Moda Fabrics Crescent Panel Quilt - Downloadable PDF

Moda Fabrics Crescent Panel Quilt – Free Downloadable PDF Pattern Summary

The Crescent Panel Quilt is a 60" x 75" lap or throw quilt designed by Carrie Nelson and featuring fabric artwork by Sarah Watts, both for Moda Fabrics. This is a free downloadable PDF pattern rated at an intermediate difficulty level, making it an excellent project for quilters who are comfortable with basic patchwork and are ready to explore more structured block construction around printed panel fabrics.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a lap quilt measuring 60 inches by 75 inches. The design centers on a Magic Forest Panel (fabric reference RS2001-11), a large printed panel that is carefully cut apart and used as focal blocks within the quilt layout. The panel images — which include charming illustrated motifs such as a sewing machine and a bear — are framed individually and surrounded by pieced Sawtooth Star blocks, creating a structured, medallion-inspired arrangement. The result is a quilt that showcases the panel artwork prominently while integrating traditional patchwork elements for visual interest and balance.

Fabrics and Materials Required

This quilt uses a carefully curated selection of Moda Fabrics prints and coordinates. The specific fabric requirements include:

• 1 full Magic Forest Panel – Cream (36" x WOF), RS2001-11 — the central design element
• RS2003-11, RS2004-11, RS2005-19M, RS2005-22, RS2005-14M — coordinating prints in various cuts including F6 (12" x 21") and Fat Quarter (FQ) increments
• 3½ yards of background fabric (9900-200) — a solid or near-solid used extensively for framing and star block construction
• ¾ yard for binding
• 4¾ yards of 44"-wide backing fabric, or 1¾ yards of 108"-wide backing fabric
• Batting measuring 68" x 83" — slightly larger than the finished quilt to allow for quilting take-up

As with all quilting projects, standard quilting cotton is the intended fabric type throughout. A rotary cutter, cutting mat, and quilting ruler are essential tools, along with a sewing machine capable of an accurate ¼" seam allowance. Scissors are also referenced for panel cutting.

Techniques Used

The Crescent Panel Quilt incorporates several important quilting techniques that place it firmly in the intermediate skill range:

• Panel cutting and preparation — The Magic Forest Panel is cut apart along printed dotted-dashed guidelines using scissors or a rotary cutter. Careful pressing without steam is recommended initially, as the rolling of panel yardage can distort the printed images. Light steam and gentle manipulation are used afterward to straighten any crooked sections.
• Framing panel blocks — Individual panel images are framed with strips of background fabric cut to precise measurements. Different frame widths are used depending on the size of the panel image: Large Panel Frames use 2¾"-wide strips, a Medium Panel Frame uses 2¼"-wide strips, and Small Panel Frames use 2½"-wide strips. This technique, sometimes called "sashing" or "framing," requires accurate cutting and straight seaming to keep the printed motifs centered and square.
• Centering panel images — For the large blocks (sewing machine and bear), the panel pieces are trimmed to 18¼" x 18¼". To keep the image centered during trimming, the fabric is folded right sides together, matching inside corners of the image, and a gentle fold is pinched to mark the center — a precise and thoughtful technique that protects the integrity of the printed design.
• Sawtooth Star block construction — A classic and beloved traditional quilt block, the Sawtooth Star is built using Flying Geese units and corner squares. This pattern cuts a total of 60 squares at 2" x 2" for the star