Checkered Paws Quilt Pattern: Fat Quarter Friendly Modern Quilt Pattern for Beginners
This blog post may contain affiliate links, I will get a small kickback from the seller for recommending it here – but this is at no extra cost to you.
I'm thrilled to introduce the second quilt pattern in my 2026 collection, a series designed around using 6 fabrics or fewer throughout. This approach is ideal if you've discovered a fabric collection you absolutely adore or want to create a unified aesthetic throughout your space. Working with a limited palette allows each fabric to truly shine while creating a cohesive, intentional look that ties your handmade pieces together beautifully.
I pulled together a vibrant, contemporary color palette for this series, and these quilts never fail to make me smile when I see them in photos or bring them along to guild meetings! There's something special about watching a collection come together with such harmony—each quilt stands beautifully on its own while clearly belonging to the same family.
Keep reading to discover more about Checkered Paws—a fat quarter quilt pattern that's perfect for beginner quilters looking to build their skills while creating something stunning. This modern quilt pattern is designed to be approachable without sacrificing visual impact. Whether you're just starting your quilting journey or you're an experienced quilter looking for a quick, satisfying project, Checkered Paws delivers on all fronts.
This pattern includes 5 different size options, giving you the flexibility to create exactly what your home needs! From a cozy baby quilt to a generous bed-size quilt, you'll find the perfect dimensions for your project. The versatility of multiple sizes means you can make one quilt and fall in love with the design, then scale it up or down for different spaces in your home or as gifts for loved ones.
Grab the Checkered Paws Quilt Pattern Here
Why Fat Quarter Friendly Matters
Let's talk about why this being a fat quarter quilt pattern is such a big deal! Fat quarters have become a staple in every quilter's stash, and for good reason. These versatile cuts (measuring approximately 18" x 22") give you more usable fabric than a traditional quarter-yard cut, and they're perfect for building a coordinated collection without investing in full yardage of every fabric.
When I design quilt patterns, I'm always thinking about how quilters shop and work. We fall in love with fabric collections, we grab fat quarter bundles at quilt shows, and we accumulate these beautiful cuts faster than we can use them. A fat quarter quilt pattern like Checkered Paws lets you actually use those treasured fabrics without the math headaches of trying to adapt a pattern that wasn't designed for these cuts.
The beauty of fat quarter friendly modern quilt patterns is the flexibility they offer. You can purchase a curated fat quarter bundle and know you have everything you need for a cohesive, beautiful quilt. Or you can shop your stash, pulling fat quarters you've been saving and finally giving them their moment to shine.
For this 2026 collection, keeping everything to 6 fabrics or less made the fat quarter approach even more practical. You’ll just need to stick to color ways and can use all of the prints to still give amazing visual impact. You have a focused palette that creates impact through intentional color placement and that high-contrast background choice I mentioned earlier.
Grab the Checkered Paws Quilt Pattern Here
Inspiration
This quilt's inspiration was drawn from the standard bear paw block—a beloved traditional design that's been a quilting staple for generations. I took that classic foundation and reimagined it by adding sashing and cornerstones, creating a fresh take on a timeless favorite. There's something deeply satisfying about honoring quilting traditions while putting your own modern spin on them.
This design started with that classic quilt block and evolved through playing with additional elements, all while maintaining a clean and simple aesthetic that allows any type of fabric to truly shine. Whether you choose bold modern prints, soft pastels, rich jewel tones, or classic reproductions, the Checkered Paws pattern provides the perfect framework to showcase your fabric selections.
The secret to this quilt's visual impact lies in using two high contrast background fabrics. This design choice creates depth and movement, making the paw blocks appear to float and dance across the quilt surface. It's amazing how such a simple technique can transform the entire look of a quilt! The interplay between light and dark backgrounds adds dimension that a single background just can't achieve.
