Quilt shown on the diagonal highlighting the texture of the quilting and the black accent fabric.

Crossed Paws Quilt Pattern: A Modern Fat Quarter Quilt Pattern

January 12, 2026

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I’m beyond excited to share the first quilt pattern of my 2026 collection, which is intentionally designed around using six fabrics or fewer across the entire series. This concept has been on my mind for a while, and I’m thrilled to finally see it come to life in fabric. Limiting the number of fabrics keeps the design approachable while still allowing for bold, modern impact—perfect for quilters who love a clean, cohesive aesthetic.

This approach is ideal if you’ve fallen head-over-heels for a specific fabric collection or color palette and want to let those fabrics shine without overwhelming the design. It’s also perfect if you love a coordinated look throughout your home.

For this pattern, I pulled together a fun, bright, modern palette that brings a smile to my face every single time I look at it. These quilts have already made appearances at guild meetings, and they never fail to spark conversation. Read on to learn more about Crossed Paws, a fat quarter quilt pattern designed for the intermediate quilter. With thoughtful construction, repeated blocks, and plenty of seam matching, it’s a rewarding project that looks far more complex than it actually is.

The Crossed Paws quilt pattern includes five different sizes, so whether you’re making a baby quilt, a throw, or a bed-sized quilt, you’ll have plenty of flexibility to tailor it to your needs.

👉 Grab the Crossed Paws Quilt Pattern Here

Bright patchwork quilt crinkled and laying on top of light wood flooring.

Inspiration Behind the Crossed Paws Quilt Pattern

I’d love to say I have a perfectly polished story about how this design came to be—but honestly, sometimes the best quilt patterns start with pen, paper, and a lot of doodling.

I began with a basic crossed-block idea that had been bouncing around in my brain for quite some time. From there, my goal was to expand on that concept while maintaining a clean, modern aesthetic that would work beautifully with solid fabrics. I’m especially drawn to modern quilt patterns that give the appearance of sashing and borders while actually incorporating those elements directly into the block design.

As I played with the layout, I started experimenting with half-square triangles around the block edges. I tested different orientations, flipped color placements, and tried several variations before landing on the final design. Eventually, the layout created the illusion of flying geese sashing throughout the quilt, which added just enough movement and visual interest without overpowering the simplicity of the design.

One of my favorite things about the Crossed Paws pattern is how it balances structure and playfulness. The repeated blocks give it a strong, graphic foundation, while the color placement keeps the quilt feeling lively and modern. It’s a pattern that rewards careful piecing but still feels approachable for quilters looking to stretch their skills.

Quilt laid on top of foot of bed and strewn over the edge of the bed, brown bedding and white pillows in background.

Who This Quilt Pattern Is For

The Crossed Paws quilt pattern is designed with the confident beginner to intermediate quilter in mind. If you’re comfortable with accurate cutting, consistent seam allowances, and matching seams, you’ll feel right at home with this pattern.

Because the design relies on repeated blocks and thoughtful color placement, it’s also a great pattern for:

Quilters looking to improve seam matching skills
Quilters who love working with a limited palette
Makers who enjoy modern, graphic designs
Anyone wanting a versatile fat quarter quilt pattern

The pattern instructions are clear and thorough, and once you’ve made a few blocks, the construction becomes very intuitive. It’s the kind of quilt that feels satisfying from start to finish.

Bright patchwork modern quilt laid on top of bed showcasing the bright fabrics and texture from longarm quilting.

Fabric Selection: PBS Fabrics Painter’s Palette Solids

One of my suppliers carries the full line of PBS Fabrics Painter’s Palette Solids, so I decided it was time to branch out and explore something new. If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I’m a die-hard Moda Bella Solids fan—so stepping into a different solid fabric line felt both exciting and a little terrifying, especially when ordering full bolts.

I’m happy to report that the risk was absolutely worth it. The weave is beautiful, the fabric has a soft drape, and it handles wonderfully on the longarm. It pressed cleanly, stitched beautifully, and held up well throughout the quilting process. If the color range were expanded even more, I might fully convert to using PBS solids full-time.

For the Crossed Paws quilt, I used the following colors from the Painter’s Palette line. You can find these in my shop, or you can grab a full Crossed Paws quilt kit to make the process even easier:

Black: Ebony
White: White
Yellow/Green: Lemon Ice
Blue: Artesian
Pink: Bubblegum
Orange: Carrot

This palette feels incredibly me. While I typically lean toward more saturated solids for Modern Textiles classics, it was refreshing to explore a slightly softer—but still bold—colorway for this collection. The result is playful, modern, and versatile enough to work in a variety of spaces.

Quilt shown on the diagonal highlighting the texture of the quilting and the black accent fabric.

