Riley Blake Little Black Dresses - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake Little Black Dresses Quilt Pattern – Free Downloadable PDF

The Riley Blake Little Black Dresses pattern by Riley Blake Designs is a free, downloadable PDF quilting pattern designed for beginner quilters. The finished quilt measures 42" x 65½" and is built around a charming, fashion-inspired theme featuring appliquéd little black dress blocks set against colorful and white backgrounds. Despite its playful, boutique aesthetic, the construction is approachable for those with a basic knowledge of quilting techniques and terminology.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a lap-sized quilt measuring 42 inches wide by 65½ inches tall, making it a versatile piece suitable as a decorative throw, a child's quilt, or a whimsical wall hanging. The design centers on 7½" x 7½" finished blocks, each featuring a silhouetted black dress appliqué as its focal point. The overall layout combines dress appliqué blocks with coordinating fabric rows to create a structured, graphic quilt top with a fun, fashion-forward personality.

Design and Block Construction

The quilt features five dress appliqué blocks, each constructed by centering a black dress shape on an 8" white flamingo background square (fabric C4552 White Flamingo). The dresses themselves are cut from a true black solid fabric using the Fabi cutting die, a specialty die-cutting tool that ensures consistent, precise dress silhouettes. Before cutting, strips of HeatnBond fusible webbing are ironed onto the black solid 7" strip, and then five 7" x 7" squares are cut before the die is applied. The HeatnBond allows the dress shapes to be adhered cleanly to the background squares without shifting during stitching.

A decorative 1" ribbon strip is cut and straight-stitched to the waist of each dress, adding a charming dimensional detail that mimics a real dress silhouette. Each dress is then finished with a blanket stitch sewn around its perimeter, securing the appliqué firmly and adding a handcrafted, decorative edge. This combination of fusible appliqué and hand- or machine-sewn blanket stitching is a classic technique in quilting that adds both durability and visual texture to appliquéd blocks.

Techniques Used

• Fusible appliqué using HeatnBond iron-on adhesive to adhere black dress shapes to background squares
• Die cutting with the Fabi cutting die for precise, repeatable dress silhouettes
• Straight stitching to attach ribbon trim at the waist of each dress
• Blanket stitch around each appliquéd dress for a secure, decorative finish
• Standard quilting block assembly with ¼" seam allowances throughout
• Sewing with right sides together as per standard quilting construction

Stitches Used

• Straight stitch – used to attach the ribbon waist detail to each dress block
• Blanket stitch – used to outline and secure each dress appliqué to its background square; this stitch can be worked by hand or machine and creates a neat, visible border around the appliqué shape
• Standard seam stitching at ¼" seam allowance for all block and quilt assembly

Materials Referenced

The pattern calls for specific Riley Blake Designs fabrics, identified by their fabric codes. The dress rows and accent areas incorporate colorful dress-print fabrics in multiple colorways, including:

• C4552 Yellow – ¼ yard (25 cm) yellow dresses fabric
• C4552 Aqua – ¼ yard (25 cm) aqua dresses fabric
• C4552 Pink – ¼ yard (25 cm) pink dresses fabric
• C4552 White Flamingo – ¼ yard (25 cm) white flamingo fabric used as the appliqué block background