Quilted foundation paper pieced table runner with colorful fabric on a speckled white fabric on a dark marbled countertop.

Around the Kitchen Quilt Pattern: A Modern Quilt for Wall Hangings, Mini Quilts & Beginner-Friendly Foundation Paper Piecing

April 20, 2026

Finished Around the Kitchen wall hanging quilt showing three shelves of jars and books. Real plant in front of quilt.

If you’ve been searching for a modern quilt pattern that is equal parts creative, customizable, and beginner-friendly, the Around the Kitchen quilt pattern checks every box. Designed with flexibility in mind, this pattern allows you to create everything from a bold wall quilt to a charming mini quilt, all while learning or refining your foundation paper piecing (FPP) skills.

What started as a simple idea—shelves filled with everyday kitchen items—has grown into a pattern that encourages creativity, storytelling, and personal expression. Whether you’re brand new to foundation paper piecing for beginners or looking for an easy FPP pattern to explore new ideas, this design gives you the structure and freedom to do both.

Quilter holding the Around the Kitchen table runner quilt to show finished size and scale.

The Story Behind the Around the Kitchen Quilt

Every quilt has a story, and this one truly began as a collaborative effort.

The original concept came from the original owners of MT, who envisioned a series of shelves filled with jars. From there, the idea expanded to include books and plants—objects that feel familiar, personal, and full of character. To bring the concept to life through paper piecing, the design was further developed with Clem Buzick, a skilled quilter and paper piecing expert.

From early mockups to final construction, this pattern was thoughtfully built to balance visual interest with approachable piecing. Each contributor brought a different perspective, resulting in a pattern that feels both polished and playful.

The name Around the Kitchen came naturally. As the design evolved, the conversation kept circling back to one question:
What would you put on your own kitchen shelves?

That question is still at the heart of the pattern today.

Finished Around the Kitchen wall hanging quilt displayed on a wall with shelves of jars and books.

A Modern Quilt Pattern Designed for Versatility

One of the defining features of this pattern is its flexibility. While many quilt patterns guide you toward one finished layout, Around the Kitchen invites you to experiment.

Wall Quilt Size

The full quilt finishes at 21” x 30”, making it an ideal wall hanging quilt. It’s large enough to make a statement in your home—whether displayed in a kitchen, sewing room, or entryway—yet small enough to complete without feeling overwhelming.

Block-Based Design

Each block finishes at the same size, and this consistent sizing is what makes the pattern so adaptable.

You can:

Rearrange blocks to create new layouts
Repeat your favorite elements
Eliminate elements entirely
Combine blocks into smaller projects

Want a full shelf of books? You can do that.
Prefer a row of jars only? That works too.
Love the plant block? Turn it into a standalone mini quilt.

This modular approach is what gives the pattern its modern edge—and why no two quilts ever look the same.

Grab the Around the Kitchen Pattern here

Single quilt block from the Around the Kitchen pattern showing a potted plant in a jar.

A Beginner-Friendly Introduction to Foundation Paper Piecing

If you’ve been curious about foundation paper piecing for beginners, this pattern is an excellent place to start.

Why This Is an Easy FPP Pattern

Unlike more complex paper piecing designs, the Around the Kitchen blocks are:

Clearly structured
Repetitive enough to build confidence
Small in scale, making them manageable
Designed with logical construction steps

These qualities make it an ideal FPP easy pattern for quilters who want to learn without feeling overwhelmed.

Building Confidence as You Sew

Paper piecing can feel intimidating at first, but this pattern helps break it down into approachable steps. With each block, you’ll gain a better understanding of:

Fabric placement
Seam accuracy
How sections come together

By the time you’ve completed a few blocks, you’ll likely feel much more comfortable—and ready to experiment further.

More Than a Quilt: Table Runners, Mini Quilts & Creative Projects

While the wall quilt is a standout, the pattern also includes a second layout: a table runner measuring 13 ½” x 38 ½”.

Table Runner Version

This version features a single shelf filled with jars, plants, and books, making it perfect for:

Kitchen tables
Islands or countertops
Seasonal décor

It’s a great way to bring quilting into everyday spaces in a functional way.

Mini Quilts & Small Projects

One of the most exciting aspects of this pattern is how easily it translates into smaller projects.

Individual blocks can become:

Mini quilts
Wall hangings
Decorative accents
Gifts

For example, a single plant block can stand alone as a minimalist wall piece, while a set of jar blocks can be grouped into a small seasonal quilt.

Grab the Around the Kitchen Pattern here

Close up of foundation paper pieced jars, with grey and black fabric showing spooky house and butterflies in a second jar to the left.

Seasonal Inspiration: A Halloween Quilt Variation

One of the most popular adaptations of the Around the Kitchen pattern is the Halloween version—a fun and slightly spooky take on the original design.

Around the Kitchen Wall Hanging with all jars against a black background fabric and using whimsical fabrics for the halloween season.

