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How did you spent last Friday? Well, our quilting editors here at FaveQuilts spent the day in beautiful Wisconsin attending the 2016 Quilt Expo in Madison. It was a day filled with gorgeous quilts, vendors and stores from all over the Midwest, and too much cute fabric to handle! From tips for quilting beginners to the hottest trends in quilting, we joined hundreds of quilting enthusiasts from around the US to celebrate the artistry and dedication that goes into quilt making. While at the Expo, we couldn’t help but take note of some of the most popular trends that kept appearing everywhere, from printed fabrics to art quilts to new patterns. We’ve brought back the top 5 trends that we couldn’t get enough of in Madison to all of you, so that you can be sure to stay on top of the most popular trends for Fall/Winter 2016. Choose your favorite trend and get to quilting!
Plus, if you’re looking for patterns that never go out of style, be sure to check out our collection of 33 Star Quilt Patterns! They’re perfect for traditional quilters.
Trend Report: Wisconsin Quilt Expo
5. Christmas
December may still be months away but quilters in Madison could not get enough of everything Christmas. Trends this year strayed away from the typical Christmas colors of red and green (although there were still plenty of traditional Christmas quilts to go around). Several Christmas quilts focused on snowy whites and icy blues instead, with designs featuring snowflakes, snowmen, and reindeer instead of Santa and his elves. Several quilters channeled a rustic Rocky Mountain Christmas vibe and created quilts that were perfect for snuggling up in a dreamy mountain lodge.
4. Woodland Animals
Speaking of rustic vibes, quilts and fabrics featuring woodland animals could not have been more popular. The top three trending animals were reindeer (in preparation for the upcoming holiday season), owls, and foxes. We also saw plenty of other cute critters like squirrels and even a set of buttons featuring some adorable skunks! These animals were often paired with rustic and country fabrics and colors, like rich browns and burnt oranges, which looked stunning in preparation for fall.
3. Halloween
The only holiday more popular at the Expo than Christmas was, hands-down, Halloween. You couldn’t miss the bright oranges and inky blacks at almost every booth and our editors saw a ton of fabrics in fun Halloween prints. Other popular Halloween colors included acid green, bright purple, and ghostly whites, and traditional Halloween staples like black cats, ghosts, and candy corn were literally everywhere. If you’ve been itching for a new quilting project for fall, you can’t go wrong with a hauntingly fun Halloween quilt.
2. Wedding Quilts
While most people think that wedding season, and therefore wedding quilts, are at their most popular during the warm summer months, wedding quilts are one of the biggest trends for Fall 2016. Traditional wedding quilts in bold and beautiful bright colors were spotted all over Madison, specifically wedding ring quilts. If you know someone who has an upcoming fall or winter wedding, break out your favorite brights and get ready to make the best homemade gift ever! And as for this year’s number one quilting trend…
1. Cats
Yes, without a doubt, cats in every breed, color, and design imaginable were the biggest quilting trend our editors saw. You couldn’t turn around in Madison without seeing these adorable felines. Several of the cat patterns our editors saw included cute and trendy designs that were kid-friendly and modern, and many quilts included the color palette seen in the image above, soft blues and jewel tone purples. If you’re a cat lover, then we know you’re falling head over heels right now for the #1 trend in quilting for this fall!
Which of these trends is your favorite? Let us know below in the comments!
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We’re giving away a collection of 5 Bonus Quarters and a FREE pattern for a bedside caddy from our friends at Pineapple Fabrics! You can create a bedside caddy that’s perfect for holding all of 
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I love the Halloween trends of acid greens, purples, oranges, etc.
It is the Christmas trend that is my favorite. Especially when the quilts use non-traditional holiday colors, but still maintain the Christmas element. I have on my list to make a Christmas quilt is non-traditional colors to enjoy for this coming season!
Oh cats for sure would be my favorite as I have a quilting feline buddy and have been adopted by 2 felines. Followed by Christmas which is my most favorite holiday of the year. Thanks for the beautiful eye candy.
tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com
The number one trend ….the Cats. ALthough I am not a cat fanatic, my daughter is, so I would be drawn to a cat pattern/quilt for her.
I love the cat quilt! Adorable faces on the felines! The colors chosen were unusual, but worked so well. This is a quilt I’d like to duplicate for my cat loving friends!
I love the wedding quilt and it made me think about my nephews upcoming wedding. The colors and the patterns fabulous.
Love seeing the new trends. The Christmas designs are interesting, moving away from the more traditional. Love the cats
I am anew quilter and love the Halloween trends this year. The Fall colors and designs combine to make beautiful pieces of art. Thanks for sharing.
I loved the Halloween quilt. I went to the show on Friday. Love the variety of shops as well.
