★ NiftyFifty Editor's Picks · 2026
The 6 Best Quilting Magazines of 2026
Hand-picked by the NiftyFifty editors — the print quilting magazines worth a subscription. American Patchwork & Quilting, Quiltmaker, Modern Patchwork, McCall's, Fons & Porter, and the UK's Love Patchwork & Quilting.
Why print magazines still matter in 2026
Print quilting magazines remain a major part of the modern quilter's media diet. Despite the growth of YouTube, podcasts, and blogs, print magazines offer something the other media don't: curated pattern collections from leading designers, professionally tested instructions, beautiful full-page quilt photography for inspiration, and a tactile reading experience that pairs naturally with sewing-room time. Many quilters maintain a binder of saved magazine patterns going back decades.
The largest English-language quilting magazine is American Patchwork & Quilting, published bimonthly by Better Homes & Gardens. Quiltmakeris best known for the annual “100 Blocks” special issues. Modern Patchwork covers exclusively modern quilting. UK-based Love Patchwork & Quilting is the leading international modern magazine. The full list and what each is best for is below.
The major quilting magazines
American Patchwork & Quilting
Since 1993 · Bimonthly publication, large US circulation
The largest English-language quilting magazine — patterns, techniques, and shop directories since 1993.
American Patchwork & Quilting (AP&Q) is the largest English-language quilting magazine. Published bimonthly by Better Homes & Gardens, the magazine features patterns from leading designers, technique tutorials, fabric line previews, quilt shop highlights, and the annual "Top 10 Quilt Shops in North America" feature that has guided destination shopping for decades.
Subscriptions include the print magazine plus access to the AllPeopleQuilt digital pattern library, with thousands of past patterns available for download. AP&Q also produces the official American Patchwork & Quilting Podcast.
Quiltmaker
Long-running quilt pattern magazine known for the annual "100 Blocks" issues.
Quiltmaker is one of the longest-running quilting magazines in the US, published by Golden Peak Media. The magazine is best known for its annual "100 Blocks" special issues — each issue features 100 quilt block patterns from leading designers, creating an instant block library. The block issues are widely collected by quilters and often used as reference for years.
The regular bi-monthly magazine features patterns, techniques, and tutorials in a contemporary-traditional aesthetic.
Love Patchwork & Quilting
UK-based modern quilting magazine — strong on contemporary patterns and modern aesthetic.
Love Patchwork & Quilting is a UK-based monthly magazine focused on modern quilting. Published by Immediate Media, the magazine features modern pattern releases from contemporary designers, technique tutorials, fabric reviews, and modern quilting industry coverage. The aesthetic skews more contemporary than the major US magazines, making it a favorite for modern quilters in the US and UK alike.
Each issue includes a free fabric or pattern pull-out gift, a long-running magazine tradition that builds collector interest.
Modern Patchwork
Modern quilting magazine from F+W Media, focused exclusively on contemporary design.
Modern Patchwork is dedicated entirely to modern quilting. Published quarterly by Golden Peak (formerly F+W Media), each issue features modern pattern releases, designer profiles, technique tutorials specific to modern construction methods (improv, large-scale piecing, solid fabrics), and modern quilt show coverage.
The magazine pairs naturally with the Modern Quilt Guild community and is a strong choice for quilters whose taste runs entirely contemporary.
Love of Quilting (Fons & Porter)
Long-running traditional quilt magazine from Marianne Fons and Liz Porter's quilting brand.
Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting is one of the most established traditional quilting magazines in the US, founded by Marianne Fons and Liz Porter — two of American quilting's most influential teaching figures. The magazine continues to publish under the Fons & Porter brand, featuring traditional block-based patterns, technique tutorials, and tools alongside the brand's PBS television show (Love of Quilting on PBS) and online classes.
The magazine appeals to quilters whose taste runs traditional — reproduction fabrics, block-based patterns, classic American quilt aesthetic.
McCall's Quilting
Long-running general-interest quilting magazine from the McCall's pattern brand.
McCall's Quilting is a long-running quilting magazine from the McCall's pattern brand. Published bimonthly, the magazine features patterns across traditional, contemporary, and modern aesthetics, with strong representation from major designers. The format alternates pattern features, technique tutorials, and showcases of finished quilts from readers.
McCall's also publishes Quick Quilts and Quilter's Newsletter (in various forms over the years), giving the brand a multi-magazine presence in the US quilting market.
Frequently asked questions
What is the largest quilting magazine?+
American Patchwork & Quilting is the largest English-language quilting magazine, published bimonthly by Better Homes & Gardens. The magazine features patterns from leading designers, technique tutorials, fabric line previews, the annual "Top 10 Quilt Shops in North America" feature, and ties into the AllPeopleQuilt digital pattern library with thousands of past patterns.
What is the Quiltmaker 100 Blocks issue?+
Quiltmaker publishes annual "100 Blocks" special issues — each containing 100 different quilt block patterns from leading designers. These special issues are widely collected by quilters and used as block libraries for years. The 100 Blocks issues are typically released as numbered volumes (Volume 1, Volume 2, etc.) and are sought-after even after they go out of print.
What's the best magazine for modern quilters?+
Modern Patchwork is dedicated exclusively to modern quilting — improv techniques, large-scale piecing, solid fabrics, Modern Quilt Guild community coverage. Love Patchwork & Quilting (UK-based) is the second strongest for modern-leaning quilters and pairs well with US subscriptions for an international perspective.
Is American Patchwork & Quilting still in print?+
Yes — American Patchwork & Quilting continues to publish bimonthly print issues in 2026, with each issue also available digitally. Subscriptions include access to the AllPeopleQuilt digital pattern library and the official American Patchwork & Quilting Podcast.
How much do quilting magazine subscriptions cost?+
US quilting magazine subscriptions typically run $20–35 per year for print (6 issues), or $15–25 for digital-only. Quiltmaker, McCall's, and Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting all fall in this range. UK-based Love Patchwork & Quilting runs higher for US subscribers due to international postage, typically $80–100 per year for print.
Are quilt magazine patterns reliable?+
Yes — major US quilting magazines test patterns thoroughly before publication. Mistakes do occur occasionally and corrections are published in subsequent issues or on the magazine's website. Quiltmaker, McCall's, and American Patchwork & Quilting all maintain pattern correction archives online for purchased issues.