Moda Fabrics A Garden for Harper Quilt - Downloadable PDF

A Garden for Harper Quilt Pattern by Moda Fabrics – Downloadable PDF Summary

The A Garden for Harper quilt pattern is a free downloadable PDF from Moda Fabrics, designed to celebrate National Sew a Jelly Roll Day (September 21, 2019). The finished quilt measures a generous 72" x 72", making it a substantial lap or throw quilt suitable for everyday use or as a cherished handmade gift. Rated as intermediate difficulty, this pattern is ideal for quilters who are comfortable with basic piecing and ready to take on a more structured, visually dynamic block layout.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single large square patchwork quilt measuring 72 inches by 72 inches. The design is built around a repeating block structure arranged in a 6-row by 6-block grid, where alternating block orientations create the illusion of circular shapes emerging from the background fabric — a clever secondary design element that gives the quilt its garden-like, flowing visual character. The interplay between the printed Jelly Roll strips and the solid background fabric produces these eye-catching "circles" at the center of each 2x2 block section.

Materials Required

• Prints: 1 Jelly Roll (40 pre-cut 2½" x width-of-fabric strips in assorted prints)
• Background: 1 solid Jelly Roll plus an additional ½ yard of the same solid fabric
• Binding: ¾ yard of fabric, cut into 8 strips of 2½" x width of fabric, sewn end to end
• Backing: 4½ yards of fabric

A Jelly Roll is a pre-cut fabric bundle consisting of 40 strips, each measuring 2½" x the width of fabric (approximately 44"–45"). These pre-cut strips are a hallmark of Moda Fabrics and are designed to coordinate beautifully within a single fabric collection, making color selection straightforward and results consistently harmonious. Using a Jelly Roll significantly reduces cutting time and is one of the reasons this format is so popular for quilting projects.

Cutting Instructions Overview

• Background fabric: Use 3 strips from the background Jelly Roll and 6 strips cut from the additional ½ yard, subcut into 72 rectangles measuring 2½" x 4½"
• Binding: Cut 8 strips at 2½" x width of fabric and join end to end to create continuous binding

Techniques Used

• Strip piecing: Print and background 2½" x WOF strips are joined together into strip sets, which are then subcut into smaller segments — a highly efficient technique that speeds up block construction considerably
• Subcut segmenting: Strip sets are cut into both 2½"-wide and 4½"-wide segments, which are then recombined to form individual blocks
• Block alternation: Blocks are rotated and alternated during layout so that every 2x2 grouping of blocks creates a circular secondary design in the background fabric — a technique that adds visual complexity without requiring curved piecing
• Pressing with directional seams: The pattern specifies pressing seams in the direction of the arrows, a standard quilting practice that reduces bulk and helps seams nest together neatly for precise alignment
• Straight-line piecing: All construction uses straight seams throughout, with no curved cutting or sewing required
• Continuous binding: The binding strips are sewn end to end to create a long continuous strip for finishing the quilt edges

Stitches and Seam Standards

All construction is completed using a standard ¼" seam allowance, which is the quilting industry standard. Consistent seam width is especially important in this pattern because the strip-pieced segments must align precisely to achieve the circular secondary design effect when blocks are arranged together. A straight stitch on a sewing machine is used throughout for all piecing and binding attachment.