After months of keeping this pattern close to my heart, I’m thrilled to finally share Drift—my newest quilt pattern. That’s right! It’s the Drift quilt pattern release day—scratch that, week. I have lots of fun things planned. The main thing? I am intertwining it with QuiltCon!
The Drift Quilt Pattern
For years, I have been intimidated by curves. I have made blocks that use them here and there, but I was lost when I tried to write a pattern incorporating the technique. This was especially true for an orange peel quilt I attempted to design many years ago. Since I am having a booth at QuiltCon, I decided to Just Do The Thing and not overthink it. It’s been so much fun making this pattern as simple as possible! When I sent the file to my pattern testers, I held my breath with worry—but I was so happy when I received their feedback.
This pattern was way easier and faster than I anticipated – what a great surprise!!!
– Debbie
The new Drift Pattern… it is a great pattern and those curves were not scary… I am not that good on curves and these were my 5th attempt ever!!! As I always steer clear of them .. but I may not keep avoiding them now.
– Rachel
The Perfect Pattern for Your First Curves
Whether you’re a seasoned quilter or just starting out, Drift will ease you into curved piecing with:
- Templates & Tools: Printable templates are included, or buy the Drift Acrylic Pattern Template set for extra precision.
- Forgiving Design: No need to stress about matching points—it’s all about smooth, flowing shapes.
- Fabric Picking Tips: Choose your own adventure with Fat Quarters or grab one of my curated kits to make fabric selection a breeze.
Versatility of the Drift Quilt Pattern
For the cover of the pattern, I used fabrics from Bird is the Word, a fun and flirty line from Kimberly Night, part of the Ruby Star Society collaboration. I love how happy the colors she uses are. For the background, I decided to go a little wild and use a black and cream flower print—a bold choice that complements all the other fabrics found in the birds. Drift is a pattern that shines in any fabric style—from bold solids to delicate prints. If you’re feeling unsure about fabric selection, grab one of the kits available on my website. And don’t forget—Drift comes with three size options (Baby, Throw, and Twin), so you can customize your quilt to fit your needs.
True Threads Quilting quilted this quilt with a beautiful panto called Short Weave and added a luscious wool batting for extra poof. Erynn is so wonderful to work with. She can do Edge to Edge and custom quilting, and I hear she has some wonderful news to share next week, so definitely keep your ear to the ground.
I had so much fun seeing how the pattern looks in other fabrics. I wish I could make all the quilts but we just need to add many more hours in each day and pad my bank account. LOL. Here are three of my favorite layouts.
Basic Grey – Sunday Brunch, French General – Sacre Bleu, Allie K Design – Botany
A pattern that will lead to more
In July of 2025, I will be hosting a Sew-Along for this quilt. Also, I mentioned before that I started with two designs, and I couldn’t decide if I wanted Drift to stand on its own or be part of something bigger. So, I decided to do both! Next year, I’ll be hosting a Mystery Quilt Sew-Along. Each week, I will be sending you block patterns to make, and then we will put them all together to create the quilt. You won’t know what the finished design is until the end. Sound like fun? Join my email list to find out more about both events.
Drift Quilt Pattern Launch Giveaway
To celebrate the Drift pattern release, I’m offering a giveaway for an Oliso Mini Iron with Trivet M3Pro, a bundle of six half-yard cuts, and a Drift acrylic template set. Want to enter? It’s easy—just sign up for my email list! Not only will you get an entry into the giveaway, but you’ll also be the first to know about new patterns, sales, and upcoming events. Get a bonus entry by adding a comment to this blog post and entering into the giveaway at QuiltCon.
If you are already on my email list, don’t worry, you can use the same email address and you will get an extra star by your name.
You May Also Like
If you love Drift, you might also enjoy these patterns that play with flow and movement:
Join the Drift Journey
Whether you’re shopping at QuiltCon or online, Drift is ready to inspire your next quilting adventure. Don’t forget to sign up for my email list for a chance to win a wonderful prize and to stay updated on all the things I have going on. I can’t wait to see what you make! Share your Drift quilts on Instagram using #DriftQuilt and tag me @brownbirddesigns.
