Snail’s Trail is a classic quilt pattern that has been around for decades, charming quilters with its spiral design that mimics a snail’s shell. This pattern is a wonderful way to play with color and movement in fabric, creating a dynamic quilt that seems to dance before your eyes. Whether you’re new to quilting or have been stitching for years, the Snail’s Trail offers both a challenge and an opportunity to craft something unique.
Its historical roots and the endless possibilities for customization make it a must-have in any quilter’s pattern collection. Adding a Snail’s Trail quilt to your projects list is a great way to explore traditional quilting techniques while putting your modern twist on them.
Free Snail’s Trail Quilt Patterns – Top Picks
1. Free Quilt Block Pattern: Snail’s Trail Block
Designer: McCall’s Quilting
The Snail’s Trail Quilt Block from McCall’s Quilting is an intermediate level project, with each block finishing at 9 inches by 9 inches. This pattern offers a foundation-pieced approach to the classic Snails Trail design, ensuring that every block you create is precise and looks impressive.
Foundation piecing, which is alternatively called paper piecing, is a dependable technique that produces precise outcomes. This makes it an excellent option for quilters who want to incorporate intricacy and accuracy into their work.
2. Free Quilt Pattern: Snail’s Trail Quilt
Designer: Shabby Fabrics
The Snail’s Trail Quilt tutorial from Shabby Fabrics introduces a straightforward pattern requiring the Square on Square 8″ Trim Tool for cutting fabrics with ease, complemented by a helpful video tutorial. This project results in a finished quilt size of 34.5 inches by 42.5 inches, offering a manageable yet rewarding quilting project.
The video tutorial alongside the trim tool significantly simplifies the cutting process, making this pattern an excellent choice for quilters looking for precision, convenience, and visual guidance. This quilt pattern allows for creative expression while providing a comprehensive visual learning experience for constructing a comfortably sized quilt.
3. Free Quilt Pattern: Gemstone
Designer: Heidi Pridemore for Henry Glass
The Gemstone quilt pattern by Heidi Pridemore for Henry Glass is a visually stunning project for intermediate quilters. It measures 70” x 76” and features vibrant Snail’s Trail blocks arrayed against a black background, giving it a dramatic and colorful look.
This pattern is perfect for those who enjoy playing with colors and creating contrast in their quilts. The colorful trails against the dark fabric make each block pop, resembling precious gemstones scattered across a rich, dark canvas, creating a dazzling effect in any room.
4. Free Quilt Pattern: GO! Snails’ Trail
Designer: AccuQuilt
The GO! Snails’ Trail quilt pattern from AccuQuilt offers a fresh take on a classic design, finishing at 62″ x 62″. The project allows quilters to modernize a traditional block through imaginative color selections.
This pattern is perfect for blending time-honored quilt designs with contemporary aesthetics. By choosing vibrant or subtle color schemes, you can create a quilt that stands out as a modern masterpiece or seamlessly integrates into any decor, making it a versatile option for quilters of all tastes.
5. Free Quilt Pattern: Marble Snail’s Trail Swirls
Designer: Amanda Harward for AccuQuilt
The Marble Snail’s Trail Swirls pattern by Amanda Harward for AccuQuilt is a free quilt block design that showcases the dynamic use of the 8” Finished GO! Snail’s Trail Die, 8” GO! Qube Mix & Match, and the 8” GO! Qube Companion Set-Angles. It’s crafted to enhance the Snail’s Trail block with triangle-in-a-square shapes, extending the lines into distinct, eye-catching patterns.
This approach gives the quilt a unique, swirling appearance, finishing at a generous 70” x 59”. It’s a creative project for quilters looking to explore pattern extensions and visual flow in their work.
6. Free Quilt Pattern: Spotted Snail Trail
Designer: Fat Quarter Shop
The Spotted Snail Trail offered as a free downloadable quilt pattern from Fat Quarter Shop, provides versatile finished sizes to fit any need: a cozy lap quilt at 47.5″ x 47.5″, a decorative wallhanging at 33.5″ x 33.5″, a comfortable twin at 61.5″ x 89.5″, and a spacious queen at 89.5″ x 89.5″.
