Riley Blake Ships Go Sailing - At The Lake - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake Ships Go Sailing - At The Lake Quilt

What Is Being Made

The Ships Go Sailing - At The Lake quilt is a downloadable PDF pattern designed by Tara Reed for Riley Blake Designs. This intermediate-level quilting project creates a finished quilt measuring 76" x 79¼", making it a substantial bed-sized quilt suitable for displaying nautical-themed fabric collections.

Quilting Techniques Used

This pattern employs fundamental quilting construction methods appropriate for intermediate crafters. The design requires strip piecing, a core quilting technique where fabric strips are sewn together along their lengths and then cut into segments to create larger units. The pattern also incorporates rectangular piecing, where cut fabric pieces are sewn with right sides together to form the quilt blocks and overall composition. The layout combines multiple fabric pieces in a structured arrangement to achieve the finished design.

Stitches and Construction Methods

The pattern utilizes standard ¼" seam allowances throughout, which is the industry standard for quilting precision. Pieces are sewn with right sides together unless otherwise specified in the instructions. The construction involves cutting strips at various widths—including 4¼" strips, 3½" strips, and smaller segments—then sewing these strips together before cutting them into rectangles of specific dimensions such as 3½" x 6½" and 3½" x 54½". This methodical approach creates consistent blocks that piece together to form the complete quilt top.

Materials and Fabric Requirements

This Riley Blake Designs pattern is built around coordinating fabric collections featuring a nautical theme. The project requires multiple fabric pieces including Gray Main fabric (1½ yards), Navy Main fabric, and Blue Plaid fabric (½ yard, C10550). Additional fabric yardage is specified for other design elements, though complete requirements are detailed in the full pattern. Quilters will need standard quilting supplies including a rotary cutter, quilting ruler, and cutting mat for accurate strip and rectangle cutting. The pattern is designed to work with standard quilting cotton and typical quilting needles or sewing machine needles appropriate for piecing.

Pattern Features

The pattern includes detailed block diagrams and quilt layout illustrations to guide construction. The PDF format allows quilters to download and reference the instructions digitally or print them for use at the sewing machine. Tara Reed's design incorporates a structured grid of rectangles in varying sizes that, when sewn together with the coordinating Riley Blake fabrics, creates a cohesive nautical composition. The pattern notes that virtual images are provided for reference, and the final appearance may vary depending on the actual fabric prints used.

Skill Level and Suitability

Rated as intermediate difficulty, this quilt pattern assumes crafters have basic quilting knowledge and familiarity with standard quilting terminology and techniques. The pattern is free to download, making it an accessible project for quilters looking to expand their skills beyond beginner level while working with a coordinated fabric line from Riley Blake Designs.