Moda Fabrics Lario Quilt - Downloadable PDF

Moda Fabrics Lario Quilt Pattern Summary

The Moda Fabrics Lario Quilt is a downloadable PDF quilt pattern designed for intermediate-level quilters. This striking quilt finishes at approximately 49" x 90" and is constructed almost entirely from half square triangle units, creating a dynamic, visually rich design that showcases the interplay between a bold red fabric and coordinating print fabrics. The pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF, making it an accessible project for quilters ready to advance their skills.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a full-size quilt top measuring approximately 49" x 90". The design is built from a large quantity of precisely pieced half square triangles arranged to create movement and visual depth across the quilt surface. The bold contrast between a solid or near-solid Red fabric and a coordinating Print fabric is central to the aesthetic of the Lario Quilt.

Techniques Used

• Half Square Triangle (HST) Construction: The primary technique used throughout this pattern is the creation of half square triangle units. HSTs are one of the most versatile and foundational building blocks in quilting, formed by sewing two contrasting fabric triangles together along their diagonal to create a square unit with a diagonal seam.
• LBQ 2" Triangle Exchange Paper Method: Rather than cutting individual triangles and sewing them one by one, this pattern uses LBQ 2" Triangle Exchange Paper — a specialty paper piecing tool that allows quilters to produce multiple accurate HST units at once from layered rectangles. This method significantly improves speed and precision.
• Batch Pressing and Trimming: The pattern instructs quilters to press seams in the direction of the arrows provided in the instructions, a standard quilting practice that reduces bulk and helps seams nest together cleanly during assembly. Trimming dog ears — the small fabric points that extend beyond the corners of a sewn unit — is also a required finishing step for each HST.
• Layered Rectangle Sewing: Rectangles measuring 6½" x 22" are layered right sides together before the LBQ paper is pinned on top and sewn along dashed lines. This efficient approach produces a large number of HST units from each pair of rectangles.
• Seam Allowance Precision: All instructions are drafted with a ¼" seam allowance throughout, which is the quilting industry standard and critical for achieving accurate block sizing and quilt assembly.

Stitches and Sewing Details

• Straight stitch sewn along the dashed lines of the LBQ Triangle Exchange Paper is the primary stitch used to construct the HST units.
• The pattern specifies the use of a 50-weight thread, which is a fine, strong thread well-suited to quilting and paper piecing, as it creates minimal bulk in seams.
• A shorter stitch length is recommended when sewing through the paper, which helps perforate the paper for easier removal after cutting and also produces stronger, more precise seams.

Scale of Construction

The Lario Quilt requires a substantial number of HST units, reflecting its intermediate difficulty level. Quilters will use 21 sheets of LBQ 2" Triangle Exchange Paper to produce a total of 588 half square triangle units, of which 564 are used in the finished quilt top. The remaining units serve as extras to allow for any that may not meet the quilter's quality standards. This volume of units rewards the batch-production approach enabled by the LBQ paper method.

Materials Referenced

• Red fabric: Cut into 6½" x 22" rectangles (referred to as fabric A in the pattern instructions), used as one half of each HST unit.
• Print fabric: Cut into matching 6½" x 22" rectangles, layered with the Red fabric right sides together to form the contrasting half of each HST unit.
• LBQ 2" Triangle Exchange Paper: A specialty quilting paper tool used to guide accurate sewing lines and cutting lines for mass-producing HST units. 21 sheets are required for this project.