Since 2011, Bookcase Quilts have been a huge part of my life. I tell their stories below.

All patterns shared on this page were designed by me, Jennifer Ofenstein, @sewhookedjen, and tested by me or Amber Lowery, @hp5freak. Please do not share or repost without credit. For personal use only. Please do not sell quilts or other projects made from my patterns.

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On this page:

Helpful Information when creating a Bookcase Quilt

Harry Potter Bookcase Quilt Blocks

Multi-Fandom Bookcase Quilt Blocks

Just Books (additional books to personalize your quilt)

Adding Titles

Hoop 10″ Blocks for Machine Embroidery

Quilt Finishing

Gallery of Bookcase Quilts made by Jennifer Ofenstein, @sewhookedjen

More Free Fandom Patterns on Fandom in Stitches

If you enjoy my free patterns, please consider supporting me via Ko-fi. ?

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Helpful Information For Creating a Bookcase Quilt

Welcome to the wonderful world of Bookcase Quilts!

Here you’ll find all of the 10″ bookcase blocks I’ve personally designed. They are all foundation paper pieced because it’s my preferred quilting method. You can also make improv or traditionally pieced blocks. Do what works best for you.

All patterns are foundation paper pieced. 10″ finished (10 1/2″ with seam allowance) unless otherwise noted.

For a quilt made of 10″ paper pieced blocks only, you’ll need approximately 1/2 yard of background fabric PER 5 blocks. This is a generous estimate and will change based on how many “objects” are in your blocks. More books = Less background needed. Please note that this is for background fabric for the blocks ONLY and does not include borders, shelves, or other fabrics you might like to use.

Unless you are an experienced quilter looking for a challenge, consider using a non-directional tonal for your background fabric. Stripes or other directional fabrics (a print that is up and down or side to side) aren’t impossible to use, but are trickier to paper piece.

Need help paper piecing? Lots of info here!

If you aren’t sure how many blocks you might want to make and don’t want to buy lots of fabric to start, consider using a blender fabric for your background that’s not likely to disappear any time soon (something like Moda Marbles, Grunge, or other “basics”). This only really becomes a problem when PoDs (Projects of Doom) turn into UFOs (UnFinished Objects)!

Fabric for books and objects can be scraps, remnants, fat quarters, pre-cuts, or whatever else your heart desires, as long as it’s a good quality quilting cotton. You’ll need small amounts of various colors for each block you make. Color choices and styles are entirely up to the quilter!

Need fabric? Check your LQS (local quilt shop) for scrap bags & remnants, look for a Creative Reuse store in your community, or ask your sewing friends if they have fabric they can share!

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HARRY POTTER Bookcase Quilt (The Project of Doom)

The Project of Doom was designed by me, Jennifer Ofenstein in 2011 as a Mystery Quilt Along. The original quilt was based on a mural I painted for my eldest child in 2002. At the time, I had seen a couple of simple bookcase quilts, but nothing like what I wanted to create. I’d been designing my own patterns for since the early 2000s. From there, The PoD was born.

Each week’s pattern includes all shown variations in one document.

List of book Titles from the Harry Potter Books. An easy reference for those desiring to paint, embroider, or stencil titles on their quilts.

These patterns were updated and retested by me and Amber Lowery, @hp5freak, in 2015 for a Quilt Along on Fandom in Stitches. 2011 patterns available on request. Please do not share or repost without credit. For personal use only.

Clicking the week number or caption will open a Google Doc to save or print. Clicking on the image will make it larger.

Week 1 – Crystal Ball with Books

Week 2 – Books

Week 3 – Potion Bottle, variations – with Deathly Hallows or Dark Mark

Week 4 – Harry’s Glasses, glasses variation, Hand of Glory

Week 5 – Books

Week 6 – Stoppered Vial with Books

Week 7

Week 8 – Books

Week 9 – The Golden Snitch with books, with House Tie

Week 10 – Standard Book of Spells

Week 11 – Hedwig with Book, with owl variations

Week 12 – Basilisk Fang with Books, Butterbeer, & Cooking Sherry Variations

Week 13 – Monster Book of Monsters, Quirrell’s Turban Variation

Week 14 – Magic Wand with Books, with variations

Week 15 – Tom Riddle’s Diary Destroyed, with variations.

Week 16 – Book with Broomstick, with simple variation, plus Pygmy Puff

Week 17 –  Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes Bag, Death Eater Mask variation

Week 18 – Books, Potion book variation

Week 19 – Hogwarts Crest, with other crest variations

Week 20 – Candle with Books, Blue Flame in Jar variation

Week 21 & 22 – Sorting Hat With Face, Crookshanks & Nagini variations

Week 23 – Quill with Books with variations

Week 24 – Books

Week 25 – Open Book, Quaffle & Dragon Eggs variations

Week 26 – Books, with Acromantula variation

Week 27 – Teacup with Books, Spectacles, & Chocolate Frog variations

Week 28 – Trevor the Toad with Books, with 5″ block variations

Week 29 – Cauldron or Pumpkin

Week 30 – Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, Potions variation

Bonus Block

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Multi-Fandom Bookcase Blocks

2021 saw the 10th Anniversary of both the Project of Doom and Fandom in Stitches. To celebrate, I hosted The Year of Doom, a Multi-Fandom Bookcase Quilt Along on Fandom in Stitches. The result was dozens of new bookcase block patterns from a wide variety of fandoms created by many, many talented volunteers. You can find those patterns under “Bookcase Quilts” in the menu on Fandom in Stitches.

