Moda Fabrics Magic Butterfly Quilt - Downloadable PDF

Moda Fabrics Magic Butterfly Quilt – Downloadable PDF Pattern Summary

The Magic Butterfly Quilt is a free downloadable PDF pattern designed by Sarah Watts and published by Moda Fabrics. Rated as an intermediate quilting project, this design centers on a striking butterfly motif and combines panel-based focal elements with traditional pieced blocks to create a visually dynamic finished quilt. The pattern makes excellent use of Moda's coordinating fabric collection, guiding quilters through precise cutting and assembly to achieve a polished, cohesive result.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a quilted throw or wall quilt built around a large center panel featuring butterfly imagery. The design frames that central panel with pieced borders and accent blocks, incorporating cut-out butterfly motifs from a coordinating panel fabric as decorative corner accents. The overall layout balances bold printed fabric with carefully constructed geometric piecing for a design that feels both artistic and structured.

Fabrics and Materials Used

The pattern is designed specifically for use with Moda Fabrics from the Ruby Star Society collection by Sarah Watts. The following specific fabric SKUs are referenced throughout the cutting instructions:

• RS2011-12M – Center Panel, trimmed to 22½" wide × 42" tall, forming the focal point of the quilt
• RS2012-12M – Corner Accent Panel, from which four individual butterfly motifs are fussy-cut and trimmed to 9½" squares
• RS2005-13 (Fabric A) – A printed fabric used for larger squares, including 10" squares and 8" squares
• RS2005-11M (Background) – A background fabric used extensively throughout the pieced sections in a wide variety of cut sizes
• RS2005-33M (Fabric B) – A directional print requiring careful orientation matching, cut into 5½" squares and sashing strips
• RS2005-35M (Fabric C) – A textured print used for Flying Geese units, cut as both 6½" × 3½" and 3½" × 6½" rectangles depending on print direction

As a quilting pattern, this project requires quilting cotton fabric, a rotary cutter, cutting mat, and quilting ruler for accurate cutting. A sewing machine with a standard ¼" quilting foot is recommended for consistent seam allowances throughout assembly.

Cutting Instructions Overview

The pattern provides detailed cutting diagrams and instructions for each fabric. Quilters are advised to label all pieces with their dimensions immediately after cutting to avoid confusion during assembly. Key cuts include:

• Fabric A (RS2005-13): Cut from WOF (width of fabric) strips — (4) 10" squares from a 10" strip and (2) 8" squares from an 8" strip
• Background (RS2005-11M): A wide variety of pieces including (4) 10" squares, (4) 14" × 6¼" rectangles, (8) 5½" squares, (4) 5" squares, (4) 9½" × 5" rectangles, (4) 7" × 4½" rectangles, (24) 3½" squares, and sashing strips of 24½" × 1½" and 42" × 1½"
• Fabric B (RS2005-33M): Cut (8) 5½" squares, with print orientation carefully matched per the diagram
• Fabric C (RS2005-35M): Cut (4) 3½" × 6½" tall rectangles with print texture parallel to the long edge, and (8) 6½" × 3½" tall rectangles with print texture perpendicular to the long edge — orientation is critical for this directional print