A Fresh Take on the Same Blocks

Instead of mixing all elements, this version focuses entirely on jar blocks. The result is a cohesive, themed quilt that feels like a “mad scientist” shelf filled with curious finds.

Using Halloween fabrics, bold prints, and darker tones completely transforms the look of the quilt.

Close up of one of the jars with a felt black spider and hand embroidered legs against a red polka dot and white fabric. Spiderweb quilting in dark grey thread.

Adding Texture and Detail

This version also introduces additional techniques that elevate the design:

Embroidery details like spiders and decorative stitching
Appliqué elements such as mushrooms
Creative quilting, including spiderweb designs using straight-line stitching

One helpful tip: adding embroidery while the paper backing is still attached can provide extra stability and control.

Embroidered and felt two tone mushroom on center jar of the qall haning featuring Alice in Wonderland on the jar to the left and orange halloween print on jar to right.

This seasonal version is a perfect example of how one modern quilt pattern can evolve with your fabric choices and imagination.

Grab the Around the Kitchen Pattern here

Around the Kitchen Wall Hanging Close up of Books on Shelf

Community Creativity: The Around the Kitchen Contest

To celebrate the pattern, a community contest invited quilters to reinterpret the design—and the results were nothing short of inspiring.

From functional sewing projects to artistic wall hangings, participants pushed the boundaries of what a quilt pattern can be.

Functional Projects - Angelique's Submission

Some quilters turned blocks into everyday items, like aprons. One standout project featured a jar block as a pocket, combining practicality with creativity. It’s a perfect example of how quilting can extend beyond traditional quilts.

Artistic Wall Quilts - Jennifer Jacobson

Others used the pattern to create expressive wall quilts inspired by personal stories. From evening picnic scenes with twinkle lights to memory-driven designs, these quilts showcased the storytelling power of fabric.

Wall and ceiling hanging made of patchwork and birth stems, twin which allows for it to be supported overhead, and jars made of fabric including fairy lights to look like fireflies hanging from overhead.

Accessories and Bags - Megan Sogn

A garden tote featuring paper pieced blocks demonstrated how easily these designs can be incorporated into bags and accessories—bringing quilting into daily life.

Around the Kitchen plant box used on one of the front pockets of a cargo gardening tote.

Garment Sewing - Connie Biselx

One particularly creative approach involved incorporating blocks into clothing. By blending quilting with garment construction, the project highlighted a modern, boundary-pushing use of the pattern.

Around the Kitchen Plant block utilized on a crop shirt in navy, white, black and hot pink accents.

Maker of the cropped top with the plant foundation paper piecing block with her arms out stretched wearing the handmade garment in blues and white hues with hot pink accents throughout the fabric.

Whimsical and Imaginative Designs - Jean Back

Some entries took a playful approach, using novelty fabrics, bugs, and unexpected elements to create whimsical wall hangings. These projects emphasized that quilting doesn’t have to follow rules—it can simply be fun.

Around the Kitchen Table runner with hand emboirdery featuring a spilled jar with ants climbing over the table runner, a waiting spider at the top of center edge of the binding and 3d elelements like a fabriv mounted butterfly above a book and hand embroidery stemming off of the plant block.

Close up of the books portion including a silver hand embroidered lizards and a jar including a goldfish.

A jar is tipped over with a grain overflowing onto the shelf, which is leading embroidered ants to the grain and subsequently to the venus fly trap in the next jar.

Venus Fly trap and frogs are embroidered by hand over felt and a load of felt lady bugs on the bookshelf and crawling on the white background of the table runner.

Highlight of the table runner plant portion with hand embroidered stem and flower that extends over the framed 3 dimensional butterfly element on the table runner.

Jean Back, the maker, holding the highly customized and embroidered table runner that won the most creative prize during the Around the Kitchen Table contest.

Grab the Around the Kitchen Pattern here

Around the Kitchen Wall Hanging Full Photo of Wall hanging

Creative Techniques to Try with This Pattern

One of the reasons Around the Kitchen stands out is how well it lends itself to experimentation.

Using Selvages as Design Elements

Selvages can be incorporated into book blocks to mimic book spines, adding both color and meaning to your quilt.

Embroidery for Personalization

Add titles to books, labels to jars, or small decorative details to make your quilt uniquely yours.

Appliqué for Added Dimension

Layer shapes onto blocks to create additional visual interest without complicating the piecing process.

Quilting as a Design Feature

Straight-line quilting, matchstick quilting, or simple free-motion designs can enhance the overall look without overwhelming the quilt.

Grab the Around the Kitchen Pattern here

How to Choose Fabrics for a Modern Look

Fabric selection plays a huge role in how your Around the Kitchen quilt comes to life. Because this is such a modern quilt pattern, your fabric choices can dramatically shift the overall feel—from clean and minimal to bold and expressive.