I love the wedding ring quilts. Would love love to make one someday
Thanks for helping to keep me quilting!
HI Friends Sew &Sew,,,,,, I have been quilting little projects of about 30 lap quilts many were for the QOV’s in SC. I now live in Bristol TN. joined Wold Hill Quilters already, fun group for sure.
I want to progress into large more higher skilled sewing.
Thanks for showing us the future !!!!!! R2
The wedding rings quilt is my favorite, I really like the color choices!
I have been looking for a cat idea for a gift for one of my daughters. Where and when can I get the pattern for this one? I love it.
So hard to decide but I think the cats are really cute especially the ones with glasses. It draws my eye right there. So my of my friends are cat lovers and are always posting pictures of them on Facebook so this also drewme to them.
I love the wedding quilts. The curves of the rings make me think of the circle of life. The cats are my second favorite- they make me laugh.
I lean more toward the Christmas quilts, but kitties are cute too.
I’m a beginner quilter and I love seeing all the great possibilities! The colors in the Christmas quilt really caught my attention. I also like the woodland creatures theme. So many quilts, not enough time!
OHHHH… the choices!! So hard to choose an absolute favorite. Animals of all sorts, then Christmas in non-traditional colors.
The cat quilt is so cute, I would love to make it or the Christmas quilt.
I love them all but I’m an animal lover so the woodland creatures and cats are tied for my favorite.
I love the woodland creatures trend. I live in suburbia but long to live in the mountains with big old growth forest and a wide variety of animal life. Working hard to make it a reality and these quilts make it feel closer!
Just plain LOVE QUILTING! Hate it when I’m asked to pick…..they are all a work of art!
Love the cat quilt.
I love the colors in the wedding ring quilt, but I admire the workwomanship of them all.I know, men quilt too.
All the quilts are amazing! My favorite is the Santa Claus because I love Christmas. Thanks for the chance to see them.
Love the cats but how about Moose and bulldogs? And Horses!
Just starting in my first quilt. Love the detail in the Halloween and the colors of the wedding quilt!
Love this expression of Art!
Christmas quilts would be my favorite theme. I just love making them. All these quilts were beautiful.
All good of course but Santa was the one I went back to
Hi, I was wondering the name and designer of the wedding ring quilt shown above and do you carry that pattern?
Hi Theresa,
The Wedding Quilt is from Nancy’s Notions, who had a booth at the Expo. It is not one of our free patterns, although you can order them from the Nancy’s Notions website from the links below:
http://www.nancysnotions.com/product/bali+wedding+star+quilt+top+kit.do
http://www.nancysnotions.com/product/bali+wedding+star+quilt+pattern.do
Hope this helps!
I love the detailed Christmas Quilt. So much Christmas Cheer! Amazing craftsmanship to be a proud of
I love Christmas and Halloween equally! Can’t just pick one when it comes to quilting!
I love the Halloween quilt. All of the colors of fall are my favorites! I am working on a Halloween table runner today.
Frosty Christmas quilts and snowflakes are my favorite colors. Ice blue and white.
And traditional wedding rings quilt will be my next challenge to tackle.
My favorite trend is Wedding. It’s such a promising, hopeful occasion.
I was at the Quilt Expo and so enjoyed myself. I loved all of the Christmas quilts, it is my favorite time of year. However, there were so many beautiful quilts and wonderful vendors, we were there for 6 hours! ♡♡♡
I especially like the quilt shown as a Wedding Ring quilt. Would lovery to know / have the pattern.
Hi Alice,
The pattern is from Nancy’s Notions, who had a booth at the Expo. It is not one of our free patterns, but if you’re interested in purchasing this specific quilt kit, we’ve included the link below:
http://www.nancysnotions.com/product/bali+wedding+star+quilt+pattern.do (For the Pattern)
http://www.nancysnotions.com/product/bali+wedding+star+quilt+top+kit.do (For the Full Quilt Kit)
Hope this helps!
I was there, too, and enjoyed all the holiday quilts.
Cats! Cats! Cats!
Always cats. All of the time.
I made a cat quilt too with a 15 degree wedge ruler.
Halloween is one of my favorites–love the colors!
Cats!!! We love cats, but our son-in-law is allergic to them so for now it will have to be cats of the quilted variety!!
Only have been quilting 5 yrs (I am 81)so most of these out of my ability range. I stick to more simple patterns. But, I do like the cat quilt as I am a cat person .
I love the cats – especially that each one is different!
Love the Christmas quilts, cats and woodland animals. Haven’t made any of those yet so I think Christmas us next on my list.
The Woodland Animals is my favorite. I live in Vermont and am already dreaming of snow. Winter is always best with a cozy quilt and a hot cup of cocoa.
Sorry to miss it this year. Colors across all the pictured quilts run to my favorite Blues & greens, too.
