Riley Blake Mod Runaway - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake Mod Runaway Quilt Pattern – Free Downloadable PDF by Liberty Fabrics

The Riley Blake Mod Runaway is a free downloadable PDF quilt pattern designed by Liberty Fabrics and published through Riley Blake Designs. This pattern produces a striking finished quilt measuring 56⅜" x 69¾", making it an ideal size for a lap quilt, throw, or generous baby blanket. With a beginner difficulty rating, this project is accessible to newer quilters while still delivering a visually impressive, modern result.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a quilted blanket or throw featuring a bold, retro-modern design built around half-circle appliqué blocks. The overall layout uses a combination of pieced runway blocks, setting triangles, and corner triangles to produce a dynamic, curved visual effect across the quilt surface. The finished block size is 9½" x 9½", and the design is noted as 10" Stacker Friendly, meaning it is perfectly suited for pre-cut 10-inch square fabric packs, sometimes called stackers or layer cakes.

Design and Block Construction

Runway Blocks

The signature element of this quilt is the Runway Block, which features half-circle appliqué pieces attached to all four sides of select blocks. A total of 12 blocks receive this half-circle treatment, creating the curved, mod-inspired visual that gives the quilt its name. The half-circle pieces are prepared using lightweight fusible interfacing, which serves the dual purpose of stabilizing the curved shapes and preventing darker fabrics from showing through the white solid background — a practical and clever construction detail.

To construct each half-circle unit, the fabric pieces are placed right sides together on the bumpy side of the fusible interfacing. The curved top edge is stitched using a small stitch length to achieve a smooth, clean curve. The seam allowance is then trimmed and the piece is turned right side out before being positioned and appliquéd onto the block. Quilters are invited to use their favorite method of appliqué to attach the half circles, giving flexibility to those who prefer hand appliqué, machine appliqué, or other personal techniques.

Setting and Corner Triangles

In addition to the runway blocks, the quilt layout incorporates setting triangles and corner triangles, which are used to complete the on-point or angled arrangement of blocks within the quilt top. These triangles are an important structural element that frame the central blocks and give the finished quilt its polished, cohesive appearance.

Techniques Used

• Half-circle appliqué – the central decorative technique, applied to 12 blocks using fusible interfacing for stability and clean curves
• Fusible interfacing preparation – used to back and stabilize curved fabric pieces before stitching and turning
• Curved seam sewing – stitching along the top of half-circle pieces with a small stitch length for smooth results
• Trimming and turning – seam allowances are trimmed before pieces are turned right side out to reduce bulk and improve curve definition
• Block piecing – standard quilting construction with ¼" seam allowances throughout, sewn with right sides together
• Setting and corner triangle construction – used to complete the quilt layout and frame the blocks
• Quilt assembly and layout – fabric placement is guided by the quilt photo included in the pattern

Materials Required

Fabric

• 18 squares of 10" pre-cut fabric (from six coordinating fabrics) or ⅓ yard cuts of six fabrics for the blocks — compatible with 10" stacker pre-cut packs
• 1 yard of white solid fabric for the block backgrounds
• Additional fabric for setting triangles and corner triangles (refer to the full pattern PDF for exact yardage)

Interfacing and Notions

• 2 yards of lightweight fusible interfacing — essential for preparing and stabilizing the half-circle appliqué