I'm looking forward to trying this out with so many different colorways. The pattern is incredibly versatile—I can already envision it in a sophisticated palette of grays and navy, a cheerful scrappy version using all my favorite brights, or even a more subdued, minimalist approach with natural linen tones. I currently have some new Carolyn Friedlander fabric sitting in my stash, just waiting to be made into another version! Her thoughtful prints and subtle textures would be absolutely stunning in this design.
PBS Fabrics Painter's Palette Solids
When one of my suppliers added the complete Painter's Palette Solids line to their inventory, I decided it was time to explore beyond my usual go-to. Long-time followers know I'm devoted to Moda Bella Solids, so branching out felt both exciting and nerve-wracking—particularly when committing to full bolts! What an investment leap that was. I'm thrilled to report the gamble paid off beautifully. The fabric quality is exceptional with the most wonderful soft drape. Honestly, if their color range expanded, I might just make the permanent switch to PBS!
For this collection I used the following colors from the Palettes line, which you can find in my shop or you can snap up a full quilt kit for the Checkered Paws quilt here.
Black: Ebony
White: White
Yellow/Green: Lemon Ice
Blue: Artesian
Pink: Bubblegum
Orange: Carrot
I honestly don't think there is a more me color palette out there. Typically for Modern Textiles classic solids I go for a more saturated look - so it was fun to go with a little softer but still bold colorway!
Grab the Checkered Paws Quilt Pattern Here
Binding
Once I had all these modern quilt patterns quilted and finished, I faced a marathon binding session along with some big decisions. Should I use a print or solid binding? Should the entire collection feature matching binding? Right away, I knew consistency across the series was essential to create visual cohesion. After that, black emerged as the obvious choice to frame each quilt. In some pieces the black makes a bold statement while in others it quietly blends with the fabric, but reviewing the finished collection confirms I made exactly the right call!
Grab the Checkered Paws Quilt Pattern Here
Backing
Have you heard that I now stock wideback fabrics in my shop? When you're producing 12 quilts simultaneously, you quickly realize you need an abundance of wide backs—and when you factor in all my other quilting projects throughout the year, bringing in a curated modern selection just made sense. I chose timeless white and black backing fabrics for this collection. For the Checkered Paws quilt I went with Brushstrokes in Black and White from Studio E. It's a playful, graffiti style fabric that complements the bold quilt design perfectly.
If you're using me for longarm quilting services, you no longer need to worry about waiting for your backing fabric to show up in the mail! Just send your finished quilt top and you can buy batting and backing fabric from me :)
Quilting
For this quilt I wanted to add a bit of movement to the bold and high impact fabric pull. The piecing creates such strong geometric lines that I knew the longarm quilting needed to provide contrast rather than echo those angles. I decided on Modern Curves by Anita Shackelford, which will forever be a favorite quilting pantograph of mine. This design has proven itself time and again across countless quilts on my longarm quilting machine.
The abstract look of the lines in a wavy formation really brings a fun element and a lot of movement to the quilt top. These flowing curves create the perfect counterbalance to the sharp corners and straight lines of the paw blocks and sashing. The quilting design adds a layer of visual texture that makes the whole quilt feel more dynamic and alive.
I stuck with a white thread to keep the focus on the fabrics and quilt top design rather than letting the quilting compete for attention. Sometimes the quilting should be the star of the show, but in this case, I wanted those gorgeous bright solids to take center stage. The white thread blends beautifully with the lighter background fabric while creating just enough definition on the darker fabrics to showcase the quilting without overpowering the overall design.
Choosing the right quilting design is one of my favorite parts of the longarm quilting process. It's where you get to add that final layer of artistry and personality to a quilt. If you're working with a longarm quilter or planning to use mail in longarm quilting services, I always recommend having a conversation about the mood and feel you want your finished quilt to have. Edge to edge pantographs like this Modern Curves design are efficient and beautiful, creating consistent, professional results across the entire quilt surface.