Not too keen on seasonal quilts simply because they only come in display once a year, so out of these I have to go with the wedding one, just love the colours.
The wedding ring quilt is absolutely beautiful! Love them all. A lot of work and time went into all of these. I would love to have the wedding ring! Can’t stop looking at it!
Guess I need to start making a cat quilt! What fun.
I love that cats are “in” right now. So fun!
I love the Halloween colors and the cats are my absolute favorite as I am a total cat person.
I love Nancy Zieman show of tips from sewists at this expo. Quilts make me feel closer to my ancestors. Beautiful work.
The Christmas Quilt is so soft, subtle and perfect! I like the Santa over the village at night. I’ve never lived in a snowy place so all things snow and Christmas really tap at my heart. I’ve never quilted in my life, but my grandmother kept it up all her life and she showed so much love for the craft. It makes me want to give it a go, because I’ve always wanted to try it. These quilts are lovely!
I like the Halloween Quilt.
I really can’t pick a favorite. They’re all amazing. Though I really do love Christmas
Hard to choose one but I’ll go with the Wedding Quilts.
I really like the Wedding and Halloween quilts. Thanks for the giveaway.
I love the cat quilt! I’m sure my cat would like it too, maybe a scaled down version.
I am new to quilting and I love all the quilts in the pictures but I think my favourite is the wedding circles.
I love the cat quilt. I know my cats would love it too.
I like the Xmas and Halloween quilts.
Love the wedding ring quilt
These quilts are beautiful and the facric for the bedside caddy looks great, too.
i love them all but really like the Halloween!!!
I love cats, but the wedding rings are so awesome and take me back to childhood listening to the elders talk about them. I would love to make one for myself…maybe someday.
Wonderful fabric and love that there is a free pattern. Thanks for the opportunity!
It is a toss up between the Christmas and Wedding Ring Quilts. They both have been favorites of mine all of my life.
Cats it’s butyful and so colorful
I like all of these, but like the Christmas quilt the most.
All these patterns are very nice. Hard to choose one but I would have to say the cat quilt is my favorite. It would blend right in with my seven kitties.
I love the Halloween quilts and the cat quilts. They’re both fun to make and give.
All are beautiful, but think the cats are terrific.
I’m a sucker for Wedding Ring quilts. Made one, might make another.
Love the Christmas quilt. Woodland Animals reminds me of our Canadian wildlife. Thanks so much for the opportunity to win such an awesome prize package.
I am new to quilting….. I want so much to be able to do this craft that our grandma’s did!!! They are so beautiful!!
It’s a toss up between the woodland animals and the cats!
Such beautiful quilts! I have sewn since childhood but not quilted much so looking forward to getting to know this world more! My favorite is the Christmas trend. Anything is possible, you just have to believe!
Being a newbie to quiliting (I’ve made.one for my grandson) the Christmas patterns interest me.the most as i would love to make one for my daughter-in-law.
Christmas is my favorite trend. Would love to win some new fabric and pattern.
I like holiday quilts.
I love that Halloween decor has become more popular!
Definitely Woodland Animals!
I love the woodland animals such detail. It was really hard to pick just beautiful
They all are like masterful works of art but when I saw the wedding ring quilt, it took my breathe away! Gorgeous! Thank you for the give away, it is so kind and generous!
I love those Christmas and Halloween quilts.
I love the Woodland Animals and the Cats most of all followed by the Wedding, Halloween, and Christmas Quilts.
I just love the wedding quit and also cat quit these are just wonderful ,God bless
4. Woodland Animals – they always make a room feel so homey with the peace of the forest.
Omg what great quilts…..love them all…..
I loved the wedding rings but I had to choose the Christmas Quilts they are gorgous
I love the cat quilt trends
I like the cat quilt even though I’ve never had a cat.
I love the animal trend, but the quilt that really caught my eye and imagination was the wedding quilt. It certainly outshines the double wedding ring quilt I made in the 70’s! Maybe it’s time to make another-like this one.
I’m new at quilting but love to cover up with them. So now I want to learn to make my own.
Christmas is my favorite holiday so I like all things that make it special.
The Woodland animals trend is my favorite as I live in north central MN with the natural beauty of forests, cabins and wildlife in abundance.
Today I stenciled MEOW on some fabric to make a housewarming gift for my niece. It has to be the cats (although I am just as fond of my nephew’s dog as my niece’s cats).
Woodland animals would be my second choice.
The Wedding Quilts trend is my favorite. I have a daughter getting married soon and I am looking for inspiration for her quilt.
My favorite trend is quilting for Halloween. I love the quilt shown here and I would use it for a wallhanging in October.
I love all the quilts shown! My favorite trend would be the Christmas quilts, followed closely by the cats, woodland animals and Halloween.
