Riley Blake Hoo’s There? - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake Hoo's There? Quilt Pattern by Doohikey Designs – Free Downloadable PDF

The Hoo's There? pattern by Doohikey Designs, available as a free downloadable PDF from Riley Blake Designs, is a charming intermediate-level quilting project that produces a finished quilt measuring 50 inches by 59½ inches. With its whimsical owl-inspired aesthetic suggested by the title, this quilt is a delightful project for quilters who have moved beyond the basics and are ready to explore more detailed construction techniques. Each finished block measures 9½ inches by 9½ inches, and the overall layout combines pieced blocks with appliquéd circular details to create a playful, graphic design.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a lap-sized or throw quilt ideal for home décor, gifting, or showcasing Riley Blake Designs fabric collections. The quilt is built from a series of uniform square blocks, each finishing at 9½ inches square, assembled into a cohesive grid layout. The finished dimensions of 50 inches by 59½ inches make it a versatile size suitable for a child's bed, a couch throw, or a decorative wall hanging.

Techniques Used

• Traditional block piecing: The quilt is constructed using standard quilting block assembly, requiring a foundational understanding of quilting technique and terminology as noted in the pattern itself.
• Circle appliqué with interfacing: A key technique in this pattern is the creation of a Circle Unit, which involves tracing a circle template onto fabric, stitching around the traced line with the fabric placed right side down on top of interfacing, trimming the seam allowance, cutting a small slit in the interfacing, and then turning the unit right side out. The edges are smoothed and pressed before the Circle Unit is centered and applied to the block. This method produces clean, crisp circular appliqué shapes without raw edges.
• Pressing and seam alignment: Careful pressing is emphasized throughout, particularly when creating the Circle Unit, to ensure smooth, professional-looking results.
• Right-sides-together sewing: All piecing is done with right sides together, a standard quilting convention, unless the pattern specifically states otherwise.
• Seam allowance consistency: All measurements in the pattern include a ¼-inch seam allowance, which is the standard for quilting and essential for accurate block sizing.

Stitches Used

• Straight stitch: Used throughout for all piecing seams and for stitching around the circle template line when constructing the Circle Unit appliqué.
• Appliqué stitching: Once the Circle Unit is turned and pressed, it is centered on the block and stitched down, completing the decorative focal point of each block.

Materials and Supplies

While the full fabric requirements are detailed within the complete PDF, the pattern is designed to work with Riley Blake Designs quilting cotton fabrics. As with most quilting projects of this type, quilters will typically need:

• Quilting cotton fabric in assorted prints and coordinates from the Riley Blake Designs fabric line, selected to suit the block layout and Circle Unit appliqués
• Fusible or sew-in interfacing for constructing the Circle Units as described in the pattern instructions
• A rotary cutter, quilting ruler, and self-healing cutting mat for accurate fabric cutting
• A circle template as referenced in the pattern for tracing and cutting the appliqué circles
• A sewing machine capable of a consistent straight stitch, set up with standard quilting thread
• An iron and pressing surface for seam pressing and finishing the Circle Units
• Batting and backing fabric to complete the quilt sandwich prior to quilting and binding

Difficulty and Suitability

Rated as an intermediate quilting project, Hoo's There? is best suited for quilters who are comfortable with basic block construction and standard seam techniques but are ready to expand their skills with the addition of circle appliqué using interfacing. The interfacing-turn method for creating the Circle Units is