Grab the Checkered Paws Quilt Pattern Here
I'd love to see you put your own spin on the Checkered Paws Pattern here – be sure to share your quilt on social media with the #CheckeredPawsQuilt and #mtsew
Batting
Here's something that might surprise you: I chose poly batting for this project—I know, I know! But let's be real, quilting requires careful budgeting, and with everyday costs climbing, finding ways to reduce hobby expenses matters. I used Quilter's Dream Green Dream Poly, which is manufactured from recycled bottles right here in the US. While poly batting isn't everyone's preference, these quilts will be traveling to trunk shows and expos, making this the perfect opportunity to test the material and evaluate its performance. The results won me over completely—the quality is outstanding, and knowing it's an eco-conscious domestic option sealed the deal. I'm thinking if I ever work with minky backing fabric (100% poly), this Green Dream batting would be my choice—it's budget-friendly, environmentally responsible, and delivers the same loft as my usual 80/20 select batting from Quilters Dream.
Longarm Quilting Services for Hire
If finishing quilts feels like a chore—or your schedule simply won't allow the time—I'm here to help. I provide professional longarm quilting services specializing in modern quilts, edge to edge pantographs, and beautifully polished finishes. My mail in longarm quilting services make it easy to get your quilts professionally finished without the hassle of trying to wrangle a large quilt through your home sewing machine.
Many quilters absolutely love the piecing process but find the quilting and finishing stages overwhelming or simply don't have the equipment to tackle larger projects. That's exactly where longarm quilting services come in. You get to enjoy the creative, fun part of choosing fabrics and piecing your quilt top, then hand it off to someone with professional equipment and expertise to bring it across the finish line.
My longarm quilting machine allows me to quilt everything from baby quilts to king-sized masterpieces with consistent, beautiful results. The throat space on a longarm machine is significantly larger than a domestic machine, which means I can create smooth, flowing designs at any scale you desire.
What I Offer
Edge to edge quilting with modern digital pantographs A growing library of quilting pantograph designs to suit any style longarm quilting for modern and traditional quilts of all sizes optional binding services for a complete finish backing and batting available for purchase to simplify your process
Whether your quilt top is pieced and ready or you're still deciding on a quilting design, I'm happy to help you choose the perfect longarm quilting pantograph to complement your project. Every quilt has its own personality, and finding the right quilting design is about enhancing what you've already created. I work with you to understand your vision and recommend designs that will make your quilt truly shine.
The convenience of mail in longarm quilting services means you can work with a professional quilter regardless of where you live. Simply package up your quilt top, and I'll handle the rest. You'll receive your beautifully quilted (and bound, if you choose) quilt ready to use, gift, or display. It's quilting services designed around your needs and your timeline.
Learn More About My Longarm Quilting Services
Stay in the Loop with Modern Textiles
Ready to stay connected with everything happening at Modern Textiles? Join my weekly newsletter where I share behind-the-scenes updates, quilting inspiration, and valuable resources for quilters at every level. Whether you're just starting out with your first fat quarter quilt pattern or you're a seasoned quilter looking for fresh modern quilt patterns, you'll find something useful in every issue.
My newsletter is more than just announcements—it's a community of quilters who love modern design, appreciate quality craftsmanship, and enjoy the creative process. I share the wins and the challenges, the experiments that worked beautifully and the ones that taught me valuable lessons. It's a real, authentic look at running a quilting business and creating quilt patterns for a living.
When You Subscribe, You'll Get:
New quilt patterns and modern quilt patterns released first, often with subscriber-exclusive discounts Helpful quilting tips and longarm quilting advice gleaned from years of experience A peek at what's fresh off the longarm quilting machine, including sneak peeks of upcoming designs Updates on new digital quilting pantographs added to my library News and updates from my quilting business.
As a welcome gift, you'll receive a free charm pack quilt pattern delivered straight to your inbox the moment you sign up. This exclusive pattern is perfect for using up those charm packs in your stash or trying out a new fabric collection without a huge commitment. It's my way of saying thank you for joining this creative community.
Subscribers are always the first to know about new releases, special sales, and limited-edition fabric offerings. You'll never miss an opportunity to grab that perfect fabric or pattern, and you'll have first dibs on openings in my longarm quilting services schedule during busy seasons.
