Riley Blake Criss Cross - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake Criss Cross Quilt Pattern by Sheri Berry – Downloadable PDF Summary

About This Pattern

The Riley Blake Criss Cross is a free, downloadable PDF quilt pattern designed by Sheri Berry for Riley Blake Designs. It produces a striking lap or throw quilt with a finished size of 54" x 62½", making it a versatile project suitable for draping over a sofa, gifting, or everyday home use. The design is rated intermediate difficulty, meaning it is best suited to quilters who already have a foundational understanding of quilting techniques and terminology, though it is an excellent next step for confident beginners looking to expand their skills.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single quilted blanket or throw constructed from repeating geometric blocks. The central design element is the Criss Cross Block, which finishes at 8½" x 8½" per block. When assembled across the quilt top, these blocks create a dynamic, interlocking visual pattern that gives the quilt its distinctive criss-cross appearance. The overall layout is guided by the quilt photo included in the pattern, which directs fabric placement for maximum visual impact.

The Criss Cross Block – Construction Details

Each Criss Cross Block is constructed individually before being joined in the quilt assembly stage. The block is built around three key units:

• Triangle Units: Off-white triangles are sewn to each side of an assorted print 2½" x 6" rectangle to form a Triangle Unit. Two Triangle Units are made per block.
• Center Unit: An assorted print 2½" x 6" rectangle is sewn to each side of a 2½" robin shade square, creating the Center Unit that anchors the block's focal point.
• Block Assembly: A Triangle Unit is sewn to each side of the Center Unit to complete the full Criss Cross Block. The finished block is then squared up to 9" x 9", with careful attention paid to centering the robin shade square during trimming.

This construction method relies on precise piecing and accurate squaring-up to ensure all blocks align cleanly during quilt assembly. The interplay between the triangles and the central rectangle creates the signature diagonal, criss-crossing lines that define the pattern's name.

Techniques Used

This is a quilting project that draws on several core patchwork and quilt construction techniques:

• Triangle piecing – sewing triangles to rectangles to create angled, geometric units
• Block-based construction – assembling individual blocks before joining them into a full quilt top
• Squaring up blocks – trimming each completed block to an exact 9" x 9" measurement for consistent, accurate assembly
• ¼" seam allowance – all measurements include a standard quilting ¼" seam allowance throughout
• Right-sides-together sewing – the standard quilting convention used unless otherwise noted in the instructions
• Fabric placement planning – referring to the quilt photo to arrange assorted print fabrics for a balanced, intentional design

Stitches and Sewing Methods

As a quilting pattern, the Riley Blake Criss Cross is sewn on a standard sewing machine using a straight stitch. The consistent ¼" seam allowance is the cornerstone stitch guideline throughout the entire project. Accurate, even stitching is particularly important when attaching triangles to rectangles, as slight variations can affect the alignment of the criss-cross design across the finished quilt top.

Materials – Fabric Requirements

The pattern specifies Riley Blake Designs fabrics by their collection codes, giving quilters the option to recreate the original colorway precisely. The listed fabric requirements include:

• 1½ yards of cream main – referenced as C2740 Cream
• ¾ yard of brown gears – referenced as C2741 Brown
• Assorted print fabrics – used