The Quilting Trend That's Taking Over: Pictorial Quilts & Rows of Bows Block

Robert Brown · 2026-09-12

## The Quilting Trend That's Taking Over: Pictorial Quilts & Rows of Bows Block Welcome back to Sewing the Trends! If you've been anywhere near the quilting community lately, you've probably noticed a delightful shift: pictorial quilts are everywhere. These aren't your grandma's traditional quilts (though we love those too). They're playful, modern, and tell a story with every stitch. From beginner-friendly to advanced, from timeless to marvelously modern, there's a pictorial quilt for every quilter. Stick around—we're diving into this trend and sharing a photo tutorial for the Rows of Bows block by Kassidy Grace. ### What Exactly Are Pictorial Quilts? A pictorial quilt is exactly what it sounds like: quilt blocks that form a picture of a recognizable animal, object, place, or thing. Think of a quilt that looks like a garden of flowers, a menagerie of animals, or a scene from your favorite storybook. Designers like Lori Holt, Corey Yoder, and Joanna Figueroa often mix traditional and pictorial blocks in the same quilt, as seen in their recent books *Prairie Home*, *Sunroom Sampler*, and *Strawberry Garden*. Then there's Elizabeth Hartman, whose whimsical pictorial designs have a cult following. Her *Pups in Pajamas* pattern is a perfect example—adorable dogs in pajamas? Yes, please. ### The Rows of Bows Block: A Pictorial Gem Kassidy Grace's Rows of Bows block is a fantastic introduction to pictorial quilting. It's made of three main units: half-square triangles, rectangles, squares, and—here's the secret—corner squares. Those little corner squares are the magic touch. By adding them to the top left and top right corners of the bow blocks, you create the illusion of a cute little knot. It's like a tiny bow tie for your quilt! Ready to make your own? Grab the Rows of Bows Quilt Pattern for complete fabric requirements, cutting directions, and detailed assembly instructions. Here's a quick overview of the steps: - **Step 1: Assemble the Bow Loop Unit** – This forms the loops of the bow. - **Step 2: Assemble the Left Bow Tail Unit** – The left tail comes together. - **Step 3: Assemble the Right Bow Tail Unit** – Mirror the left tail for symmetry. - **Step 4: Assemble the Rows of Bows Block** – Combine all units to complete the block. ### Fabric Placement Tip: Play Before You Commit Before you sew everything together, use your 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—they'll be the focal point of your block. Trust us, a little planning goes a long way. > "Pictorial quilts invite you to tell a story with fabric. Every block is a little scene, and every quilt is a masterpiece." — Kassidy Grace ### Share Your Pictorial Quilts With Us! If you're joining the fun and making your own Rows of Bows Quilt, we'd love to see it! Share your pictorial quilts and quilt 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! Stay connected to Fat Quarter Shop!