Riley Blake French Elegance - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake French Elegance Quilt Pattern

Project Overview

French Elegance is a downloadable PDF quilting pattern designed by Jina Barney for Riley Blake Designs. This quilt project produces a finished quilt measuring 68 inches by 77 inches, making it an ideal size for a throw quilt or lap quilt. The pattern features a classic Leaf Block design that combines traditional quilting techniques with modern fabric selections.

Quilt Design and Block Structure

The foundation of French Elegance is the Leaf Block, which finishes at 9 inches by 9 inches. The pattern uses a straightforward construction method that is accessible to quilters with basic quilting knowledge and familiarity with standard quilting terminology. The design incorporates Half Square Triangle units as a primary construction element, allowing for efficient piecing and creating visual interest through fabric placement and color variation.

Quilting Techniques and Methods

This pattern employs fundamental quilting techniques suitable for intermediate beginners. The primary method involves creating Half Square Triangles, which are constructed by:

• Drawing diagonal lines on the wrong side of fabric squares
• Layering squares with right sides together
• Sewing precisely ¼ inch on each side of the drawn diagonal line
• Cutting along the lines to produce two Half Square Triangle units from each pair of squares
• Pressing seams appropriately
• Squaring up finished Half Square Triangles to 3½ inches

Each Leaf Block requires four Half Square Triangle units, which are then assembled into the complete 9-inch block. The pattern emphasizes accuracy in seam allowances and pressing techniques, which are essential for proper block assembly and quilt squaring.

Materials and Fabric Requirements

The pattern specifies Riley Blake fabric selections, including a red main fabric (C3610 Red) requiring 3/8 yard (35 centimeters). Additional fabric requirements include cream leaf squares and assorted print squares in 4-inch dimensions for Half Square Triangle construction. Quilters will need standard quilting supplies including a rotary cutter, quilting ruler, and cutting mat for accurate fabric preparation.

Construction Notes

The pattern includes important guidelines for successful completion: all measurements include ¼ inch seam allowances, and pieces should be sewn with right sides together unless otherwise specified. Quilters are advised to check the Riley Blake Designs website for any pattern revisions before beginning the project. The quilt and block diagrams provided are virtual images, so the appearance of the finished project may vary depending on the actual fabrics selected and used in construction.