Moda Fabrics Vin du Jour Quilt - Downloadable PDF

Moda Fabrics Vin du Jour Quilt Pattern Summary

The Moda Fabrics Vin du Jour Quilt is a free, downloadable PDF pattern designed by Moda Fabrics for intermediate quilters. The finished quilt measures an impressive 80 inches by 98 inches, making it a generous full or queen-sized bed quilt. The design centers around a classic and visually dynamic Pinwheel block, which is arranged and combined with background fabrics to create a sophisticated, layered look that lives up to its elegant French-inspired name.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single large pieced quilt measuring 80" x 98". The focal design element is the Pinwheel block, built from a central pinwheel unit surrounded by carefully cut background pieces. The interplay of light and dark fabrics gives the pinwheels their characteristic spinning, dimensional appearance. The overall layout is structured and geometric, with a refined aesthetic well-suited to a variety of home décor styles.

Techniques Used

• Half Square Triangles (HSTs): The foundation of the Pinwheel block is the half square triangle unit. Quilters draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of a light fabric square, layer it with a dark square right sides together, sew a scant 1/4" seam on each side of the drawn line, then cut along the diagonal line to yield two HST units. This is one of the most widely used techniques in quilting and produces precise, consistent triangles when executed carefully.
• Pressing for accuracy: The pattern specifies pressing seams in the direction of the arrows, a critical step in quilting that reduces bulk at seam intersections and helps blocks lie flat. HSTs are pressed toward the darker triangle to minimize show-through on lighter fabrics.
• Trimming to size: After constructing each HST, units are trimmed to 3¾" square, ensuring uniformity across all blocks. Trimming is an intermediate-level skill that significantly improves the precision of the finished quilt top.
• Pinwheel block assembly: Four HST units are arranged in two rows of two, oriented so the diagonal seams create the spinning pinwheel effect. Rows are sewn and then joined together — a straightforward but satisfying assembly process.
• Strip cutting and sub-cutting: The pattern makes efficient use of fabric by cutting width-of-fabric strips first, then sub-cutting those strips into squares and rectangles of specific sizes. This is a standard and time-saving quilting workflow.
• Accurate 1/4" seam allowance: All construction uses a consistent 1/4" seam allowance, the industry standard for quilting, which is essential for blocks to fit together correctly across the entire quilt top.

Stitches Used

• Straight stitch: All piecing in this quilt is done with a standard straight stitch on a sewing machine, sewn at a precise 1/4" seam allowance throughout.
• Quilting stitch: While the pattern focuses on the quilt top construction, the finished quilt top would traditionally be completed with quilting stitches — either by machine or by hand — worked through the quilt top, batting, and backing to hold all three layers together.

Materials: Fabric Requirements

This pattern is designed to be made with quilting cotton, the standard fabric choice for patchwork quilting. The cutting instructions reference specific fabric roles and quantities:

• Center Pinwheel fabrics: From each of 4 half yards of fabric (a mix of light and dark prints), quilters cut 3 strips at 4¼" x width of fabric, then sub-cut those strips into 20 squares at 4¼". The contrast between light and dark fabrics is essential for the pinwheel to read clearly.
• Background fabrics: From each of 4 background fabrics, the pattern calls for cutting:
  • 2 strips at 7¼" x width of fabric, sub-cut into 10 squares at 7¼"
  • 5 strips at 6½" x width of