Riley Blake Around the Meadow - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake Around the Meadow Quilt Pattern – Free Downloadable PDF by Jill Finley

The Riley Blake Around the Meadow quilt pattern is a free downloadable PDF designed by Jill Finley and created to showcase the Riley Blake Meadow Sweets Fat Quarter Bundle (FQ-5650-21). The finished quilt measures a generous 68" x 86", making it an ideal lap quilt, throw, or bed topper. Each pieced block finishes at 16" x 16", and the overall design incorporates sashing, cornerstones, and a border to frame the blocks beautifully. This is rated as a beginner-friendly quilting project, making it an excellent choice for newer quilters who want to build confidence while working with a coordinated fabric collection.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single large patchwork quilt measuring 68 inches wide by 86 inches tall. The quilt is built around a series of 16" x 16" finished blocks that are set together with sashing strips and posts, then finished with a surrounding border. The result is a structured, meadow-inspired quilt that highlights the floral and nature-themed prints found in the Meadow Sweets Fat Quarter Bundle.

Materials Required

• Fabric: 1 Meadow Sweets Fat Quarter Bundle (FQ-5650-21) from Riley Blake Designs, which provides the primary patchwork fabrics for the blocks
• Riley White Solid: Used extensively for the block construction, sashing, posts, and Border 1 — this neutral solid provides contrast and structure throughout the quilt
• Backing, batting, and binding: Standard quilting supplies required (specific yardage to be confirmed in the full pattern PDF)
• Tools: Rotary cutter, quilting ruler, cutting mat, and a sewing machine capable of an accurate ¼" seam allowance

Cutting Instructions Overview

The pattern provides precise cutting directions for the Riley White Solid fabric, which plays a central structural role in the quilt. Key cuts include:

• 2 strips 4½" x WOF, sub-cut into 12 squares measuring 4½" x 4½"
• 6 strips 2½" x WOF, sub-cut into 24 rectangles measuring 2½" x 8½"
• 8 strips 2½" x WOF, sub-cut into 24 rectangles measuring 2½" x 12½"
• 9 strips 2½" x WOF, sub-cut into 17 sashing rectangles measuring 2½" x 16½" and 6 cornerstone squares measuring 2½" x 2½"
• 7 strips 2½" x WOF reserved for Border 1

All measurements include a standard ¼" seam allowance, and all units are sewn with right sides together unless the pattern specifically states otherwise.

Techniques Used

• Rotary cutting: Strips are cut across the width of fabric (WOF) and then sub-cut into squares and rectangles of precise dimensions
• Strip piecing and block construction: Fabric pieces are assembled into structured 16" x 16" blocks using step-by-step piecing sequences
• Sashing and posts: Sashing strips (2½" x 16½") and small cornerstone posts (2½" x 2½") are used to separate and frame the individual blocks, a classic quilting technique that adds visual order and a secondary design element
• Borders: A pieced or straight-set border (Border 1) is added around the quilt center to complete the design and bring the quilt to its full 68" x 86" finished size
• Accurate seam allowance: A consistent