Pictorial Quilts Are Taking Over: Here's How to Make the Rows of Bows Block

Sarah Atkinson · 2026-09-12

Welcome back to Sewing the Trends! If you've spent any time in the quilting community lately, you've probably noticed something: pictorial quilts are everywhere. And honestly? It's easy to see why. These aren't your grandmother's traditional blocks (though we love those too). Pictorial quilts feature blocks that look like recognizable animals, objects, places, or things. Think whimsical pups in pajamas, charming bow designs, or a cozy house scene. They're playful, personal, and surprisingly approachable once you understand the basics. ### Why Pictorial Quilts Are Having a Moment Designers like Lori Holt, Corey Yoder, and Joanna Figueroa have been blending traditional and pictorial blocks in their recent books like Prairie Home, Sunroom Sampler, and Strawberry Garden. Then there's Elizabeth Hartman, whose entire library is packed with whimsical pictorial designs that quilters can't get enough of. What makes this trend so appealing? A few things: - **They tell a story.** Every block becomes a little picture, which makes the quilting process feel more personal. - **They work for all skill levels.** Some pictorial blocks are beginner-friendly, while others offer a satisfying challenge for advanced quilters. - **They're versatile.** You can go timeless and traditional or marvelously modern. There's genuinely a pictorial quilt for everyone. ### The Secret Weapon of Pictorial Blocks Here's something that might surprise you: many pictorial blocks rely on a simple trick called corner squares. These little squares, when placed strategically, create the illusion of shapes and details that make a block look like a picture. Take the Rows of Bows block by Kassidy Grace. It has three main units made from half square triangles, rectangles, squares, and corner squares. By adding a corner square to the top left and top right corners of the bow blocks, you create the illusion of a cute little knot. That's the magic of pictorial quilting—simple techniques that add up to something delightful. ### How to Assemble the Rows of Bows Block The Rows of Bows block breaks down into four manageable steps: 1. **Assemble the Bow Loop Unit** – This forms the top loop of your bow. 2. **Assemble the Left Bow Tail Unit** – One side of the ribbon tail. 3. **Assemble the Right Bow Tail Unit** – The mirror side of the ribbon tail. 4. **Assemble the Rows of Bows Block** – Put it all together for the finished look. Kassidy's pattern has you make all 12 of each unit before assembling your blocks. That might sound like a lot, but there's a reason for it. > "Use your design boards to test fabric placement before you commit to your final layout. This gives you a chance to play around with balance and repetition of fabric throughout both your blocks and your final quilt." If you're going scrappy like Kimberly did, make sure your Fabric L pieces are your favorite print. That's the focal point of your block, so you want it to shine. ### A Quick Tip for Fabric Placement Before you sew everything together, lay out your units on a design board. Move them around. See what feels balanced. This step is easy to skip, but it's the difference between a quilt you like and a quilt you love. ### Share Your Pictorial Quilts With Us If you're joining in and making your own Rows of Bows quilt, we'd love to see it! Share your pictorial quilts and blocks using #SewingTheTrendsFQS on Facebook and Instagram, and tag @fatquartershop so we don't miss it. Stay tuned for the next trend coming your way soon. Until then, happy quilting!