Panels have been popping off in the quilting community recently and it's no surprise why: these handy strips of fabric are a quilter's best friend, making it easier than ever to decorate your quilts and other crafty makes with illustrative designs and catchy phrases. They're also a great choice if you're starting out on your quilt making journey but aren't yet confident piecing up a whole patchwork quilt top from scratch. With a fabric panel, the pattern of the quilt comes pre-printed on to the fabric to save you time cutting and sewing the shapes together by hand, using patchwork, appliqué or other methods.
From Christmas fabric panels that will help you easily piece advent calendars and simple stockings, to show-stopping modern fabric panels for quilting featuring cute critters and floral motifs that will spruce up any quilt design, we've pulled together this list to make the ultimate quilter's shopping guide so you can find the perfect panel for your next quilt.
If these quilt panels get you in the mood for some no-hassle quilting, you might also like our guides to the best quilt kits for beginners, or our favourite Christmas fabrics. For more modern making inspiration, head over to our top quilting trends round-up to explore some beautiful quilt project ideas.
1. Dashwood Studio's Nightfall fabric panel
Sarah Knight's collection for Dashwood Studio is filled with ethereal prints that bring a touch of magic to your quilts, with nocturnal nature elements that range from mystical moths to owls in the moonlight. Measuring around 110cm wide and 1m long, you could quilt it as it is into a mini quilt or cut each individual bock and piece them into a larger patchwork quilt top.
- Buy it now (Amazon)
2. Moda's Dwell in Possibility fabric panel
Moda's Dwell in Possibility panel by Gingiber honours the designer's favourite literary quotes from female authors. Featuring inspiring quotes from authors such as Louisa May Alcott and Emily Dickinson, these panels would make the perfect cosy quilt to curl up with and read your favourite book.
- Buy it now (Moda Fabric Studio)
3. Lewis & Irene's Purrfect Petals fabric panel
We think Lewis & Irene's Purrfect Petals panel is totally paw-some, with its sweet sleeping kitties and its colourful flower design. These panels are the perfect size for you to piece the cutest cat cushion – why not make one as a handmade gift for a cat lover in your life this Christmas, or as a cosy treat for your very own furry friend?
- Buy it now (Etsy)
4. Ruby Star Society's Crescent Forest panel
Ruby Star Society's Crescent Forest panel celebrates the beautiful, mystical nature of the forest at nighttime. It comes with four larger panels featuring mythical creatures and wonders of woodland life that would make a magical focal piece for a quilt, as well as an assortment of smaller tags and labels for you to stitch onto your handmade gifts this Christmas.
- Buy it now (Etsy)
5. Dashwood's Habitat panels
From ferocious lions and walloping whales to wholesome hedgehogs and scurrying squirrels, Dashwood's Habitat panels feature the cutest of fabric panels for quilting by Sally Payne has it all! This large cut and sew animal panel would make a wonderful baby quilt, though it has to be said that its collection of cute creatures is destined to delight both children and adults alike.
- Softies Panel – Buy it now (Amazon)
- Animal Blocks Panel – Buy it now (And Sew On Fabrics)
6. Moda's Nocturnal panel
Moda's Nocturnal panel by Gingiber pays homage to the creatures who come out to play when the rest of the world has gone to sleep... Two sneaky foxes slink in the night, while a big cuddly bear trots along, and all are adorned with soft, delicate detailing that really makes them come to life.
- Buy it now (Etsy)
7. Riley Blake Designs' Oh Happy Day! panel
The Oh Happy Day! panel by Sandy Gervais for Riley Blake Designs is a joy to behold! Featuring colourful, geometric patterns and cheerful phrases of encouragement, these panels would make a great banner or wall hanging. Why not use one of them to piece a positive reminder to yourself to hang up in your sewing space? It's sure to cheer you up and remind you that any day you're quilting is a great day!
- Buy it now (Etsy)
8. Art Gallery Fabrics' Enjoy the Little Things panel
The adorable Enjoy the Little Things panel from Art Gallery Fabrics' Pine Lullaby collection is a breath of fresh woodland air, featuring cute critters such as otters and bears, and cosy phrases encouraging 'less talking and more hugging'. These perfect pillow panels would make a great addition to a nursery or playroom with their animal imagery and cuddly themes.
- Buy it now (Minerva Crafts)
9. Lewis & Irene's Hygge Glow Advent Calendar panel
Lewis & Irene's Hygge Glow Advent Calendar panel helps you piece the perfect Christmas craft: the patchwork advent calendar! In the spirit of Hygge, a Danish ideal of cosiness and comfort in the cold winter months, this advent calendar panel features decorative festive motifs such as reindeer, snowflakes and tiny gnomes riding on red-breasted robins, all of which are sure to add a cute, homely touch to your Christmas decorations.
- Buy it now (Love Crafts)
10. Moda's Words To Live By panel
As the weather gets colder and moodier, what better way to lift your spirits than with Moda's Words To Live By fabric panel for quilting? It features illustrations of adorable animals and delicate depictions of the natural world, plus inspiring phrases which encourage you to 'Be yourself' and 'Dream, Do, Repeat'.
- Buy it now (Etsy)
11. Dashwood Studio's Forest Friends Stocking panel
Craft a couple of cute homemade stockings to hang on your mantelpiece with Dashwood Studio's Forest Friends Stocking panel! Featuring cute illustrations of presents, Christmas trees, and cosy bunnies decorating their home, plus handy step-by-step instructions on how to piece them together, this homemade duo will be a favourite amongst your Christmas decorations year after year.
- Buy it now (Etsy)
12. Ruby Star Society's Pep Talk panel
Ruby Star Society's encouraging Pep Talk panel will have you walking with pep in your step due to its cheerful, inspiring phrases such as 'You got this!' and 'You are stronger than you know'. It includes detailed instructions for you to piece pillows, pennants, banners and totes from the various designs, but they'd also make a great addition to a quilt that's bursting with positive vibes. Plus, for every Pep Talk panel sold, Ruby Star Society will donate $5 to the Loveland Foundation which raises funds to provide therapy and support to Black women and girls.
- Buy it now (The Fabric Fox)
13. Riley Blake Designs' Flea Market panel
This quaint fabric panel is giving us serious Cottagecore vibes. The Flea Market panel by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs features floral designs with polka dots aplenty which you can easily snip out and appliqué onto a quilt or cushion.
Buy it now (Etsy)
14. FIGO Quilt Label panel
Add a distinctly personalised touch to your makes with Figo's Quilt Label panel, featuring heaps of different labels in all different shapes, sizes and styles, allowing you to carefully select the perfect one for each of your projects. Whether you want to securely name and date your quilt so future generations will be able to trace back your quilt's provenance, or you want to write a message to the recipient of a gift quilt that will stay attached forever, these labels are a must-have in your sewing stash.
- Buy it now (Etsy)
15. Ruby Star Society's Peppermint Please Gift panel
The Peppermint Please Gift panel by Sarah Watts for Ruby Star Society is a three-piece panel collection featuring fun, festive illustrations such as Santa's sleigh and cosy polar bears, as well as Christmas greeting messages to spread holiday cheer. Use this panel plus the handy bag instructions to whip up easy-piece drawstring gift bags, so you can gift with style this holiday season.
- Buy it now (Etsy)
16. Makower's Wrap it Up panel
It's getting cold out, we're craving mince pies, and we're stitching away an array of homemade gifts for our loved ones, this can only mean one thing... Christmas is coming! And Makower's Wrap it Up panel is here to help you celebrate, with its colourful panels featuring geometric Christmas trees, presents and baubles, perfect for a festive table runner or Christmas quilt
- Buy it now (Ebay)
