One of the most fun parts of using Quiltster is taking a pattern you love and watching it come to life with your own fabric choices. But before the coloring begins, you’ll want to choose the right pattern to customize.
This post will walk you through how to find and select a pattern inside Quiltster so when you’re ready to design, you’re starting in the right place.
Good news! You don’t need a Quiltster subscription to browse the customizable pattern catalogue. You’ll only need to subscribe when you’re ready to start creating a project in the Quilt Planner.
My First Quiltster Project
This is step 1 of 5 in learning how to create a project in Quiltster. Follow along step-by-step and watch your dream quilt come to life before you ever cut your first piece of fabric.
- Choose a Pattern ← You are here
- Choose a Template
- Activate Your Pattern for Editing
- Add Fabric
- Save Project
Bonus Step: How to Share Your Project
Tip: Bookmark this page so you can come back as you work through your project.
Quick Start Steps
If you just want the short version, here it is:
- Find a pattern you want to try. Go to the Quilt Patterns page.
- Click the pattern image to open the pattern page.
- Click Create Project to begin your customization project.
For a detailed step-by-step guide, continue with the instructions below.
How to Find a Pattern to Customize
- Click Quilt Planner in the main menu.
- Choose Quilt Patterns.
This opens the full pattern catalogue.
Patterns are displayed in a catalogue-style grid of patterns. Each pattern appears as a card with:
- Pattern cover image
- Pattern details
- One or more action buttons
Depending on the pattern, you may see one or more of the following buttons:
- Add to Cart: adds the pattern directly to your shopping cart
- Create Project: opens the pattern in the Quilt Planner so you can design
- View Options: appears when there is more than one way to buy the pattern
***Click the pattern cover image to open the full pattern detail page***
How to Identify Customizable Patterns
Customizable patterns will display a Create Project button on the catalogue page.
You will also see the Create Project button on the pattern detail page after clicking on the pattern cover image to view more details about a pattern you are interested in.
How to Search for a Pattern
Use the sorting menu, filters or the search field to find a pattern to customize. Let’s review each of these tools.
- Sorting Menu
- Search Field
- Purchasable Toggle
- Filters
Sorting Menu
At the top of the page, use the sorting menu to rearrange patterns by:
- Alphabetical (A–Z)
- Price (low to high or high to low)
- And other helpful options
Search Field
On the left side of the page you will find a search field. Into the search field you can type::
- One word from the pattern title
- Or the full name, if you know it
Purchasable toggle
On the left side of the page, you will see the Products I Can Buy toggle.
OFF: Shows all customizable patterns (even if they aren’t sold in the Marketplace).
When it is toggled OFF the button is blue with white background.
ON: Shows only patterns you can purchase directly on Quiltster.com. Some patterns are customizable, some are not.
When it is toggled ON the button is white with a blue background.
Pro Tip:
If your goal is to design and experiment, leave this OFF.
If your goal is to design and shop right away, turn it ON.
Filters
Filters are located on the left-side of the pattern catalogue page
- Quilt Shops
- Designers
- Sizes
- Types
These tools work together, so you can quickly move from hundreds of patterns to just the ones that fit your vision.
What Does the Filter "Types" Mean?
When you use the Types filter on the left side of the Quilt Patterns page, you’ll see several options. These help you understand how a pattern works and what kind of customization experience to expect. Here’s a quick guide:
Quiltworx Strip Set Compatible
These patterns are designed to work especially well with Quiltworx Strip Sets, pre-coordinated fabric bundles that make cutting and piecing faster and more accurate.
Mixer Patterns
Mixer patterns are designed by Quiltworx and include:
- A blank layout
- A collection of pre-designed blocks
You get to mix and match blocks to create your own custom quilt layout. No two projects have to look the same!
Expansion Mixer Patterns
These begin as a wall-size quilt and include blank border areas. You can select from pre-designed block options to expand the quilt to Queen or King size while still keeping everything balanced and beautiful.
Downloadable
These are patterns you can purchase and download instantly for immediate use. No waiting for shipping.
Printed Patterns
These are physical paper patterns that will be shipped to you after purchase.
Quiltworx Technique of the Month
These patterns are part of Quiltworx’s Technique of the Month program. They are fully customizable in Quiltster, but can only be purchased from Quiltworx Certified Shops.
Discontinued
These patterns are no longer being printed by the manufacturer but you may already own one or still find it in a shop. Quiltster lets you digitally audition fabrics for these classics and bring them back to life.
How to Select a Pattern to Customize
If you want to go directly into the Quilt Planner, click the Create Project button on the catalogue page. This will immediately launch you into the Quilt Planner experience where you would select a template to use for your project.
If you want to learn more about the pattern first, click on the image of the pattern cover which takes you to the pattern detail page where you can learn more about the pattern before deciding to customize.
When you go to the pattern detail page, you will be able to take next steps there as well. Here is a quick rundown of the different action buttons you may see:
Add to Cart
This pattern is available to purchase on Quiltster.com. Click to add it to your shopping cart.
Pro Tip: If you want to customize first, do not click Add to Cart yet. Instead, click Create Project to begin planning your quilt.
Get Pattern from Designer
This pattern is not sold on Quiltster.com. Clicking it will take you to the designer’s website where you can purchase the pattern directly from them.
Create Project
This pattern is customizable in the Quilt Planner. Click to begin the Quilt Planning process. You do not have to buy the pattern to design but you do need to have an active subscription.
What's Next?
You’ve chosen your pattern and now it’s time to choose a template to use as a base for your project. Continue with the next step in the My First Quiltster Project series:
- Choose a Pattern
- Choose a Template ← Up next
- Activate Your Pattern for Editing
- Add Fabric
- Save Project
Bonus Step: How to Share Your Project