Go Minimal for a Modern Wall Quilt

If you love a sleek, contemporary look, try:

A limited color palette (2–4 colors max)
High-contrast solids
Subtle low-volume prints

This approach works especially well for a wall hanging quilt, where you want the shapes and structure of the blocks to really stand out.

The following images are of Roxanne's entry into the contest.

All jar wall hanging, featuring 6 jars with varying heights of floral fabrics in each jar on a grey background, with a maple wood tone fabric for the shelves.

Add Personality with Prints

On the other hand, this pattern shines when you lean into novelty and personality:

Food-themed fabrics for a true kitchen vibe
Florals for a softer, decorative look
Seasonal prints (like Halloween or holiday fabrics)

Close up on the bottom left jar that uses abstract floral fabric with a deep teal main color and bold yellow, orange and light blue color print at 2/3 high fabric height in the jar.

Because each block is small, it’s a great opportunity to use scraps or showcase fabrics you love but don’t want to cut into smaller pieces.

Tell a Story with Your Fabric

One of the most meaningful ways to approach this quilt is by using fabrics that represent something personal:

Fabrics from past projects
Prints that reflect hobbies (gardening, baking, reading)
Colors that match your home décor

This is where the pattern really shines—it becomes more than a quilt and starts to feel like a snapshot of your life and interests.

The following images are from Clem Buzick's Submission to the contest.

Ant Farm custom quilt block framed in black with a yellow print that has ants and is emphasized with meander style quilting with a jar of hornet fabric on the right in teal.

Why This Pattern Is a Modern Quilter’s Favorite

At its core, Around the Kitchen is a pattern that grows with you.

It works equally well as:

A beginner-friendly introduction to foundation paper piecing
A creative outlet for experienced quilters
A base for experimenting with new techniques
A meaningful project that tells a story

Its clean lines, modular design, and adaptability make it a standout modern quilt pattern—one you can revisit again and again with completely different results.

Grab the Around the Kitchen Pattern here

Full size Around the Kitchen with an added feature of a Fish Motif at the top of the hanging, background is in a coral peach color with jars, books, a glass snow globe and ant farm on bottom shelf.

Custom Billy the Bass quilt block close up of a mounted fish on a woodgran fabric with Billy the Bass plaque below it. Book spines are made up of fabric selvages, next to the books is a snow globe featuring jungle fabric and gorilla in center of the snow glove and monsters in the far right jar.

Make Your Own Around the Kitchen Quilt

The beauty of this pattern lies in its open-ended nature. There’s no single “right” way to make it.

You can:

Keep it simple with a clean, modern layout
Add intricate details with embroidery and appliqué
Create seasonal variations
Turn blocks into functional items
Tell a story through your fabric choices

Whether you’re creating a wall hanging quilt, experimenting with a mini quilt, or diving into foundation paper piecing for beginners, this pattern gives you the tools—and the freedom—to explore.

Around the Kitchen Wall Hanging Full Quilt hanging on white wall.

Ready to Get Started?

If you’ve been looking for an easy FPP pattern that combines structure with creativity, Around the Kitchen is a perfect choice.

It’s approachable enough for beginners, engaging enough for experienced quilters, and flexible enough to become something entirely your own.

So as you start planning your quilt, think about the original question that inspired it all:

What would you put on your shelves?

Grab the Around the Kitchen Pattern here

Around the Kitchen Wall Hanging Side Angle, showing texture and dimension of quilting and contrast against the teal background fabric and the monochromatic fabrics for the plant, books and jars.

Professional Longarm Quilting and Binding Services

If finishing quilts isn’t your favorite part—or if you simply don’t have the time—I’d love to help.

I offer professional longarm quilting and binding services designed specifically for modern and traditional quilters alike.

What My Longarm Quilting Services Include

Edge-to-edge quilting with modern digital pantographs
I use contemporary designs that pair beautifully with both modern quilt patterns and traditional layouts. Whether you’re working on a flying geese quilt pattern, a scrappy quilt, or something more structured, I can help you choose the right design.
A growing pantograph library
From geometric to organic, there are plenty of options to match your quilt’s style.
Support for all quilt styles
Bold solids, soft neutrals, or full-on scrap-friendly quilt patterns—I’ve got you covered.
Optional binding services
Want your quilt completely finished and ready to use (or gift)? I can take care of the binding too.

Table runner at an angle to feature the quilting texture and the length of the table runner, against black countertop and using white background fabric with a mustard yellow binding.

Mail-In Longarm Quilting Made Simple

You don’t need to be local to work with me.

My mail-in longarm quilting and binding services are designed to be easy and accessible:

Ship your quilt top (and backing/batting if you have it)
Or purchase backing and batting materials directly through me
I’ll handle the rest—from quilting to finishing

If you’re unsure what quilting design to choose, I’m always happy to guide you.

Close-up of book bock showing off bright fabrics and one of the book blocks is leaning against the others, white speckled background fabric, charcoal shelf and yellow binding fabric for the table runner against a a black counter.