Moda Fabrics Picnic Quilt - Downloadable PDF

Moda Fabrics Picnic Quilt – Free Downloadable PDF Pattern Summary

The Moda Fabrics Picnic Quilt is a striking, graphic quilt pattern designed to finish at 72" x 83.5" — a generous lap or throw size that works beautifully as a picnic blanket, sofa quilt, or bedroom accent. This intermediate-level quilting project is available as a free downloadable PDF and is built around a clean, modern aesthetic that celebrates the interplay of pattern and solid fabrics in a cool, sophisticated grey palette.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a full-size pieced quilt measuring 72 inches wide by 83.5 inches tall. The design uses a structured row-based layout that alternates between narrower sashing rows and wider feature rows, creating a bold, organized grid-like composition. The overall look is modern and minimalist, making it a versatile piece suited to contemporary home décor.

Design Structure and Layout

The quilt top is constructed using a straightforward but visually effective row system:

• Eight horizontal rows measuring 71.5" x 2.5" — these are the narrower sashing or accent rows that provide visual separation and rhythm across the quilt face.
• Seven horizontal rows measuring 71.5" x 10" — these wider rows are the primary feature rows that showcase the patterned Layer Cake squares and create the main visual impact of the design.

The alternating arrangement of narrow and wide rows gives the Picnic Quilt its distinctive, structured appearance, reminiscent of a classic striped or log-style layout with a modern twist.

Techniques Used

• Strip piecing — cutting and assembling long rectangular pieces into rows is the primary construction method, making this an approachable project for quilters who have moved beyond beginner level.
• Row-by-row assembly — the quilt top is built by joining individual rows together rather than assembling individual blocks, which simplifies the piecing process and helps maintain alignment.
• Layering, quilting, and binding — once the quilt top is complete, the pattern instructs the quilter to layer the top with batting and backing, quilt as desired, and finish with binding. The specific quilting design is left to the maker's preference, allowing for creative freedom in the finishing stage.
• Precise cutting — accurate cutting of multiple pieces to exact dimensions is essential to ensure the rows align correctly and the finished quilt lies flat.

Stitches and Seam Allowances

All piecing is worked using a standard 1/4" seam allowance, which is the quilting industry standard. Maintaining a consistent quarter-inch seam throughout is critical to achieving the correct finished row lengths and ensuring the quilt top assembles accurately to the intended 72" x 83.5" finished size.

Materials Required

The Picnic Quilt uses a carefully curated combination of pre-cut fabric and coordinating solids:

• One Layer Cake — a pre-cut collection of 10" x 10" fabric squares from Moda Fabrics. A Layer Cake typically contains 42 squares representing an entire fabric collection, and here it provides the patterned variety that populates the wider feature rows.
• 1.75 yards of solid light grey fabric — a substantial yardage used as a unifying background or sashing element. From this fabric, 97 pieces measuring 10" x 2.5" are cut, forming the connective strips within the wider rows.
• 0.375 yard of solid graphite fabric — a darker, contrasting solid from which 56 squares measuring 2.5" x 2.5" are cut. These small graphite squares likely serve as cornerstones or accent pieces at the intersections of strips, adding depth and definition to the overall design.
• 0.5 yard of a grey print fabric — sourced from the solid light grey selection, this adds a subtle textural contrast to the palette without disrupting the cohesive grey colour story of the quilt.
• Batting and backing fabric — required for the layering and quil