Moda Fabrics Hearty Good Wishes Quilt - Downloadable PDF

Moda Fabrics Hearty Good Wishes Quilt – Free Downloadable PDF Pattern

The Hearty Good Wishes Quilt is a charming 42" x 49" quilted throw designed by Janet Clare for Moda Fabrics. This intermediate-level quilting project combines classic strip piecing with decorative fabric appliqué and hand embroidery to create a nautical-themed design featuring sailboats and rigging details. The pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF, making it an accessible and rewarding project for quilters who are comfortable with foundational techniques and ready to explore mixed-method construction.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single finished quilt measuring 42 inches wide by 49 inches tall — a versatile size suitable as a lap quilt, a child's quilt, or a decorative wall hanging. The design is divided into two distinct visual sections: a pieced strip section constructed from Jelly Roll strips, and an appliquéd background section featuring three fabric sailboats complete with embroidered rigging. The two sections are joined to create the final quilt top before layering, quilting, and binding.

Design Features and Layout

The quilt's visual appeal comes from the interplay between the bold, colorful strip-pieced rows and the quieter, open background panel where the sailboat appliqués take center stage. The three boats are arranged across the background rectangle and given dimension and realism through the addition of hand-embroidered rigging, lending the finished piece a whimsical, storybook quality consistent with Janet Clare's signature illustrative aesthetic.

• Appliquéd background panel: One large 20½" x 42½" rectangle serves as the canvas for the three boat appliqués
• Strip-pieced rows: Two rows, each made from 21 strips of 2½" x 15" Jelly Roll fabric, are sewn and joined to form the lower portion of the quilt
• Three sailboat appliqués cut using the included templates add the nautical focal point
• Embroidered rigging using stem stitch and 3 strands of floss adds fine linear detail to each boat

Techniques Used

This pattern draws on a combination of quilting and embroidery techniques, making it an excellent project for intermediate quilters looking to expand their skill set beyond standard piecing.

• Strip piecing: Jelly Roll strips are cut and arranged into rows, then sewn together using consistent ¼" seam allowances. Seams in alternating rows are pressed in opposite directions to reduce bulk and help rows nest together cleanly when joined.
• Fabric appliqué: Quilters are instructed to use their favorite appliqué method to attach the boat shapes to the background rectangle. The pattern accommodates a range of approaches, including fusible web appliqué (fusible web is listed as a required material), making this flexible for different skill levels and preferences.
• Template cutting: Three boat shapes are cut using the printed templates included in the PDF, requiring accurate cutting for clean appliqué results.
• Hand embroidery (stem stitch): The rigging on each sailboat is worked in stem stitch using 3 strands of 6-strand embroidery floss, adding a delicate hand-crafted element to the finished top.
• Quilt assembly and finishing: The appliquéd background and pieced rows are joined, then the quilt is layered with batting and backing, quilted by hand or machine, and finished with a straight-grain binding.

Stitches Used

• Stem stitch – used for embroidering the sailboat rigging with embroidery floss
• Standard machine straight stitch – used throughout for piecing strips and joining quilt sections with ¼" seam allowances
• Appliqué stitching method of the quilter's choice (fusible web application supports a no-sew or machine-finished edge)

Materials Required

Fabric

• Prints: 1 Jelly Roll (1350JR) from the Hearty Good Wishes