterns every quilter should try. Quilters rated as intermediate skill level should feel comfortable here, and the included single block instructions make it easy to turn one daisy motif into a pillow or mini quilt if a full-sized project feels like too much right now. We like recommending this one to quilters who want a floral quilt that still reads modern rather than country cottage.
Once you have made one, do not be surprised if you end up making a second in a completely different palette, and any extra scraps left over are perfect for stitching up one of our quilt sunglasses case free patterns you’ll want to sew today.
Can’t wait to get started? Here’s how to do it right now!
3. Everbloom Quilt Pattern
Everbloom leans a little more advanced, and it shows in the best way, in the same spirit as our collection of free Bargello quilt patterns. This traditionally pieced pattern is recommended for intermediate sewists and up, with instructions for a crib size around 47 1/2 by 52 1/2 inches and a large throw at 69 1/2 by 79 inches, with each block finishing at 12 by 21 1/2 inches.
The floral block work here is genuinely satisfying once you get into a rhythm, and the 12-page pattern is packed with colorful illustrations plus labeled fabric cut tags so you never lose track of which piece goes where. Quilters who enjoy piecing curves and slightly more complex block construction tend to name Everbloom as one of their favorite makes, since the payoff quilt looks like something out of a garden catalog, and pressing every seam flat with a mini steam iron right at your cutting table keeps those points crisp as you go.
Give yourself a weekend or two with this one and let the blocks build slowly, and if you end up with fabric left to spare, it works nicely repurposed into one of our free quilted laptop sleeve patterns with step-by-step tutorials.
Want this one? You can buy it here!
4. Knot Quilt Pattern by Pen and Paper
Also known as Top Knot, this pattern is proof that a simple bow motif can carry an entire quilt, and it sits nicely alongside our DIY heart quilting patterns if you love a sweet, gift-ready design. It is traditionally pieced and recommended for confident beginners and up, with two throw-size options both finishing at 53 1/2 by 65 1/2 inches.
The design actually comes with two block layouts built right in. Option A features three different bow sizes for a playful, varied look, while Option B keeps things more uniform and a bit more beginner-friendly in the cutting and assembly steps. Quilters have noted that Top Knot works beautifully in holiday fabric lines just as well as everyday prints, so it tends to get sewn more than once by the same maker, the same way quilters rotate through our festive fall sewing ideas for quilters and crafters every year.
Whichever option you pick, this 14-page pattern gives you clear diagrams and organized cutting labels the whole way through, and if you want a smaller bow-themed project first, our easy quilted book sleeve sewing patterns make a great warm-up. A spool of reliable Gutermann cotton thread goes a long way toward keeping those bow points looking sharp.
Here’s where you can buy it!
5. Up North Quilt by Pen + Paper Patterns
Up North is the pattern for anyone who feels most at home surrounded by pine trees and a vintage camper, and its beginner-friendly build puts it right in the same category as our free Quilt in a Day patterns. It finishes at 59 1/2 by 68 3/4 inches, uses standard piecing and appliqué, so newer quilters can dive in without hesitation.
What sets this one apart is how much personality it packs into a fairly simple construction, and if that little bit of appliqué work sparked your interest, our appliqué quilt patterns full of color and creativity have plenty more to explore. The camper block sits nestled among a little forest of pieced trees, and Lindsey even shares a tutorial for turning those trees snow-capped for a winter version. Quilters making this one for cabins, camper interiors, or gifts for the outdoor lover in their life tend to say the finished quilt gets used constantly, not just displayed, especially once it is bound with a coordinating strip made using a bias tape maker kit.
It is proof that a beginner-level pattern can still feel like a genuine statement piece, and any fabric scraps leftover from the trees are perfect for whipping up a set of our quilt fabric scrap placemats with free tutorials for the camper table.
You can buy it here!
Which One Should You Make First
Honestly, it depends on what kind of quilting mood you are in. Reach for Sparrows or Up North if you want something approachable and full of character; choose Fresh as a Daisy or Top Knot if you are after a cheerful, versatile design that works for gifts, and save Everbloom for a weekend when you want to really sink your teeth into more advanced piecing. Whichever you pick, each pattern comes from a designer who clearly still loves this craft, and it shows in every diagram and every finished quilt.
Once you’re ready to show off the finished piece, draping it over an adjustable dress form makes for a much nicer photo than laying it flat on the floor, and any leftover fabric from these five patterns tends to find a second life in projects like our quilted handbag patterns for big totes and free sewing.
