Moda Fabrics Community Quilt - Downloadable PDF

Moda Fabrics Community Quilt: A Detailed Pattern Summary

The Moda Fabrics Community Quilt is a downloadable PDF quilting pattern designed by Moda Fabrics and offered as a free resource. This is an intermediate-level quilting project that results in a finished quilt measuring 69 inches by 83 inches — a generous size suitable for use as a bed throw or statement lap quilt. The pattern carries meaningful community spirit, as proceeds from the associated Moda Fabrics collection (Kit 46190) were designated to benefit The Libby Lehman Medical Fund, connecting the act of quilting with charitable giving.

About the Design

The Community Quilt draws inspiration from the 1840–1850 quilting era, a period celebrated for its intricate pieced blocks, strong geometric forms, and the communal tradition of quilting bees and collective sewing circles. This historical reference gives the pattern a classic, heirloom quality while remaining accessible to modern quilters working with contemporary fabrics and tools. The design is rooted in the tradition of community quilts — pieces made collectively or in the spirit of togetherness — and reflects the enduring legacy of American quilting culture.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single pieced bed or lap quilt with a finished size of 69" x 83". The quilt features a structured layout incorporating both a central pieced body and a border treatment using diamond shapes. The overall composition balances geometric precision with the visual warmth of carefully selected fabric pairings, making it a visually striking finished piece.

Techniques Used

• Strip piecing: The pattern makes extensive use of strip sets — long strips of fabric sewn together and then cut into segments — to efficiently construct repeating units within the quilt body. This technique is a hallmark of intermediate quilting and greatly speeds up the construction process.
• Diamond piecing: Large strips cut from Fabrics 1, 2, and 3 are specifically designated for use as border diamonds. These are cut and set aside separately during the cutting phase, indicating a dedicated diamond-shaped border treatment that adds visual complexity and a period-appropriate geometric flair.
• Precise cutting and labeling: The pattern places strong emphasis on careful cutting organization. Quilters are instructed to label and sort all cut pieces as they work, distinguishing between dark prints (labeled D) and light prints (labeled L) — for example, Fabric 4 D denotes a dark print and Fabric 29 L denotes a light print. This level of organization is essential for maintaining the intended contrast and visual rhythm throughout the quilt.
• Seam pressing: The pattern follows standard quilting best practices, instructing quilters to press seams open as they go. This reduces bulk at intersections and helps the quilt lie flat, which is particularly important in a project with this many pieced units.
• Border construction: The diamond border is treated as a distinct construction phase, with specific cutting instructions separating border fabrics from body fabrics early in the process.

Stitches and Sewing Methods

• Standard straight stitch: As with all machine-pieced quilting projects, the primary stitch used throughout is the straight stitch, sewn on a domestic or quilting sewing machine.
• Quarter-inch seam allowance: All instructions are written with a precise ¼" seam allowance included throughout, which is the universal standard for quilting and ensures that all pieced units and blocks will finish to the correct dimensions.

Materials: Fabric and Notions

This is a fabric-based quilting pattern worked in cotton quilting fabric, as is standard for Moda Fabrics designs. The pattern references a minimum of 29 distinct fabrics, categorized into dark prints and light prints, which are used across the strip sets and border diamonds. Quilters have the option to source their own fabrics independently or to use the purpose-designed Moda Kit 46190, which includes pre-selected fabrics coordinated for this specific project. Those using the kit are directed to follow only the cutting instructions highlighted in red within the PDF, as the kit yardage differs from the open-market cutting requirements.