Ribbon Box Quilt Free Pattern

The Ribbon Box Quilt is a beginner-friendly project that’s perfect for showing off a beautiful fabric collection while creating a playful, ribbon-inspired design. Designed by Michelle Engel and featuring the Hidden Thicket fabric line by Leah Duncan for Cloud9 Fabrics, this quilt offers a charming combination of vertical and horizontal “ribbons” that look as if they’re woven together.

With its bold lines and clear structure, this quilt works beautifully with prints, solids, or a mix of both. The layout is straightforward enough for newer quilters, but its clever ribbon detail keeps it visually interesting for more experienced makers.

Quilt Size

Finished size: 45″ x 59″

Ribbon Box Quilt Free Pattern

Materials Needed

This project uses 8 different printed fabrics plus a background fabric.

• Background fabric: 1½ yards

• 8 different prints: ⅓ yard each

Tip: For consistent ribbon patterns, cut pieces horizontally across the fabric.

Cutting Instructions

Refer to the PDF pattern for full diagrams and cutting charts.

From each fabric (A–H), cut a variety of rectangles and squares in sizes such as:

• 16½” x 5½”

• 11½” x 5½”

• 5½” x 15½”

• 5½” x 6½”

• 3½” x 5½”

• 3″ squares (for ribbon tails)

From the background fabric, cut rectangles and squares for spacing, including:

• 8½” x 15½”

• 8½” x 3½”

• 5½” x 5½”

• 3½” x 15½”

• 3½” x 3½”

Making the Ribbon Tails

1. Mark: Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of all 3″ printed squares.

2. Sew to Background: Place a 3″ printed square right sides together with a background square or rectangle corner. Stitch on the marked line, trim ¼” away, and press toward the print.

3. Repeat: Each ribbon tail requires two corners to be sewn this way. Follow the pattern to match tails to their corresponding fabric rectangles.

Assembling the Quilt

1. Arrange Pieces: Lay out all pieces according to the quilt diagram in the PDF, working row by row.

2. Sew Rows: Join pieces into rows, pressing seams in alternating directions for easier matching.

3. Join Rows: Sew the rows together, pressing seams in one direction.

4. Finish: Layer quilt top, batting, and backing. Baste, quilt as desired, and bind.

Tips for Success

• Pay attention to print direction for a cohesive ribbon effect.

• Chain piece where possible to save time.

• Press carefully after each step for crisp, accurate seams.

📥 At the end of this article, you can download the complete PDF pattern with detailed diagrams and cutting charts to guide you step-by-step.

PDF pattern

With its clever design and approachable construction, the Ribbon Box Quilt is a satisfying project for quilters of all levels. Whether you use a cohesive fabric collection or mix and match your scraps, this quilt will be a standout piece.