Moda Fabrics Pyramids Quilt - Downloadable PDF

Moda Fabrics Pyramids Quilt Pattern Summary – Downloadable PDF

The Moda Fabrics Pyramids Quilt is a striking geometric quilt pattern that finishes at an impressive 67" x 72", making it an ideal throw or bed quilt. Designed and published by Moda Fabrics, this intermediate-level quilting project is available as a free downloadable PDF and centers on the classic pyramid triangle block — a timeless design that creates bold, eye-catching movement across the quilt surface. The pattern is well-suited for quilters who are comfortable with rotary cutting and basic piecing but are ready to explore angled cuts and specialty ruler work.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single large quilt measuring 67 inches wide by 72 inches tall (finished size). The overall design is built entirely from large equilateral triangles arranged in repeating rows to form the classic pyramid or "thousand pyramids" visual effect. The interplay of assorted light, medium, and dark prints gives the quilt its depth and dimension, with the value contrast between fabrics doing much of the design work. The result is a bold, graphic quilt that reads beautifully in scrappy fabric combinations.

Techniques Used

• 60-Degree Triangle Cutting: The foundational technique in this pattern is cutting large equilateral triangles using a 60-degree specialty ruler. This is a key intermediate skill that differs from standard square or half-square triangle cutting and requires careful ruler alignment.
• Directional Cutting for Printed Fabrics: A critical technique addressed in the pattern notes is managing fabric directionality. With solid fabrics, triangles can simply be flipped over to achieve the opposing orientation needed. However, printed fabrics must be cut deliberately — 10 triangles aligned in one direction and 10 triangles aligned in the opposite direction — to ensure the print reads correctly in the finished quilt. This is an important intermediate-level consideration that beginners may overlook.
• Seam Allowance Integration via Specialty Ruler: Rather than cutting to a center line, quilters are instructed to use the ¼" lines on either side of the center line on the ruler to automatically incorporate the seam allowance into each cut. The dashed lines on the ruler edge are used as the cutting guide, ensuring accurate and consistent triangle sizing throughout.
• Strip Cutting and Sub-Cutting: Fabric is first cut into strips — specifically 8" x 21" strips from fat quarters — and then sub-cut into large triangles using the 8" line on the ruler. This efficient strip-cutting workflow minimizes waste and speeds up the cutting process.
• Row-Based Assembly: The triangles are assembled in rows, alternating the orientation of each triangle to create the interlocking pyramid structure. Careful pressing and alignment are essential at this stage to keep points sharp and rows straight.

Stitches Used

• Straight Stitch (¼" Seam): All piecing in this quilt is done with a standard straight stitch at a precise ¼" seam allowance, which is the universal quilting seam. Accuracy is especially important when sewing angled triangle seams, as even small deviations can cause points to be cut off or rows to become misaligned.

Materials – Fabric and Tools

This pattern is fabric-forward, relying on a scrappy mix of assorted light, medium, and dark print fat quarters — the pattern specifies cutting from 15 fat quarters as a starting point for the triangle units. The variety of value and print scale across these fabrics is what gives the pyramids their three-dimensional, tumbling quality. Both solid and printed fabrics are discussed in the pattern notes, with specific guidance on how each behaves differently during the cutting process.

A required specialty tool is called out explicitly in the pattern: a 60-degree ruler with a flat tip on the top. Recommended brands include Marti Michell, Creative Grids, and Quilt in a Day rulers. This ruler is non-negotiable for achieving accurate equilateral triangles and is what sets this project apart from standard straight-cut quilts. A standard rotary cutter and cutting mat are also assumed tools for any quilting project of this type.

Key Pattern Highlights at a Glance