Cardinal Barn Quilt Pattern
A folk-art cardinal at rest — a beloved barn quilt for the Midwest and Northeast.
Planning the board? Use the sizing calculator for exact cell and border measurements, or read the paint color guide before you buy paint.
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Grid
- 10 × 10
- Colors
- 6
- Suggested board sizes
- 2′ × 2′, 4′ × 4′
About the Cardinal block
The Cardinal is best understood as part of quilting’s long tradition of drawing inspiration from the natural world rather than as one standardized historic block with a single origin. Birds, flowers, trees and animals were frequently translated into quilt designs, and those motifs changed as makers adapted them to different piecing and appliqué techniques.
Modern cardinal blocks continue that tradition, turning the bird’s unmistakable silhouette and bright coloring into bold geometric designs especially well suited to wall hangings and barn quilts.
Learn more about the history
Tips for painting a Cardinal barn quilt
Use one true 'cardinal red' — don't dilute. A small black mask around the beak makes the bird snap into focus.
Ready to design your Cardinal?
Customize the colors in the online designer and download a printable paint-by-color plan with a grid diagram.
Open in the designerPainted the Cardinal? Share your photo.
We feature finished quilts from real makers in the gallery — it helps other painters see how the Cardinal looks in different color combinations.