Riley Blake Bright Star - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake Bright Star Quilt Pattern by Patty Young – Downloadable PDF Summary

About This Pattern

The Bright Star pattern by designer Patty Young is a free downloadable PDF quilt pattern published by Riley Blake Designs. It is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it an ideal next step for quilters who are comfortable with basic patchwork and ready to tackle more structured, multi-unit block construction. The finished quilt measures a generous 68 inches by 76 inches, making it a substantial lap or bed quilt suitable for everyday use.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a full-size patchwork quilt built around a striking Bright Star block, each block finishing at 16 inches by 16 inches. The overall quilt center is assembled from multiple uniquely arranged blocks, connected with sashing strips to create a cohesive, visually dynamic layout. The design showcases a bold star-inspired composition achieved through precise unit piecing rather than traditional template cutting.

Fabric and Materials

The pattern is designed specifically around Riley Blake Designs fabrics. The recommended materials include:

• Primavera Fat Quarter Bundle (FQ-5740-21) – a coordinated collection of assorted prints used for the star points and patchwork squares throughout the blocks
• 1½ yards of white main fabric (C5740 White) – used as a background or accent fabric
• 3 yards of putty solid (C120 Putty) – a key neutral solid used extensively in block construction and sashing
• ⅝ yard of binding fabric – to finish the quilt edges

The Primavera Fat Quarter Bundle includes a rich variety of prints such as tangerine main, teal main, green damask, pink damask, teal damask, pink tile, tangerine tile, teal tile, pink plaid, tangerine plaid, teal plaid, tangerine paisley, green buds, pink buds, tangerine buds, and green leafy prints, among others. This wide palette of coordinated fabrics gives the finished quilt its vibrant, multicolored character.

Cutting Requirements

Precise cutting is essential to the success of this pattern. Key cuts from the putty solid (C120 Putty) include:

• 6 strips cut at 2½ inches by width of fabric (WOF), then sub-cut into 48 rectangles measuring 2½ inches by 4½ inches
• 6 strips cut at 8½ inches by WOF, then sub-cut into 48 rectangles measuring 4½ inches by 8½ inches
• 7 strips cut at 2½ inches by WOF for sashing, sewn together and cut into 4 rectangles measuring 2½ inches by 64½ inches

From the fat quarter bundle prints, 2½-inch squares are cut in specific quantities from each individual print, ensuring the color placement across the quilt is intentional and balanced. All measurements include a standard ¼-inch seam allowance.

Block Construction Techniques

The heart of this pattern is the Bright Star Block, and each block is constructed individually using a unit-piecing method. The process involves building several sub-units that are then assembled into the complete 16-inch block:

• Four-Patch Unit: Four assorted print 2½-inch squares are sewn together in a two-by-two arrangement to form the central Four-Patch Unit. This classic quilting technique creates a small checkerboard-style center that anchors the block design.
• Unit A: A putty solid 2½ by 4½-inch rectangle is sewn to each side of the Four-Patch Unit, extending the center horizontally into a larger rectangular unit.
• Unit B: A print 2½-inch square is sewn to each end of a putty solid 2½ by 4½-inch rectangle, creating a strip unit. Two Unit Bs are made per block.
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