Sheared Quilt Pattern: A Beginner-Friendly Fat Quarter Quilt Pattern with Bold Modern Style
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I'm beyond excited to share with you the third quilt pattern of the 2026 collection, which is focusing on using six fabrics or less in the entire series. Perfect for if you've fallen in love with a specific collection or color palette, or maybe you love having a cohesive look for your home? This collection is for you. I've used a fun, bright, modern palette pull, and it brings a smile to my face every time I look at photos or break these quilts out for guild meetings!
Read on to learn more about Sheared—a fat quarter-friendly pattern that is great for the beginner quilter. Included in the pattern are five different sizes, so you can make whatever size you need for your home, from throw to king!
👉 Grab the Sheared Quilt Pattern Here
The Design Journey: From Lightning Bolts to Sheared Lines
This quilt had a completely different look when I first started pulling together the block. The design process for modern quilt patterns often involves unexpected twists and turns.
At first, I was hoping to make some sort of block with a lightning bolt look—which you can still see the semblance of that element in the white and black piecing. Those elements are actually where I got the name "Sheared" from for the quilt pattern. The clean break of the solid white and black line looked like a sheared break of the design.
Along with a totally different starting point on the block design, up until maybe the last week of the design process, I had intended for the blocks to rotate, making a full turn every fourth block. It just didn't sit right, so I checked to see how the same placement of the block throughout the quilt looked—and it just clicked!
Why This Pattern Works for Beginners
The Sheared quilt pattern is ideal for quilters who are just getting started or who want a quick, satisfying project. The straightforward piecing techniques make it accessible, while the bold color choices give it a modern, sophisticated look. This fat quarter quilt pattern builds confidence while producing stunning results.
PBS Fabrics Painter's Palette Solids: A New Favorite
One of my suppliers has the full line of Painter's Palette Solids for sale, so I ventured into checking out the line. If you've been around long enough, you know I'm a die-hard Moda Bella Solids gal—so checking out a different line was fun but also a scary time, especially when ordering full bolts! Talk about a risky investment.
The Fabric Quality Experience
I am happy to say that the risk was worth the reward. The weave of the fabric is fantastic and has such a soft drape that immediately impressed me when I started working with it. The hand of the fabric is buttery smooth, and it presses beautifully—two qualities that are essential when working with modern quilt patterns that demand precision. I'd say if they had more color selection, I'd be a convert to using PBS full time!
For this collection, I used the following colors from the Painter's Palette line, which you can find in my shop, or you can snap up a full quilt kit here:
- Black: Ebony
- White: White
- Yellow/Green: Lemon Ice
- Blue: Artesian
- Pink: Bubblegum
- Orange: Carrot
A Color Palette That Feels Like Me
I honestly don't think there is a more "me" color palette out there. Typically for Modern Textiles classic solid quilt patterns, I go for a more saturated look—so it was fun to go with a little softer but still bold colorway! This palette strikes the perfect balance between playful and sophisticated.
Backing Fabric: Wideback Options Now Available
Did you know that I now carry wideback fabrics in the shop? When you start making 12 quilts at a time, you need loads of quilts backs! It just made sense to start carrying a modern, curated selection in-house.
Selecting the Perfect Backing
I decided for the collection to go with white and black backing fabrics that are timeless. For the Sheared quilt, I went with Brushstrokes in Black and White from Studio E. It's a playful, graffiti-style fabric that goes well with the bold quilt design.
Convenient Backing Options for Longarm Quilting Services
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 Design: Movement Meets Structure
For this quilt, I wanted to add a bit of movement while keeping a structural component for the quilting. I found this Swivel Circle 2 design from Karlee Porter, and I knew it was the perfect amount of structure and repetitive design but with the movement this quilt was yearning for.
I love the overall boost this design gave the Sheared quilt, and it is definitely a quilting design I'll be using over and over for years to come!
👉 Grab the Sheared Quilt Pattern Here
I'd love to see you put your own spin on the Sheared pattern—be sure to share your quilt on social media with the hashtags #ShearedQuilt and #mtsew so I can see your beautiful creations!
Batting Selection: A Sustainable Choice
Let's talk batting for a second. This may come as a shock, but I used poly batting for this project—gasp! But I too need to watch my pennies when quilting. It's not a cheap hobby, and with prices rising, I need to figure out how to make my hobby expenses smaller without sacrificing quality.
I used the Quilter's Dream Green Dream Poly batting. It's made up of recycled bottles and is manufactured in the US. I know that poly batting is not for everyone, but with these quilts traveling for trunk shows and expos, I thought it would be a great way to test out the material.
I must say, I am won over on the quality, and knowing that it's an environmentally friendly option made here in the US sealed the deal. I think if I were to be using a minky backing fabric (100% poly), I'd also use the Green Dream batting—it's cheaper, environmentally friendly, and has the same loft as my standard 80/20 Select batting.
Benefits for Modern Quilt Patterns
For modern quilt patterns like Sheared, where the focus is on crisp lines and bold graphics, a low-loft batting works beautifully. It provides dimension without puffing up the quilt too much, maintaining those clean, contemporary lines.
Professional 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 My Longarm Quilting Services Include
Edge-to-edge quilting with modern digital pantographs – I use contemporary designs like the Swivel Circle 2 that complement modern quilt patterns and traditional designs. Whether you're working with a fat quarter quilt pattern like Sheared or a more complex design, I can help you choose the perfect pantograph.
A growing library of quilting pantograph designs – From geometric patterns to organic flowing designs, you'll have plenty of options to match your quilt's style.
Quilting for modern and traditional quilts – Whether you're working with bold solids or scrappy traditional designs, I can provide the perfect quilting to enhance your work.
Optional binding services for a complete finish – If you want your quilt completely finished and ready to use or gift, I can handle the binding too.
Mail-In Longarm Quilting Services Made Easy
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 pantograph to complement your project.
My mail-in longarm quilting services make it easy to work together no matter where you're located. Simply ship your quilt top (and batting and backing if you have them, or purchase them from me), and I'll handle the rest.
👉 Learn More About My Longarm Quilting Services
Stay in the Loop with Modern Textiles
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When You Subscribe, You'll Get:
New modern quilt patterns – Be the first to know about fresh designs in the 2026 collection, including more fat quarter quilt patterns.
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Updates on new digital quilting pantographs – Discover new edge-to-edge quilting designs for your quilt tops.
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Free Charm Pack Quilt Pattern
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👉 Grab the Sheared Quilt Pattern Here
