Moda Fabrics Wintergreen Quilt - Downloadable PDF

Moda Fabrics Wintergreen Quilt Pattern Summary

The Moda Fabrics Wintergreen Quilt is a downloadable PDF pattern designed for intermediate quilters. The finished quilt measures a generous 67" x 67", making it a substantial throw or lap quilt. This free pattern from Moda Fabrics combines classic patchwork construction with decorative machine appliqué to create a striking design featuring bold circular motifs in a festive holiday colorway of green, red, and cream.

Design Overview

The Wintergreen Quilt is built around large 8" appliquéd circles and half-circles arranged across a structured background. The design uses a combination of green, red, and cream fabrics to create a visually rich, holiday-inspired composition. The circular appliqué elements are the centerpiece of the design, giving the quilt a modern yet traditional feel that suits both seasonal décor and year-round use.

The quilt layout is organized into distinct structural sections:

• Appliqué background blocks featuring the circular motifs
• An inner border that frames the central design
• An outer border that adds visual weight and brings the quilt to its full 67" x 67" dimensions
• Holly binding and red binding strips that finish the edges

Techniques Used

Machine Appliqué with Freezer Paper

The primary decorative technique in this pattern is machine appliqué using freezer paper. This is a popular and reliable method in quilting that allows for precise, clean-edged fabric shapes. Freezer paper, which has a plastic-coated shiny side, is pressed onto fabric using a household iron — the heat causes the paper to temporarily adhere without adhesive, holding the fabric shape in place while it is stitched down.

In the Wintergreen Quilt, the freezer paper technique is used specifically to create 7½" circles for appliqué. The process involves:

• Drawing the circle template onto the shiny side of freezer paper using a permanent pen
• Layering a second piece of freezer paper shiny side down and pressing the two layers together to create a double-layer freezer paper template for added stability
• Cutting out the 7½" circle and making 20 of these templates
• Lightly folding the freezer paper circle and the corresponding fabric circle into fourths to mark center points, ensuring accurate placement and alignment during appliqué

Half-Circle Template Work

In addition to full circles, the pattern uses an 8" half-circle template (provided on page 6 of the PDF). Quilters fold a 10" square of fabric in half, align the half-circle template on the fold, trace and cut the shape, then press it open to reveal a full half-circle. This technique is used to cut 7 green, 7 red, and 26 cream 8" circles from 10" squares.

Strip Piecing and Borders

The inner and outer borders are constructed using standard strip piecing techniques. Strips are sewn end to end to create long continuous lengths, from which specific border pieces are cut. The pattern specifies cutting strips parallel to the selvage for the holly and binding strips, which helps maintain fabric stability and minimize stretch.

Construction Details

Appliqué Background

The background begins with a 24" square that is intentionally cut oversized and will be trimmed down after the appliqué block is completed. This is a common and practical quilting technique that accounts for any shifting or distortion that can occur during the appliqué process, ensuring a perfectly sized and squared block when finished.

Inner Border

• Cut 6 strips at 2½" x width of fabric
• Sew strips end to end, then cut 4 strips at 2½" x 54½" and 4 squares at 2½" x 2½"

Outer Border