Riley Blake Lunch Date - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake Lunch Date Quilt Pattern by Lori Holt – Free Downloadable PDF Summary

What Is Being Made

The Lunch Date pattern by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs produces a finished quilt measuring 65" x 75" — a generous lap or throw size that works beautifully as a cozy home accent or a thoughtful handmade gift. The quilt is built entirely from a single repeating block design, the Lunch Date Block, which finishes at 9" x 9". A total of 20 Lunch Date Blocks are constructed and arranged to create the complete quilt top. The design has a classic, cheerful aesthetic that reflects Lori Holt's signature charming and approachable style.

The Lunch Date Block

Each Lunch Date Block is a variation of the traditional square-on-point or snowball-style construction, where a central square is framed by triangles on all four sides to create a diagonal, dynamic look. The block is straightforward in concept but requires careful pressing and squaring up to maintain accuracy across all 20 repetitions.

• Each block uses a 6⅞" assorted print square positioned on point as the central focal element.
• Two triangles of clean white solid or light gray solid fabric are sewn to opposite sides of the center square first, then pressed.
• The remaining two triangles are then added to the other opposite sides to complete the block surround.
• Each completed block is squared up to 9½" (unfinished), yielding a 9" finished block after seaming into the quilt top.
• Of the 20 total blocks, 10 are made with clean white solid triangles and 10 are made with light gray solid triangles, creating a subtle two-tone rhythm across the quilt layout.

Techniques Used

This pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and assumes a basic working knowledge of quilting technique and terminology. Key techniques involved include:

• Triangle piecing: Sewing half-square or setting triangles to a center square on point — a skill that benefits from careful alignment and consistent seam allowances.
• Pressing: Proper pressing after each triangle addition is essential to keep blocks flat and accurate.
• Squaring up blocks: Each block must be trimmed and squared to exactly 9½" before assembly, a critical step for ensuring the quilt top lies flat and seams match cleanly.
• Sewing with right sides together: The pattern explicitly calls for this standard quilting convention throughout construction.
• ¼" seam allowance: All measurements in the pattern include a standard quilting ¼" seam allowance, which must be maintained consistently for accurate results.
• Block repetition and layout: Arranging and assembling 20 identical blocks into a cohesive quilt top, referencing the block diagram for correct fabric placement.

Stitches Used

As a quilting project, the Lunch Date quilt relies on the following stitch applications:

• Straight stitch (machine piecing): Used throughout for joining triangles to the center square and for assembling blocks into rows and the quilt top.
• Quilting stitch: Applied through the quilt sandwich (top, batting, and backing) to secure the layers — the specific quilting design is at the maker's discretion.
• Binding stitch: Used to finish the raw edges of the quilt with a binding strip, typically sewn by machine to the front and hand- or machine-stitched to the back.

Materials – Fabric and Notions

The pattern is designed to be made with Riley Blake Designs fabrics, with specific colorways called out by fabric code. Fabric requirements include:

• ¼ yard blue main (C2840 Blue)
• 1⅛ yards red main (C2840 Red)