Moda Fabrics Mixed Bag Quilt - Downloadable PDF

Moda Fabrics Mixed Bag Quilt – Downloadable PDF Pattern Summary

The Mixed Bag Quilt is a free, downloadable PDF pattern from Moda Fabrics, designed at an intermediate difficulty level. The finished quilt measures 49½" x 59½", making it a generous lap or throw size. The design is built around a striking column-based layout of angled, parallelogram-shaped segments that create a dynamic, graphic effect across the quilt top. The featured fabric collection is Mixed Bag by Studio M for Moda, giving the finished piece a lively, eclectic palette when paired with a clean neutral background.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a pieced throw quilt measuring 49½" x 59½". The design is composed of alternating columns of angled print and background segments arranged to create movement and visual rhythm across the surface. The columns are assembled in two distinct configurations and then joined side by side to complete the quilt top.

Fabric and Materials Required

• Prints: 1 Jelly Roll (32860JR) — 40 strips of 2½" x width of fabric, from the Mixed Bag by Studio M for Moda collection
• Background: 1 Jelly Roll (9900 98JR) — 40 strips of 2½" x width of fabric in a coordinating solid or near-solid
• Binding: ½ yard (32862 25), cut into 2½" x width of fabric strips
• Backing: 3½ yards, pieced horizontally

A Jelly Roll is a pre-cut fabric bundle consisting of 40 strips, each measuring 2½" x width of fabric (approximately 42"–44"). Using Jelly Rolls makes this pattern particularly efficient and beginner-friendly in terms of fabric preparation, though the angled cutting technique places it firmly in the intermediate skill range.

Techniques Used

• Angled or bias cutting at 45°: The core technique of this pattern involves aligning a quilting ruler's 45° line to the bottom edge of layered fabric strips and cutting parallelogram-shaped segments. This requires careful ruler placement and confident rotary cutting skills.
• Layered cutting: Two strips are layered wrong sides together before cutting, which simultaneously produces mirror-image A and B segments (print) and C and D segments (background) in a single pass. This is an efficient technique that ensures accurate mirroring without re-cutting.
• Measured segment cutting: Each segment is cut by measuring 12" from the point along the top edge, then aligning the ruler to that mark and making a second 45° cut. This precision step ensures all parallelogram segments are consistent in size.
• Column construction and seam pressing: Segments are joined into long vertical columns. Column E uses 23 assorted A and C segments with seams pressed down, while Column F uses 23 assorted B and D segments with seams pressed up. This opposing press direction allows seams to nest cleanly when columns are joined.
• Seam nesting and column joining: The 4 E columns and 4 F columns are alternated and joined with matched, nested seams for a smooth, flat quilt top.
• Trimming the quilt top: After columns are joined, the top and bottom edges of the quilt top are trimmed to straighten the angled ends of the outermost segments.
• Layering, quilting, and binding: The pattern concludes with standard quilt finishing — layering the quilt top with batting and backing, quilting as desired, and applying a 2½"-wide binding cut from the designated binding fabric.

Stitches and Seam Allowances

• All piecing is done with a standard ¼" seam allowance, which is the quilting industry standard and essential for accurate block and column sizing.
• Seams are pressed in specific, directed orientations —