Moda Fabrics Kula Gardens Quilt - Downloadable PDF

Moda Fabrics Kula Gardens Quilt Pattern – Free Downloadable PDF Summary

The Kula Gardens Quilt is a stunning quilting project designed by Denise Russell and published by Moda Fabrics. This free downloadable PDF pattern produces a finished quilt measuring 71" x 83", making it a generous lap or throw size. The pattern is rated Advanced Beginner in skill level, meaning it is accessible to quilters who have some foundational experience but are not yet working at an intermediate or advanced level. The design draws its inspiration from the lush, tropical aesthetic of the Kula Gardens fabric collection, featuring flowing floral petal shapes and vibrant, nature-inspired colorways.

Fabric Collection and Materials

This quilt pattern is designed specifically to showcase the Maui Batiks fabric line from Moda Fabrics. The collection features a rich palette of tropical hues, and the pattern calls for a wide variety of prints, each contributing to the layered, garden-like visual effect of the finished quilt. Fabrics are cut on the width of fabric (WOF), which is assumed to be 42 inches, and in some cases on the length of fabric (LOF) where indicated in the cutting instructions.

The specific fabrics called for in the pattern include a carefully curated selection of Maui Batiks prints, each used in small quantities to build the scrappy, multi-toned look of the design. These include:

• 4353-13 Purple – 1/8 yard, used for small 1-7/8" squares
• 4353-24 Turquoise – 1/8 yard, cut using petal templates
• 4353-11 Rainbow – 1/8 yard, cut for two sets of petals using templates
• 4353-27 Ocean – 1/8 yard, cut for one set of petals using templates
• 4353-22 Sea Glass – 1/8 yard, cut for one set of petals using templates
• 4353-12 Purple-Multi – 1/8 yard, cut for one set of petals using templates
• 4353-25 Turquoise – 1/8 yard, cut for two sets of petals using templates
• 4353-15 Pink – 1/8 yard, cut for one set of petals using templates
• 4353-21 Sea – 1/8 yard, cut for one set of petals using templates
• 4353-19 Sunshine – 3/8 yard, used for additional piecing elements

The pattern makes excellent use of small yardage cuts, making it a wonderful project for quilters who enjoy working with a wide variety of fabrics or who wish to use up existing fabric stashes. Many of the individual fabrics require only 1/8 yard, keeping costs manageable while maximizing visual variety across the quilt surface.

Design and Construction Overview

The Kula Gardens Quilt is centered around a distinctive floral petal block design, which gives the quilt its garden-inspired character. The petal shapes are cut using provided templates, which are included in the downloadable PDF. This template-based cutting approach is a hallmark of appliqué-adjacent piecing styles, where curved or organic shapes are precisely cut and then assembled to form larger floral or medallion-style motifs.

The use of template cutting is one of the more distinctive techniques in this pattern. Unlike standard straight-cut piecing, template-based cutting requires quilters to trace and cut fabric pieces to a specific shape before sewing. This technique is commonly used in Dresden Plate, Grandmother's Flower Garden, and similar classic quilt block styles that feature curved or petal-shaped units. Quilters working on this project should take care to cut accurately along template edges to ensure clean, consistent petal shapes throughout the quilt.

Techniques Used

The Kula Gardens Quilt incorporates several key quilting techniques that make it both engaging and educational for advancing quilters:

• Template cutting – Multiple fabrics are cut