Riley Blake Celebrate - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake Celebrate Quilt Pattern by The Quilted Fish – Free Downloadable PDF

The Celebrate quilt pattern, designed by Jina Barney for Riley Blake Designs and The Quilted Fish, is a stunning intermediate-level quilting project that results in a finished quilt measuring 49" x 61¼". This free downloadable PDF pattern is an excellent choice for quilters who are comfortable with basic piecing and are ready to explore more dynamic block construction, including diamond shapes, setting triangles, and bordered layouts.

What Is Being Made

The Celebrate pattern produces a lap quilt or throw featuring a striking on-point diamond block design set with side setting triangles and framed with a bold red border. The finished block size is 8" x 14", and the overall composition creates a festive, geometric aesthetic perfectly suited to the Riley Blake Celebrate fabric collection. The quilt's design is both visually dynamic and structurally engaging, making it a rewarding project for intermediate quilters.

Design and Block Construction

The central design of the Celebrate quilt revolves around large diamond blocks arranged in an on-point setting. The pattern includes printed templates to assist with accurate cutting and placement:

• Large Diamond Template – the primary block shape that forms the quilt's focal design
• Small Diamond Template – used for detail piecing within or alongside the main blocks
• Sashing Template – guides the construction of sashing strips that separate and frame the diamond blocks

The on-point setting means the blocks are rotated 45 degrees, creating a dynamic diagonal flow across the quilt surface. This layout requires setting triangles along the sides of the quilt to fill in the edges and create a straight, finished perimeter. These side setting triangles are cut from a blue dot fabric (C2665 Blue) using a precise folding and diagonal-cutting method: rectangles measuring 4⅝" x 15⅞" are folded in half with short ends together, a diagonal line is drawn from the top corner to the bottom corner, and the fabric is cut along that line to yield the triangles.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several classic and intermediate quilting techniques that make it both educational and satisfying to complete:

• Template piecing – printed templates for large diamonds, small diamonds, and sashing are included in the PDF, requiring careful tracing and cutting for accuracy
• On-point block setting – blocks are set diagonally, which adds visual interest but requires additional planning and the use of setting triangles
• Setting triangle construction – rectangles are folded and cut diagonally to create side-setting triangles, a technique that maximizes fabric efficiency
• Sashing – sashing strips are used to separate the diamond blocks, adding structure and visual breathing room to the design
• Bordered finishing – a border is added using strips cut at 5½" x width of fabric (WOF) from the red main fabric, framing the quilt top cleanly
• Right-sides-together sewing – all piecing is done with right sides together as standard quilting practice, with a consistent ¼" seam allowance throughout

Stitches and Sewing Methods

• Straight stitch piecing – the standard stitch used throughout for joining all quilt pieces and blocks
• ¼" seam allowance – all measurements in the pattern include a ¼" seam allowance, which is the quilting standard and must be maintained consistently for accurate block sizing
• Diagonal cutting technique – used specifically in the setting triangle construction to create accurate half-rectangle triangles

Fabric Requirements and Materials

This pattern is designed specifically around the Riley Blake Celebrate fabric collection, with each fabric referenced by its specific colorway code. The following yardage is required:

• ¼ yard – blue main (C2660 Blue)
• ¼ yard – cream main (C2660 Cream