Riley Blake Formal Gardens Quilt - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake Formal Gardens Quilt – Free Downloadable PDF Pattern Summary

The Formal Gardens Quilt is a free downloadable PDF pattern from Riley Blake Designs, suitable for beginner quilters who have a basic knowledge of quilting technique and terminology. The finished quilt measures 52" x 64", making it a versatile lap or throw size. The design is built around a striking 12" x 12" block called the Formal Gardens Block, which combines classic Nine-Patch construction with framed print squares to create an elegant, structured appearance reminiscent of formal garden layouts.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a pieced quilt with a repeating block design. Each Formal Gardens Block finishes at 12" x 12" and is assembled from a central Nine-Patch Unit surrounded by assorted print squares and strip-pieced framing units. The overall quilt layout combines these blocks with a border to achieve the finished 52" x 64" dimensions. The pattern is described as a virtual image, so the final look may vary depending on the specific fabrics chosen.

Techniques Used

• Strip piecing – A core technique in this pattern. Strips of fabric are sewn together lengthwise into strip sets, which are then cut into segments to efficiently create repeating units without sewing individual small pieces one at a time.
• Nine-Patch construction – A foundational quilting technique where nine square units are arranged in a 3x3 grid and sewn together. Here, the Nine-Patch Units are built from coral/cream/coral and cream/coral/cream segments cut from strip sets.
• Block assembly – Each Formal Gardens Block is assembled by combining 4 assorted print 5" squares, 4 Unit A segments, and 1 Nine-Patch Unit, creating a structured, symmetrical block design.
• Border application – The pattern includes a Border 2 cut from the blue main fabric in 6½" x WOF (width of fabric) strips. The instructions note that seam allowances vary and recommend measuring through the center of the quilt before cutting border pieces, a best practice in quilting to ensure accurate fit.
• Binding – The quilt is finished with a traditional binding, with fabric allocated specifically for this purpose.

Stitches and Sewing Details

• All seams are sewn with a ¼" seam allowance, the standard for quilting, and all pieces are sewn with right sides together unless otherwise stated.
• Strip sets are pressed and cut into precise segments: 1½" segments for the Nine-Patch Units and 5" segments for the Unit A framing pieces.
• Accurate cutting is essential — the pattern recommends reading all instructions before cutting, as seam allowances vary in different sections of the project.

Unit Construction Breakdown

Nine-Patch Units

Two types of strip sets are created for the Nine-Patch Units. A coral wallpaper / cream garden / coral wallpaper strip set is cut into 1½" segments to yield 24 coral/cream/coral segments. A cream garden / coral wallpaper / cream garden strip set is cut into 1½" segments to yield 12 cream/coral/cream segments. Two coral/cream/coral segments and one cream/coral/cream segment are joined to form each Nine-Patch Unit, with a total of 12 Nine-Patch Units required for the quilt.

Unit A (Framing Segments)

Six cream/coral/cream strip sets are constructed and each is cut into 5" segments, producing 8 Unit A segments per strip set for a total of 48 Unit A segments. These frame the Nine-Patch Units within each block, adding structure and visual rhythm to the design.

Formal Gardens Block

Each finished block combines 4 assorted print 5" squares (cut from the 10-inch stacker), 4 Unit A segments, and 1 Nine-Patch Unit to create the complete Formal Gardens Block.