Riley Blake Garden Rows - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake Garden Rows Quilt Pattern – Free Downloadable PDF by Hubert and Sorrel

The Garden Rows quilt pattern is a charming, intermediate-level quilting project designed by Hubert and Sorrel and published by Riley Blake Designs. Available as a free downloadable PDF, this pattern produces a finished quilt measuring 56½" x 66" — a generous lap or throw size that works beautifully as a bed topper, picnic blanket, or decorative home accent. The design is built around a simple but visually striking strip-pieced block structure, arranged in organized rows that evoke the look of a lush, colorful garden — hence the name.

What Is Being Made

Garden Rows is a pieced quilt composed of 20 assorted print blocks, each finishing at 8" x 8". Each block is constructed from four coordinating fabric strips sewn together, creating a bold, rectangular stripe effect. The blocks are then arranged in a deliberate row layout to create a cohesive, garden-inspired color flow across the quilt surface. The design is framed by multiple borders that add structure and visual weight to the finished piece.

Fabric and Materials

This pattern is specifically designed to showcase the Hubert and Sorrel Rolie Polie (product code RP-9090-40) — a pre-cut roll of 2½" fabric strips from Riley Blake Designs. Using a Rolie Polie as the primary fabric source makes this an excellent stash-friendly and pre-cut-friendly project, as the strips are already cut to the correct width and ready to sub-cut into rectangles.

Additional yardage requirements include:

• ½ yard C200-83 Tutu Shade — used for Border 2
• ¾ yard C9093 White Harvest Baskets — used for block construction and structural elements
• ¾ yard C9095 Aqua Seedling Pots — used for block construction and structural elements
• 1½ yards C705 Red Pin Dot — a significant yardage requirement, used for borders, sashing-style strips, and binding
• ½ yard of binding fabric (the Red Pin Dot C705 serves double duty here)

As this is a quilting pattern, the required tools include a rotary cutter, quilting ruler, and cutting mat for accurate strip and rectangle cutting, as well as a sewing machine capable of consistent ¼" seam allowances. Standard quilting supplies such as pins, an iron, and pressing surface are also essential.

Techniques Used

Garden Rows is rated intermediate difficulty, meaning it is suitable for quilters who are comfortable with the fundamentals of quilting but may not yet have advanced skills. The pattern requires a basic knowledge of quilting technique and terminology, as stated in the pattern instructions themselves.

Key techniques used throughout this project include:

• Strip cutting and sub-cutting — strips are cut at specific widths across the width of fabric (WOF), then sub-cut into precise rectangles and squares for block and border construction
• Strip piecing — the core block construction method, in which four 2½" x 8½" rectangles are sewn together side by side to create each 8½" x 8½" unfinished block
• Color sorting and intentional placement — the Rolie Polie strips are sorted into three color groups: aqua, gray, and white based on background color, and specific quantities of rectangles are cut from each group (26 aqua, 27 gray, and 27 white 2½" x 8½" rectangles), ensuring a balanced and visually harmonious layout
• Seam pressing — seams are pressed in one direction for clean, flat block construction
• Right-sides-together sewing — the standard quilting method used throughout all piecing steps
• Multi-border construction — the quilt features at least five borders, including Border 1 (cut from 1½" WOF strips of Red Pin Dot), Border 2 (cut from 2½" W