If you love quilts that tell a story through fabric and design, the Pottery Maker Quilt Pattern is a stunning project to add to your collection. Featuring beautifully shaped pottery blocks inspired by cultural artistry, this quilt blends geometric piecing with bold prints for a visually striking result.
Designed by Natalie Crabtree for the Kenya Fabric Collection, this quilt finishes at approximately 65” x 72”, making it a generous throw or a beautiful statement piece for a bedroom or living space. With its intermediate-level construction, this pattern is perfect for confident beginners ready to expand their skills or experienced quilters who enjoy detailed piecing techniques.
The Pottery Maker quilt stands out because of its carefully constructed vase shapes, clean sashing, and layered borders that frame the design beautifully. The result is a quilt that feels artistic, modern, and culturally rich.
Finished Quilt Size
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65” W x 72” H
Pottery Maker quilt, MMF
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Skill Level: Intermediate
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Designed by: Natalie Crabtree
Materials Overview
The original pattern uses fabrics from the Kenya Collection, but you can substitute any bold, high-contrast prints for a similar effect.
You will need:
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Multiple feature prints for pottery blocks
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Background fabric (approximately 3 yards in the original pattern)
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Coordinating sashing fabric
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Border fabric (three border rounds)
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Backing: approximately 4 ½ yards
Pottery Maker quilt, MMF
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Batting: 73” x 80”
Pottery Maker quilt, MMF
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Binding strips (2 ¼” wide)
Pottery Maker quilt, MMF
Quilt Construction Overview
1. Block A – Pottery Vase Base
Block A forms the tall vase shapes. These blocks are constructed using rectangles combined with stitch-and-flip (SNF) corner techniques to create angled pottery sides.
Each finished Block A measures:
10 ½” x 15 ½” unfinished
The diagonal stitch-and-flip method creates clean, precise angles without templates, giving the pottery its characteristic silhouette.
2. Block B – Pottery with Handles
Block B introduces decorative handles using strip piecing and stitch-and-flip techniques.
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Handles are constructed from strip sets
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Diagonal corners shape the top and bottom
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Final block size: 10 ½” x 15 ½” unfinished
These blocks add contrast and visual balance to the quilt layout.
3. Block C – Layered Pottery
Block C combines top and bottom pottery sections into one cohesive block. This block uses multiple small rectangles and stitch-and-flip corners to form decorative rims and bases.
Each Block C also measures:
10 ½” x 15 ½” unfinished
Quilt Layout & Assembly
The quilt is assembled in five vertical rows, alternating Blocks A, B, and C for a balanced design. Sashing strips separate each block vertically and horizontally, creating breathing room between the bold prints.
After assembling the center:
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Add Side and Top/Bottom Border 1
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Add Border 2
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Add the wide outer Border 3
Once complete, the quilt top measures approximately:
65 ½” x 72 ½” unfinished
Finishing the Quilt
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Layer backing (wrong side up), batting, and quilt top.
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Baste using your preferred method.
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Quilt as desired — straight-line quilting works beautifully with this geometric design.
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Bind using 2 ¼” strips. Pottery Maker quilt, MMF
Color & Fabric Ideas
While the original uses African-inspired prints, here are alternative ideas:
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Earthy Neutrals: Clay, rust, cream, and charcoal
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Modern Minimalist: Black pottery silhouettes on white background
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Boho Chic: Mustard, terracotta, teal, and soft ivory
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Southwest Inspired: Turquoise, sand, deep brown, and coral
Strong contrast between pottery shapes and background fabric is key to making the blocks stand out.
Why You’ll Love This Quilt
✔ Unique pottery-inspired block design
✔ Strong vertical layout for modern appeal
✔ Excellent project for practicing stitch-and-flip precision
✔ Large throw size perfect for gifting
The Pottery Maker Quilt Pattern combines artistic storytelling with structured quilting techniques. It’s a project that feels both creative and technically satisfying.
📌 Download the complete PDF pattern below and start sewing your Pottery Maker quilt today!
The Pottery Maker Quilt Pattern is a bold and artistic quilting project that celebrates culture, geometry, and craftsmanship. With carefully constructed pottery blocks and layered borders, this quilt becomes a striking focal point in any room.
If you enjoy quilts with personality and detailed piecing, this pattern is a rewarding project that will showcase your quilting skills beautifully.