Binding Choices for a Cohesive Quilt Collection

When designing this collection, I quilted all of the quilts first and saved binding for one marathon finishing session. I went back and forth between using a print or a solid binding—and whether to keep the same binding across the entire collection.

From the start, I knew a consistent binding was essential to visually tie the quilts together. Using the same binding across multiple quilts instantly makes the collection feel intentional and polished. After experimenting with a few options, black quickly emerged as the obvious choice.

Black binding acts as a strong frame for each quilt. In some designs, it makes a bold statement; in others, it quietly blends into the background fabric. Either way, it grounds the quilt and gives the entire collection a cohesive, finished look. Looking back, I have zero regrets—black binding was absolutely the right call.

👉 Grab the Crossed Paws Quilt Pattern Here

Full image of bright patchwork quilt hanging on white wall with side table in front holding a big geode.

Quilt Backing: Modern Wideback Fabrics

Did you know I now carry wideback fabrics in the shop? Once you start making 10–12 quilts at a time, widebacks quickly become a necessity—not to mention all the other quilts I work on throughout the year. Carrying widebacks in-house allows me to maintain a curated, modern selection while also streamlining my quilting workflow.

For this collection, I chose timeless black and white wideback fabrics that will never go out of style. The Crossed Paws quilt features the Black and White Pickledish wideback. It’s geometric, classic, and modern all at once—and you’ll definitely be seeing it again in future quilts from this collection.

If you’re using me for longarm quilting services, you no longer need to wait for backing fabric to arrive in the mail. Simply send your finished quilt top, and you can purchase batting and backing directly through me for a smooth, stress-free experience.

Bright patchwork quilted folded onto itself showing off the backing fabric, quilt laid on top of wood flooring.

Quilting Design: Longarm Quilting with a Modern Pantograph

My goal for quilting the Crossed Paws quilt was to add movement while keeping the finish clean, modern, and simple. Because the quilt top uses solid fabrics, I wanted the quilting to enhance the design without distracting from the piecing.

I chose the Rondelle pantograph, which I’ve used before on my Diamond Plate quilt with fantastic results. The circular movement adds softness and flow, helping balance the strong, straight lines of the pieced blocks.

Choosing quilting designs for solid-color quilts can be surprisingly challenging. When working on client quilts, I usually take into account the quilt top, backing fabric, thread choice, and overall quilt design. With solids and minimal backings, those visual cues are reduced, which can make decision-making feel a little more daunting.

And honestly—as a longarm quilter—I sometimes find it harder to choose pantographs for my own quilts than for client projects. It’s funny how a longarm quilting pantograph will instantly come to mind for a client quilt, but when it’s my own? Total decision paralysis.

👉 Grab the Crossed Paws Quilt Pattern Here

Various geodes on side table in front of bright patchwork quilt hanging on white wall.

Batting Choices: An Eco-Friendly Experiment

Let’s talk batting—because this one might surprise you. For this project, I used poly batting. I know, gasp!

Like many quilters, I’m mindful of costs. Quilting is a rewarding hobby, but it’s definitely not inexpensive. With everyday expenses on the rise, I’ve been exploring ways to keep hobby costs manageable without sacrificing quality.

I chose Quilter’s Dream Green Dream Poly, which is made from recycled plastic bottles and manufactured in the U.S. These quilts will be traveling for trunk shows and expos, so durability, weight, and ease of care were all important considerations.

I was genuinely impressed with how this batting quilted. It handled beautifully on the longarm, maintained consistent loft, and gave the quilts a clean, professional finish. Knowing it’s an environmentally friendly option was an added bonus.

If I were pairing a quilt with a 100% poly backing like minky, I’d absolutely use Green Dream again. It has a similar loft to my usual Quilter’s Dream 80/20 Select batting and offers excellent value, especially for quilts that will see a lot of use or travel.

Diagonal image of bright patchwork quilt highlighting longarm quilting texture using Rondelle design.

Longarm Quilting Services for Hire

If finishing quilts is your least favorite part—or if you simply don’t have the time—I’d love to help. I offer professional longarm quilting services for hire, specializing in modern quilts, edge-to-edge pantographs, and clean, polished finishes.

What I Offer

Edge-to-edge quilting with modern digital pantographs
A growing library of quilting pantograph designs
Quilting for modern and traditional quilts
Optional binding services for a complete finish

I also offer mail-in longarm quilting services, making it easy to work together no matter where you’re located. Whether your quilt is pieced and ready to go or you’re still deciding on a quilting design, I’m happy to help you choose the perfect longarm quilting option to complement your project.

👉 Learn More About My Longarm Quilting Services

Full image of bold and bright patchwork quilt hanging on white wall.