This pattern encourages quilters to dive into block assembly, guiding them through each step to create a captivating design. It’s a perfect project for those who enjoy detailed piecing and want a range of size options for their finished quilt.
7. Free Quilt Block Pattern: Easy Snail Trail Block
Designer: Jess of Elven Garden Quilts
The Easy Snail Trail Block tutorial by Jess of Elven Garden Quilts explores the versatility of one of her favorite traditional blocks through creative fabric placement and color choices. This guide details making 12 1/2″ unfinished (12″ finished) blocks, ideal for using at least two different fabrics, though four are recommended for the tutorial to enhance contrast.
High contrast between fabrics ensures the design pops. The tutorial also advises using starch to manage the exposed bias edges efficiently, preventing stretching. A scant 1/4″ seam allowance is crucial for all seams in this project.
8. Free Quilt Pattern: Breezy Tidal Waves
Designer: Denise Looney for AccuQuilt
The Breezy Tidal Waves quilt pattern, designed by Denise Looney for AccuQuilt, creatively combines Storm at Sea and Snail’s Trail blocks for a dynamic design. This pattern encourages quilters to select light, medium, and dark fabrics to enhance the visual impact of the waves and trails, creating a sense of movement and depth.
It’s an engaging project for quilters looking to explore color contrast and complex block arrangements within their work.
9. Free Quilt Pattern: GO! Swirling Snail’s Trail
Designer: Denise Looney for AccuQuilt
The GO! Swirling Snail’s Trail quilt pattern from AccuQuilt brings to life the illusion of movement in a captivating wall-hanging design. This pattern, designed for a finished size of 48″ x 60″, highlights large Snail’s Trail blocks that swirl and dance across the fabric, creating a dynamic visual effect.
Perfect for those who love geometric patterns and visual depth, this pattern makes it easy to assemble a striking quilt that is sure to draw attention and admiration.
BONUS Snail’s Trail Quilt Patterns For Sale from Online Shops
1. Garden Trail Quilt Pattern (Physical Pattern For Sale)
Designer: Pamela Mostek
The Garden Trail Quilt Pattern by Pamela Mostek presents a delightful combination of traditional snail trail blocks intermixed with diamond blocks that feature flower print fabrics. This quilt measures 56″ by 56″, making it versatile for throws and wall hangings.
The pattern’s design captures the essence of a blooming garden path, offering a visually appealing project that quilters of all skill levels will enjoy creating. Its straightforward approach and mix of geometric and floral elements provide a satisfying quilting experience, perfect for adding a touch of nature to any room.
2. Storm at Sea and Snail Trail Quilt Block Pattern (Downloadable Pattern For Sale)
Designer: MaGalina Latvia
The Storm at Sea and Snail Trail Quilt Block Pattern by MaGalina Latvia is designed for quilters familiar with basic cutting and sewing. This instant download offers full-size patterns for creating blocks in four sizes: 6″x6″, 8″x8″, 10″x10″, and 12″x12″.
The package includes the block and foundation patterns, templates, rotary cutting charts, and visual references of blocks and completed quilts. It’s an excellent resource for quilters exploring these dynamic patterns, offering everything needed to seamlessly integrate the swirling Snail Trail and the illusionary Storm at Sea into stunning quilt projects.
3. Tranquility Quilt Pattern (Physical Pattern For Sale)
Designer: Jenice Belling from Quilted Garden Designs
The Tranquility Quilt Pattern by Jenice Belling from Quilted Garden Designs beautifully blends Storm at Sea and Snail’s Trail quilt blocks. This design utilizes traditional rotary-cut blocks and straightforward piecing techniques, offering clear instructions for creating quilts suitable for various occasions.
Available in three sizes – Queen (93″ x 93″), Throw (73″ x 73″), and Runner (30″ x 70″) – this pattern is perfect for quilters looking to craft an elegant and serene project with classic quilt block elements.
