The Quilting Trend Everyone's Talking About (And How to Make It)

Sarah Williams · 2026-09-12

Welcome back to Sewing the Trends! Remember when quilts were just squares and triangles? Well, the game has changed. Pictorial quilts are taking over, and honestly, it's about time. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, there's a pictorial quilt out there with your name on it. Stick around, because we're diving into this trend and walking through a photo tutorial for the Rows of Bows block by Kassidy Grace. ### What Exactly Are Pictorial Quilts? You know those quilts that look like a picture of an animal, an object, or a place? That's a pictorial quilt. Instead of abstract shapes, you're sewing a recognizable image. Designers like Lori Holt, Corey Yoder, and Joanna Figueroa mix traditional blocks with pictorial ones in their books like Prairie Home, Sunroom Sampler, and Strawberry Garden. And then there's Elizabeth Hartman, who's built an entire library of whimsical pictorial designs that make you smile every time you see them. ### Why Pictorial Quilts Are Having a Moment They're personal. They tell a story. And they're surprisingly doable once you break them down. The secret? Corner squares. Those little squares sewn onto corners can turn a simple shape into a recognizable image. It's like magic, but with fabric. ### How to Make the Rows of Bows Block The Rows of Bows block by Kassidy Grace is a perfect example. It's made of half-square triangles, rectangles, squares, and corner squares. In step one, you'll see how adding a corner square to the top left and top right of the bow blocks creates the illusion of a cute little knot. Here's a quick rundown: - Step 1: Assemble the Bow Loop Unit - Step 2: Assemble the Left Bow Tail Unit - Step 3: Assemble the Right Bow Tail Unit - Step 4: Assemble the Rows of Bows Block Grab the Rows of Bows Quilt Pattern for all the fabric requirements, cutting directions, and detailed assembly instructions. ### A Tip for Fabric Placement Before you commit to your final layout, use design boards to test fabric placement. Kassidy's pattern has you make all 12 of each unit before assembling your blocks, which gives you a chance to play with balance and repetition. If you're going scrappy like Kimberly did, make sure your Fabric L pieces are your favorite print because that'll be the focal point of your block. > "Pictorial quilts are like painting with fabric—each piece adds a brushstroke to the story you're telling." ### Share Your Pictorial Quilts With Us! If you're 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. Happy Quilting!