Riley Blake Crossbones - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake Crossbones Quilt Pattern by Jen Allyson – Free Downloadable PDF

The Riley Blake Crossbones pattern, designed by Jen Allyson for Riley Blake Designs, is a free downloadable PDF quilting pattern that produces a striking Halloween-themed quilt measuring a generous 68" x 78". Built from 10" x 10" finished blocks, this project delivers bold graphic impact through a clever combination of strip piecing and precise cutting, making it an excellent choice for quilters who want a show-stopping seasonal quilt without overly complex construction.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a full-size Halloween quilt featuring a Crossbones block design. Each block is individually arranged so that no two are identical, giving the finished quilt a dynamic, scrappy appearance. The crossbones motif is achieved through careful strip-set construction and segment assembly rather than appliqué, keeping the work entirely within traditional patchwork piecing. The quilt is designed specifically to coordinate with the Lost & Found Halloween Fat Quarter Stack (FQ-5120-21) fabric collection by Riley Blake Designs.

Fabrics and Materials

The pattern calls for a curated selection of Riley Blake Designs fabrics, combining a coordinating fat quarter stack with yardage cuts of solid and print fabrics:

• 1 Lost & Found Halloween Fat Quarter Stack (FQ-5120-21) – a pre-cut collection of assorted Halloween prints including gray main, purple main, black skulls, green spiders, orange spiders, black web, orange web, purple web, green dots, orange dots, and purple dots
• 1½ yards of cream main (C5120 Cream)
• 1 yard of black newsprint (C5121 Black)
• 2½ yards of off white solid (C120 Off White) – used extensively as the background and contrast element throughout every block
• ⅝ yard for binding
• 4¾ yards for backing

The generous use of off white solid is central to the design, providing the crisp negative space that makes the crossbones motif read clearly against the varied Halloween prints.

Techniques Used

The Crossbones pattern relies on strip piecing, one of the most efficient and accurate techniques in quilting. Strip piecing involves sewing long strips of fabric together along their length, pressing the seams, and then cross-cutting the joined strips into uniform segments. This method ensures consistent sizing and dramatically speeds up block construction compared to cutting and sewing individual small pieces.

Key techniques in this pattern include:

• Strip set construction – pairs of assorted print strips and off white solid strips are sewn together to create multiple unique strip sets
• Segment cutting – each strip set is cross-cut into 1½"-wide segments, labeled as Segment A, which become the building blocks of the crossbones design
• Scrappy block assembly – each Crossbones block is assembled differently, requiring careful reference to the quilt photo for fabric placement
• Accurate seam allowances – all measurements include a standard ¼" seam allowance, and quilters are advised to measure through the center of the quilt before cutting border pieces, as seam allowances can vary
• Right-sides-together sewing – the standard method used throughout unless otherwise noted

Cutting Requirements and Block Construction

The cutting requirements are organized by fabric type and are detailed enough to support efficient preparation before sewing begins. Highlights include:

• 21 strips cut at 1½" x WOF from the off white solid, then sub-cut into 42 rectangles measuring 1½" x 21"
• 8 strips cut at 6½" x WOF from the off white solid, then sub-cut into 120 rectangles measuring 2½" x 6½"
• From each assorted print in the fat quarter stack: 4 strips at 1½" x 21", 6 squares at 2½" x