Moda Fabrics Union Blues Quilt - Downloadable PDF

Moda Fabrics Union Blues Quilt – Free Downloadable PDF Pattern Summary

The Union Blues Quilt by Moda Fabrics is a stunning intermediate-level quilting project that draws inspiration from 19th-century Americana, evoking the nostalgic aesthetic of tintype photography through a carefully curated palette of tintype blues and sepia browns. This reproduction-style quilt is a celebration of heritage quilting traditions, translated into a structured, pattern-driven design that rewards careful cutting and precise piecing. The finished quilt measures an impressive 86" x 101", making it a generous bed-sized project, and is built around a repeating 8" x 8" finished block size.

Project Overview and Design

This pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF, making it an accessible choice for quilters who want to explore reproduction-style quilting without an upfront pattern cost. The design incorporates multiple distinct block types and sashing elements that work together to create a visually rich, historically inspired composition. The overall layout relies on a combination of pieced blocks, setting triangles, and sashing units to achieve its classic, structured appearance.

Quilters who prefer a shortcut in preparation can use Moda Kit 8290, which includes 60 precut 7" x 22" strips ready for paper piecing — a convenient option that eliminates a significant portion of the initial cutting work. All standard instructions include a ¼" seam allowance, and the pattern follows foundational quilting best practices, including pressing seams in one direction as you go.

Block Types and Design Elements

Flying Geese Units

A prominent feature of this quilt is the extensive use of Flying Geese units, a classic quilting motif with deep roots in American quilt history. Flying Geese blocks are created by pairing a rectangular "goose" piece with two smaller square "sky" pieces on either side, forming a triangular arrow-like shape. In this pattern, the Flying Geese are constructed using:

• 3½" x 2" rectangles cut from multiple fabrics for the goose bodies
• 2" x 2" squares cut from coordinating fabrics for the sky corners
• 4" x 3½" rectangles also referenced for additional Flying Geese construction

A total of 180 Flying Geese units are required from multiple fabric combinations, reflecting the scale and complexity of this design.

16-Patch Blocks

The pattern also incorporates 16-Patch blocks, a traditional design made by sewing together sixteen equal squares in a four-by-four grid arrangement. These blocks are cut from 2½" x 2½" squares, with 196 squares subcut from 2½"-wide strips. The 16-Patch block adds graphic punch and visual rhythm to the overall quilt layout, and when combined with the reproduction fabrics, contributes to the antique, time-worn character of the finished piece.

Pieced Triangle Blocks and Setting Triangles

The quilt features Pieced Triangle blocks, which add diagonal movement and complexity to the design. These are constructed using 4⅛" x 4⅛" squares cut twice diagonally, yielding quarter-square triangles. A total of 88 setting triangles are cut for these blocks. Additionally, on-point setting triangles are cut from 5½" x 5½" squares also cut twice diagonally, producing 20 setting triangles (with 2 extras) used to fill in the edges of a diagonal or on-point layout arrangement.

Sashing Units and Sashing Squares

The blocks are framed and separated by a detailed sashing system that itself involves piecing. The pattern calls for:

• 120 sashing units total, made in 30 of each combination across multiple fabric pairings
• 3½" x 3½" sashing squares, with 30 subcut for use at sashing intersections
• 3½" x 3½" squares also referenced for sashing from additional strip cuts

This level of sashing detail is characteristic of 19th-century quilt construction and significantly enhances the antique aesthetic of