Moda Fabrics Hickory Road Quilt - Downloadable PDF

Moda Fabrics Hickory Road Quilt Pattern Summary

The Hickory Road Quilt by Moda Fabrics is a downloadable PDF quilting pattern for an intermediate-level quilter. The finished quilt measures a generous 72" x 72", making it a full square throw or lap quilt size. This pattern is available as a free download and is designed to guide quilters through a structured, block-based construction process using a variety of classic piecing techniques.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single, large patchwork quilt with a finished size of 72 inches by 72 inches. The design incorporates multiple distinct block types that are assembled together to create a cohesive, visually dynamic quilt top. The pattern is organized around several block categories, including Large Cake Mix blocks, Small Cake Mix blocks, Flying Geese units, and Center Blocks, each of which contributes to the overall geometric design of the finished quilt.

Techniques Used

The Hickory Road Quilt employs several foundational and intermediate quilting techniques. Quilters working through this pattern will use:

• Half Square Triangles (HSTs): Both large and small HSTs are constructed throughout the pattern. HSTs are one of the most versatile units in quilting, created by sewing two contrasting fabric squares together diagonally and pressing open to form a two-tone triangle square. The pattern specifies both Large Center HSTs and Large HSTs cut from specific fabrics.
• Flying Geese Units: A classic quilting block element, Flying Geese are rectangular units made from one larger rectangle and two smaller squares sewn at the corners. The pattern includes Large Flying Geese constructed from 8½" x 4½" rectangles paired with 4½" x 4½" squares.
• Cake Mix Block Construction: The pattern references both Large Cake Mix and Small Cake Mix blocks, which are a popular method for generating multiple HST or combination units efficiently from layered squares. Large Cake Mix blocks are cut from 10" x 10" squares.
• Precise Cutting: The pattern requires careful cutting along the Width of Fabric (WOF) and Length of Fabric (LOF), with strips cut into squares and rectangles of specific dimensions to feed into each block category.
• Accurate Seam Allowances: All instructions are based on a standard ¼" seam allowance, which is the quilting industry standard for precise block assembly.
• Pressing Techniques: The pattern follows the quilter's best practice of pressing seams in one direction as you go, which reduces bulk and helps blocks lie flat for accurate assembly.

Stitches and Construction Methods

As a quilting pattern, the primary stitch used throughout construction is the straight stitch sewn on a sewing machine, maintaining a consistent ¼" seam allowance throughout all piecing steps. Diagonal stitching is used when constructing Half Square Triangle units and Flying Geese corners, where squares are sewn across the diagonal before trimming and pressing. These diagonal seams are fundamental to creating the angular geometric shapes that define the quilt's design.

Block Categories and Layout

The pattern is organized to help quilters sort and manage their cut pieces efficiently. The recommended approach is to sort pieces as they are cut into labeled categories, which streamlines the piecing process. The main block and unit categories include:

• Large Cake Mix blocks — constructed from 10" x 10" squares
• Small Cake Mix blocks — constructed from smaller fabric units
• Large Flying Geese units — using 8½" x 4½" rectangles and 4½" x 4½" squares
• Large Center HST units — cut from 5" x 5" squares
• Large HSTs — cut from 5" x 5" squares in contrasting fabrics