Moda Fabrics Llama Love Mini Quilt - Downloadable PDF

Moda Fabrics Llama Love Mini Quilt – Pattern Summary

The Llama Love Mini Quilt is a charming downloadable PDF quilting pattern designed by Robin Nelson and published by Moda Fabrics as part of the Moda Bake Shop series. The finished quilt measures 28.5" x 29.5", making it an ideal mini quilt suitable for wall hanging, a small lap throw, or a decorative accent piece. The design features the beloved Llama Love fabric collection by Deb Strain, and the pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it a rewarding project for quilters who are comfortable with basic patchwork and precise cutting.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single mini quilt with a finished size of 28.5" x 29.5". The design incorporates a heart-shaped arrangement of precut 2½" squares set against a structured background of solid-colored strips, creating a graphic and visually striking composition. The use of a precut pack combined with coordinating solid fabrics gives the quilt a cohesive, polished look while keeping the construction manageable for intermediate-level quilters.

Materials Required

Fabric and Precuts

• 1 Moda Candy pack – a precut collection of 2½" squares from the Llama Love fabric line by Deb Strain; 42 of these squares are used to form the central heart motif
• ½ yard Bella Solids Popsicle (9900-143) – referred to as Fabric A in the pattern, this solid provides the primary background and strip-pieced framework
• ½ yard Bella Solids Princess (9900-335) – referred to as Fabric B, this contrasting solid works alongside Fabric A to build the structured strip layout
• ¼ yard binding fabric
• 1½ yards backing fabric

Tools and Notions

• Standard quilting ruler and rotary cutter for accurate strip cutting
• Sewing machine suitable for piecing
• Quilting thread coordinated to fabric palette
• Iron and pressing mat for seam pressing

Techniques Used

Strip Piecing and Precise Cutting

A significant portion of this pattern relies on strip piecing, where long rectangular strips of Bella Solids Popsicle and Bella Solids Princess are cut to very specific lengths — ranging from 2½" x 4½" up to 2½" x 28½" — and then assembled in a deliberate sequence around the central Moda Candy square arrangement. Accurate cutting is essential, as the strips must align precisely with the precut 2½" squares to maintain the integrity of the design.

Precut Square Arrangement

The pattern makes excellent use of the Moda Candy precut pack, which eliminates the need to cut individual 2½" squares from yardage. Quilters arrange 42 Moda Candy squares into a heart shape, and the pattern instructs makers to number or label pieces during layout to preserve the arrangement before sewing begins. This technique of pre-planning and labeling is a hallmark of intermediate quilting practice, ensuring that the visual design is maintained throughout construction.

Labeling and Organization

The pattern emphasizes careful labeling of cut pieces from the outset — a practical organizational technique that prevents confusion between the two very similarly sized solid fabrics (Fabric A and Fabric B) during assembly. This kind of methodical preparation is especially important when working with multiple strip lengths that differ by only a few inches.

Binding and Finishing

Like most traditional quilts, the Llama Love Mini Quilt is finished with a separate binding cut from ¼ yard of fabric. Standard quilting finishing techniques apply, including layering the quilt top with backing and batting, basting, quilting, and then att