These are my contributions to the Year of Doom and later projects.

Designed by Jennifer Ofenstein, @sewhookedjen, tested by me or Amber Lowery, @hp5freak. Please do not share or repost without credit. For personal use only.

Clicking on the text will open the Google Doc in order to save or print. Clicking the image will make it larger.

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JUST BOOKS

This is a variety of “Just Books” from different Bookcase Quilts I’ve created over the years, including some from above categories. All patterns are 10″ paper pieced unless otherwise noted.

Designed by Jennifer Ofenstein, @sewhookedjen, tested by me or Amber Lowery, @hp5freak. Please do not share or repost without credit. For personal use only.

Clicking on the text will open the Google Doc in order to save or print. Clicking the image will make it larger.

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Adding Titles

The two questions I’ve been asked most about Bookcase Quilts are “how much fabric do I need?” and “how do I add titles?” The first question is answered at the top of this page. The second question is really a matter of taste.

My 2011 Project of Doom was entirely hand embroidered with title designs I created myself. It took a long time and was a labor of love. Since then, I’ve made quilts with no titles, some titles, and one quilt with elaborate machine embroidered titles.

Fandom in Stitches, my sister website just for Fandom Patterns, created by me and lots of wonderful volunteer designers, hosts a Project of Doom/Bookcase Quilt Facebook Group. Members have shared other creative ways they’ve added titles to their quilts over the years. They’ve used fabric paint and markers, stencils, cut by hand or using a Cricut or other similar cutting machines, and used hand and machine embroidery. What you do about titles, if anything, is entirely your choice.

Please note that I do not share machine embroidery titles either here or on Fandom in Stitches. If you’re looking to create your own, use the text built into your embroidery machine or try a machine embroidery design software. I use Embrilliance for my designs. There are several other for-purchase design software options available. Looking for free software? Try Ink/Stitch.

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Hoop 10″ Blocks for Machine Embroidery

• Teacup Block Shown is here.
• Titles for this quilt project created by Jennifer Ofenstein, @sewhookedjen, using Embrilliance embroidery design software.
• The magnetic hoop I’m using in this video is by Hoopmaster.
• Stabilizers used:
  • OESD cut away. I recommend medium or heavy weight. Use what you have!
  • Floriani lightweight adhesive. Use what you have or what works best for your project.
• For marking, I used a Sewline Mechanical Fabric Pencil in white. (affiliate link)

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Quilt Finishing

I created a number of quilt finishing designs for 10″ Bookcase Blocks for each quilt along I’ve hosted. Use one of mine, find one you like on Fandom in Stitches, or have fun creating your own!

Designed by Jennifer Ofenstein, @sewhookedjen, tested by me or Amber Lowery, @hp5freak. Please do not share or repost without credit. For personal use only.

2011 Project of Doom , two options, 60 1/2″ x 76 3/4″ OR 70 1/2″ x 82 1/2″

2015 Project of Doom, two options, 70″ x 86″

2021 Once Upon a Staircase, with variations, 80″ x 80″

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Gallery of Bookcase Quilts made by Jennifer Ofenstein, @sewhookedjen

Click on any image for a larger version.

2011 – The Original Project of Doom

Designed, pieced, and hand embroidered by Jennifer Ofenstein, @sewhookedjen. Quilted by Shannon Shaw. Please do not repost without credit.

2015 – Project of Doom Quilt Along on Fandom in Stitches

Designed, pieced, & quilted by Jennifer Ofenstein, @sewhookedjen. Please do not repost without credit.

2024

2024 Talk to Me Tuesday Mini Quilt Swap. While not a full Bookcase Quilt, I did use one of my favorite blocks to create this mini quilt for the lovely Jordan. My video about the swap is here. Jordan’s is here.

2021-2025 Year of Doom Multi-Fandom Quilt Along on Fandom in Stitches

Completed in 2025. Not all patterns are mine to share. Egyptian & Greek machine embroidery from Anita Goodesign. Skull & Cthulhu from Urban Threads. Indiana Jones & Lamp patterns by Holly Urbain & Wendi Riggens for fandominstitches.com. All other designs, embroidery, & quilting by Jennifer Ofenstein, @sewhookedjen. Please do not repost without credit.

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#QuiltForGood

The following quilts were finished by me using donated blocks made by the Fandom in Stitches Bookcase Quilt Facebook community. I have included one quilt that was pieced by my BFF, Jewells (@nmjewells), using those same donated blocks. All quilts were given as charity donations or were otherwise used to help children in need. Please do not repost without credit.

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If you enjoy my free patterns, please consider supporting me via Ko-fi. ?

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The patterns on this page are 100% free for your personal and/or non-profit use as per the copyright information on individual patterns. They are not for distribution, resale, or manufacture. Patterns were designed over many years, and my pattern style changes from time to time. Your understanding is appreciated.

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