Riley Blake Pieces Of A Puzzle - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake Pieces Of A Puzzle Quilt Pattern – Free Downloadable PDF by The RBD Designers

Pieces of a Puzzle is a beginner-friendly quilting pattern from Riley Blake Designs, created by The RBD Designers and available as a free downloadable PDF. The finished quilt measures a generous 60½" x 76¼", making it a versatile lap or throw size suitable for everyday use or gifting. The design is built around a charming puzzle piece motif, giving the quilt a playful, meaningful aesthetic — particularly fitting for themes of community, hope, and connection.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single, complete quilt featuring a combination of pieced blocks, appliquéd puzzle piece blocks, sashing, posts, setting triangles, corner triangles, and borders. The overall layout is set on the diagonal, giving the finished quilt a dynamic, visually engaging appearance. The central design is anchored by a mix of Puzzle Blocks and a Center Block, surrounded by sashing strips and posts, and finished with corner and setting triangles before borders are added.

Quilt Blocks and Design Elements

• Puzzle Block 1 – Pieces of Hope: Each Puzzle Block is constructed from a 9½" x 9½" square onto which a puzzle piece shape is applied using appliqué. Quilters are instructed to use their favorite method of appliqué, and a template is provided within the pattern for tracing and cutting the puzzle piece shape accurately.
• Center Block: A dedicated center block anchors the diagonal layout of the quilt, as referenced in the Quilt Center Diagram included in the pattern.
• Sashing and Posts: Sashing strips connect the blocks, and small 2½" x 2½" squares cut from Snow White Shade (C200-03 Snow White) fabric serve as posts at sashing intersections, adding a clean, structured look to the layout.
• Setting Triangles and Corner Triangles: Because the quilt is set on the diagonal, setting triangles and corner triangles are required to complete the edges. Setting triangles are cut from 17" x 17" squares cut twice diagonally to yield 12 triangles (with 2 unused), while corner triangles are cut from 10½" x 10½" squares cut once diagonally to yield 4 triangles. These are intentionally cut larger than needed so the quilt center can be squared up before borders are attached.
• Borders: The pattern includes border sections added after the quilt center is squared up, with quilters advised to measure through the center of the quilt before cutting border strips to ensure accuracy.

Techniques Used

• Diagonal on-point setting: Blocks are arranged and sewn together on the diagonal, requiring rows to be assembled at an angle before corner and setting triangles are added. This is a classic quilting layout that adds visual interest and a sense of movement to the finished piece.
• Appliqué: The puzzle piece motif is applied to each Puzzle Block using the quilter's preferred appliqué method. Common approaches include fusible web appliqué, needle-turn appliqué, or machine appliqué — the pattern accommodates any of these.
• Half-square and quarter-square triangle cutting: Setting triangles are produced by cutting large squares twice on the diagonal (quarter-square triangles), while corner triangles are produced by cutting squares once on the diagonal (half-square triangles). This ensures the straight grain of the fabric falls along the outer edges of the quilt for stability.
• Sashing and post construction: Sashing strips and small post squares are cut and sewn between blocks to frame each design element and create a structured grid within the diagonal layout.
• Squaring up the quilt center: Before borders are added, quilters square up the quilt center, leaving a ¼" seam allowance on all sides — an important finishing step that ensures the borders lie flat and the quilt remains square.
• Standard quilting construction: All pieces are sewn with right sides together using a ¼" seam allowance throughout, which is the standard for patchwork quilting.

Stitches Used