Riley Blake Stop! - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake Stop! Quilt Pattern – Free Downloadable PDF for Beginner Quilters

The Riley Blake Stop! pattern, designed by The RBD Designers, is a free downloadable PDF quilting pattern that produces a striking, graphic quilt measuring a finished 51½" x 51½". Inspired by the bold, eye-catching imagery of a stop sign, this design is an excellent choice for quilters who are just beginning their journey, as it requires only a basic knowledge of quilting technique and terminology. The pattern is clean, modern, and highly achievable, making it a satisfying project from start to finish.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a square lap or throw quilt built around a repeating block design called the Stop Block. Each finished Stop Block measures 9½" x 9½", and the complete quilt is assembled from 16 Stop Blocks arranged in four rows of four. The blocks are separated and framed with sashing and borders to create a structured, bold layout. The result is a visually impactful quilt with strong contrast between the assorted prints and the supporting solid and checkerboard fabrics.

The Stop Block Design

The Stop Block is the central design unit of this quilt. Each block is constructed using a classic snowball block technique, in which small squares are sewn onto the corners of a larger center square to create angled, cut-away corners. This gives each block its distinctive octagonal appearance, reminiscent of a stop sign shape. The technique is beginner-friendly and relies on straight-line sewing throughout.

• Center square: One assorted print 10" square selected from the stacker
• Corner squares: Four snow white shade 3½" squares, one placed on each corner of the center square
• A diagonal line is drawn from corner to corner on the wrong side of each small square before sewing
• Squares are sewn on the drawn line with right sides together, then trimmed leaving a ¼" seam allowance, and pressed
• This process is repeated to create all 16 Stop Blocks

Techniques Used

This pattern is built around fundamental quilting techniques that are ideal for beginners while still producing a polished, professional-looking result. Understanding these methods will help quilters work efficiently and accurately.

• Snowball block construction: Sewing small squares diagonally onto the corners of a larger square to create angled corners without complex cutting
• Diagonal line marking: Drawing a line from corner to corner on the wrong side of small squares to guide accurate stitching
• Trimming and pressing: Cutting away excess fabric after sewing the diagonal seam and pressing seams for a flat, crisp finish
• Sashing assembly: Joining blocks with rectangular sashing strips to create structured rows and a defined grid layout
• Row assembly: Sewing individual blocks and sashing pieces together into rows, then joining rows with longer sashing rectangles to form the quilt center
• Border application: Measuring through the center of the quilt before cutting border strips to ensure accurate sizing; sewing side borders first, then top and bottom
• Strip piecing and joining: Sewing border strips end to end when additional length is needed

Stitches Used

As a quilting pattern, Stop! relies entirely on straight-line machine stitching throughout construction. All seams are sewn with right sides together unless otherwise stated. The consistent use of a ¼" seam allowance is essential to achieving accurate block sizes and a properly fitting quilt top. The diagonal stitching on the snowball corners is the only angled sewing required, and it follows a pre-drawn guideline, making it very manageable for beginners.

Materials – Fabric Requirements

This pattern is designed specifically around Riley Blake Designs fabrics, and the requirements are clearly outlined in the PDF. The featured fabric collection is On Our Way.

• 1 On Our Way 10-inch Stacker (10-4120-20): 16 assorted print 10" squares are chosen from this pre-cut bundle for the Stop Block centers