Riley Blake Summer Bouquet - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake Summer Bouquet Quilt

Project Overview

The Riley Blake Summer Bouquet is an advanced-level downloadable PDF quilting pattern designed to create a finished quilt measuring 82 7/8" x 82 7/8". This substantial throw-sized quilt combines multiple block designs and Riley Blake Designs' signature floral and botanical fabric collections to produce a sophisticated, layered finished piece.

What is Being Made

This pattern produces a large square quilt composed of two primary block types: Summer Snowball blocks and Flower Chain blocks. The quilt construction requires 36 Snowball blocks, each finishing at 10 1/8" x 10 1/8", along with additional Flower Chain blocks that incorporate strip-pieced segments. The combination of these blocks creates a balanced, multi-patterned design suitable for beds or large throws.

Quilting Techniques Used

• Snowball Block Construction: A foundational quilting technique where corner triangles are sewn to a central square, then trimmed to create a rounded appearance. This method requires precise seam allowance management and pressing between steps.
• Strip Piecing: Multiple 1 5/8" fabric strips are sewn together in coordinated color sets, then cut into segments and reassembled to create pattern variation and visual movement across the quilt surface.
• Right Sides Together Assembly: Standard quilting practice of joining fabric pieces with right sides facing to create clean, hidden seams.
• Seam Allowance Trimming: Excess seam allowances are trimmed after block construction to reduce bulk and ensure accurate final measurements.
• Pressing: Systematic pressing throughout construction maintains block accuracy and prepares pieces for subsequent seaming steps.

Fabric Requirements and Materials

This pattern utilizes Riley Blake Designs' Summer Bouquet fabric collection, featuring coordinated prints in complementary colorways. The design incorporates multiple fabric patterns and colors:

• Polka Dot prints (C7057): Green (1 1/8 yard) and Orange (1 3/8 yard) provide foundational textural elements
• Main Print (C7050): Pink (2/3 yard), White (1½ yard), and Yellow (3/8 yard) serve as primary design components
• Damask Print (C7053): Green (1 yard) adds sophisticated pattern layering
• Medium Flower Prints (C7054): Pink (3/8 yard) and Green (3/8 yard) contribute botanical detail
• Tree Prints (C7052): Orange (3/8 yard), White (3/8 yard), and Pink (3/8 yard) introduce scenic elements
• Stem Flower Prints (C7051): Pink (3/8 yard) and Yellow (3/8 yard) complete the floral narrative

Stitching and Construction Details

The pattern employs standard quilting seam allowances of ¼" throughout all construction steps. Strip sets are created by sewing 1 5/8" strips together in specific color combinations: five sets of orange-pink-green, three sets of pink-orange-pink, and two sets of orange-pink-orange, with additional pink-orange-pink combinations. These strip sets are then cut into 1 5/8" segments and reassembled to create the Flower Chain blocks, which comprise 52 segments in the overall design. All seaming requires careful attention to consistent seam width and proper pressing to maintain block squareness and final quilt dimensions.

Difficulty Level

Classified as an advanced quilting project, this pattern requires intermediate to advanced skills in precision piecing, strip piecing accuracy, and multi-block quilt assembly. The combination of two different block types, numerous fabric pieces, and the large finished size demand careful measurement, consistent seam allowances, and organized construction sequencing.