Riley Blake Breathtaking - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake Breathtaking Quilt Pattern by Fancy Pants Designs – Free Downloadable PDF

The Riley Blake Breathtaking pattern, designed by Fancy Pants Designs and available as a free downloadable PDF, is a stunning on-point quilt project featuring a classic Granny Square Block set on the diagonal. The finished quilt measures a generous 70⅛" x 82⅛", making it a substantial lap or bed quilt. Each individual block finishes at 8½" x 8½", and the overall design combines a rich variety of coordinating prints with a crisp cream background for a timeless, heirloom-quality look.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single large pieced quilt. The design is built around the Granny Square Block, a traditional quilting block that places a central square on point, surrounded by half-square and quarter-square triangles to create a dynamic, spinning visual effect. The blocks are arranged in an on-point (diagonal) setting, which adds elegance and visual movement to the finished quilt. Setting triangles and corner triangles complete the diagonal layout, filling in the edges and corners of the quilt top.

Fabrics and Materials Required

• 1 Fancy and Fabulous Fat Quarter Stack (FQ-4840-18) – a curated collection of assorted prints from Riley Blake Designs, including coral, mint, and yellow colorways across multiple print styles such as Loving Life, Y prints, and Breath prints
• 1½ yards of cream main fabric – Riley Blake C4840 Cream
• 3¼ yards of cream daisy fabric – Riley Blake C750-01 Cream, used extensively for the triangle units that frame each block
• ¾ yard for binding
• 5 yards for backing

As a quilting project, this pattern uses quilting cotton fabric rather than yarn or fiber. No knitting needles or crochet hooks are required. Standard quilting tools apply, including a rotary cutter, cutting mat, quilting ruler, and a sewing machine capable of an accurate ¼" seam allowance.

Techniques Used

• On-point (diagonal) block setting – blocks are rotated 45 degrees and arranged diagonally across the quilt, a classic technique that adds sophistication and a sense of movement
• Half-square triangle construction – squares are cut once diagonally to yield two right triangles, used for corner triangles and specific unit assembly
• Quarter-square triangle construction – squares are cut twice diagonally to yield four triangles, used to create the B triangles from the cream daisy fabric that surround the central squares in each block
• Setting triangles and corner triangles – large 14" squares are cut twice diagonally to produce side setting triangles, while 7½" squares are cut once diagonally to create corner triangles, both essential for finishing an on-point layout
• Unit-based block assembly – each Granny Square Block is constructed in stages, first building Unit A (a central square flanked by cream daisy B triangles) and Unit B (a row of assorted print squares), then combining these units into the finished block
• Fabric placement planning – because each block uses a different combination of assorted prints from the fat quarter stack, careful reference to the quilt photo is recommended for placement, giving the quilt its scrappy, coordinated charm
• Accurate pressing and seam allowance consistency – the pattern specifies a standard ¼" seam allowance throughout, with right sides together for all seaming; measuring through the center of the quilt before cutting border pieces is specifically advised to ensure accuracy

Stitches and Piecing Methods

• Straight-stitch machine piecing – all units and blocks are assembled using straight-stitch sewing on a domestic sewing machine
• Diagonal seaming – inherent in the construction of triangle units from diagonally cut squares