I like the woodland pattern, it would be great for a man’s remote caddy.
I would love to make a cat quilt. The wedding quilt is spectacular with artistic colors and design.
I love the cats quilt, even though I don’t have any cats!
Love the wedding quilt, especially since the design is not the usual round design.
The fabrics on these beautiful quilts are gorgeous! I hope to one day be able to make quilts as beautiful. I am a self taught quilter and still learning. Thank you for the inspiration.
At this point for my skill level, I might be able to make the cat quilt…my husband would enjoy it since we can’t have the real thing around due to my allergies! But the Wedding Quilt really took my eye! Beautiful!
Hands down, Christmas quilts are my favorite but would still love to tackle a Wedding Ring quilt. The fabrics used were fantastic.
Halloween is my favorite.
I love wedding quilts. A great way to cover a new family in love and surround them with prayer as you sew it
i AM READY TO BE IN FULL TIME CHRISTMAS MODE! LOVE THIS HOLIDAY AND ALL THE CREATIVE THINGS YOU CAN MAKE. I CAN’T SEW FAST ENOUGH.
The Wedding Ring is lovely, especially in batiks.
I can’t decide. Love them all!
woodland animals
Halloween is my favorite. When are dogs going to be a trend? 🙂
Love the wedding quilt! Knew I was collecting batiks for something special
I collect wedding ring quilts, so it’s easy for me to fall in love with that trend. It’s a traditional pattern but quilters are always doing amazing things with it.
While they are all beautiful, the wedding quilts are the most beautiful. Their beauty can be seen year round. So intricate and varied in color.
I like the wedding quilt pattern.
I love all the quilts shown. My favorite is the Cats. I love the attention to detail. Beautiful Work!
The Wedding Quilt!!!!!!!!
My pick is the cat quilt as I love my two cats I was able to keep. after I had to come live with my daughter. Meanes and SweetPea Love my cats so will make the cat quilt this winterr
My pick is the cat quilt as I love my two cats I was able to keep. after I had to come live with my daughter. Meanes and Sweet
The cat quilt is beautiful. I just love Christmas quilts so those are my favorite.
I love the woodland quilt
I love these quilts. I just made my first one for my niece’s baby to come. I had to learn how to use a sewing machine by myself, but I pulled it off. I was so proud. I couldn’t imagine creating some of these works of art. Maybe someday.
I want to make a cat quilt one of these days.
I love them all, but most of all the Halloween fabric and ideas. Just love making quilts. My poor family is smothered.
When I saw the Christmas quilt I said “Ah!” Then i saw the Halloween quilt and said, “Ooooh!” But THEN I saw the cat quilts and knew I just had to make one ASAP. Cats win, hands down.
I love the Halloween trends this year.
Our son will be married in May 2017, The wedding quilt is awesome and now I can’t wait to complete one for him and his beautiful bride.
That is so generous of you. Thank you!
I love the Christmas quilt the most, but the woodland animals is really nice too.
Well, cats, duh!
My vote is for number 2 the vibrant jeweled colored flow. This particular design can be made to reflect the wedding color palette.
They’re all beautiful, but I love Woodland Animals best! I love the colors in Wedding Quilts too.
i love the Halloween quilt best, because i love halloween 🙂
The Woodland animals and Christmas trends are beautiful, but that Wedding Rings quilt is gorgeous too!
I love the cat, and Diva my kitty agrees with me… Well she is telling me what to type!
The colors are great.
All the trending quilts shown are beautiful, but I love the Woodland Animals best. It reminds me of our trip to Alaska last year.
They are all so beautiful but my favorite is The woodland quilt. It is the one I love the most!!
I like and enjoy the Cat quilts the most of all of the fine choices available.
I like the Wedding Quilt trend because they can be used year round and fit in any decor.
I love the cats quilt it is so adorable
I love the wedding rings quilt!!!
I love the cat trend! So much fun!
I love all of the quilts that are shown. I especially like the Wedding Ring Quilt and the Halloween Quilt is very special. The cats are cute also.
For me it’s a toss up between Halloween and Christmas. I love both holidays so much.
Cats, Cats, and more Cats, I always knew someday I would be part of a trend!
Can’t go wrong with cats!
Christmas quilts is my favorite quilting trend.
I like the car trend. It is so cute!
The Christmas trend is my favorite. I love all of the colors and the Rocky Mountain vibe.
Just want to say I’m sad I didn’t see this until after the entry date.. 🙁 I like all of them, but I think I like the Christmas one the best, though I am partial to cats, and that one really peaks my interest as well.
This was a great show with beautiful colors and great designs. I enjoyed looking at the large variety of quilts, the various techniques used, and the colors that were combined in the large variety displayed.
Christmas is my favorite