4. Ocean Currents Quilt Pattern (Physical Pattern For Sale)
Designer: Pine Tree Country Quilts
The Ocean Currents Quilt Pattern from Pine Tree Country Quilts showcases a unique twist on traditional blocks, combining modified Snail’s Trail and Twirl blocks to mimic the mesmerizing flow of ocean currents. Designed with ease in mind, this quilt employs strip sets and quick-corner triangles for simpler construction than it appears.
Batiks or batik-like fabrics are recommended to seamlessly blend the pieces together, enhancing the fluidity of the design. With an intermediate skill level requirement, the finished quilt measures 57″ x 69-3/4″, perfect for those looking to tackle a project with both beauty and challenge.
5. Snails Trail Al Fresco Quilt Pattern (Physical Pattern For Sale)
Designer: Sheri Strickland from Sheri Girl Quilts
The Snails Trail Al Fresco Quilt Pattern by Sheri Strickland from Sheri Girl Quilts is designed for quilters who enjoy working with strips. This pattern, 62 inches by 62 inches, is perfect for creating a visually captivating quilt with a dynamic twist on the traditional Snail’s Trail design.
You’ll need the Creative Grids 3877 and 3965 to make this quilt, which helps streamline the piecing process. This pattern is an excellent choice for quilters exploring strip-friendly projects with a fresh and modern approach.
6. Snail Trail Chain Quilt Block Pattern (PDF Downloadable Pattern For Sale)
Designer: Rebecca of Humburg Creations
The Snail Trail Chain Quilt Block Pattern by Rebecca of Humburg Creations lets you craft a precise 12×12 inch block, thanks to the included templates. Perfect for using scraps or new fabric, the pattern gives a bit of extra material in suggestions to ensure you have enough, even if mistakes happen.
This pattern has a 1/4-inch seam allowance, allowing you to assemble any quilt size in 12-inch steps. Ideal for quilters familiar with templates, enabling endless creativity in quilt making.
7. Snail’s Trail and Rainbow Star Quilt Block Pattern (PDF Printable Pattern For Sale)
Designer: MaGalina Latvia
The Snail’s Trail and Rainbow Star Quilt Block Pattern by MaGalina Latvia offers an instant download that includes full-size patterns for four sizes: 6″x6″, 8″x8″, 10″x10″, and 12″x12″. The package comes with blocks, foundation patterns, templates, rotary cutting charts, and visuals of blocks and quilts, plus fabric yardage.
Although it mainly provides diagrams without basic instructions, it’s designed to be easy to follow for those with fundamental quilting skills, such as basic cutting and sewing.
8. Sweet Trails Quilt Pattern (Digital Downloadable Pattern For Sale)
Designer: Joanne Kerton of Canuck Quilter Designs
The Sweet Trails Quilt Pattern by Joanne Kerton of Canuck Quilter Designs puts a unique, floral spin on the traditional Snail’s Trail block, creating a throw-sized quilt that measures 55” x 66”.
This pattern is perfect for intermediate skill-level quilters and includes alternative cutting and assembly instructions for making individual blocks from scraps instead of yardage. The design resembles a blooming flower, adding a charming and flowery touch to the classic Snail’s Trail look.
Here Are More Snail’s Trail Quilt Ideas For Inspiration
Photo Source: Maz Q’s Sewing & Quilting
Photo Source: Angela Homicz
Photo Source: Patrick Merriman
Photo Source: Janet Rae Nesbitt
Photo Source: Carson Converse
Photo Source: Larkspur Quilts
Photo Source: Cru.quilt
Photo Source: Bluebird Machine Quilting
Photo Source: Quilted Delights
Photo Source: HQuilts
Exploring Snail’s Trail quilt patterns unveils a world where spirals and colors play harmoniously, offering quilters a chance to craft captivating pieces. From traditional to modern twists, these patterns cater to all levels, showcasing the timeless appeal of Snail’s Trail.
Each quilt, a testament to the maker’s creativity and the pattern’s enduring charm, becomes a cherished masterpiece, demonstrating this classic design’s versatility and dynamic appeal.
