Riley Blake Mod Runway - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake Mod Runway Quilt Pattern by Jina Barney – Free Downloadable PDF

The Mod Runway quilt pattern by designer Jina Barney for Riley Blake Designs is a striking, retro-inspired quilt project that combines bold geometric piecing with elegant curved appliqué. This free downloadable PDF pattern produces a finished quilt measuring 56⅜" x 69¾", making it a generous lap or throw size. The design is built around a distinctive on-point setting and a signature Runway Block featuring half-circle appliqué motifs on all four sides, giving the quilt its mod, graphic character.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a single bed or large lap quilt with a finished size of 56⅜" x 69¾". The quilt center is composed of Runway Blocks, each finishing at 9½" x 9½", set on the diagonal with setting triangles and corner triangles to create the characteristic on-point layout. A bordered frame surrounds the quilt center, completing the design. The overall aesthetic is bold and modern, drawing on a mid-century mod sensibility through the use of curved shapes and a rich, coordinated fabric palette.

Runway Block Design and Construction

The heart of the quilt is the Runway Block, which is constructed from 10" x 10" squares cut from a coordinated collection of prints. A total of 18 squares are cut from the following specific Riley Blake fabrics:

• 3 squares from C2670 Blue (blue main)
• 4 squares from C2671 Blue (blue floral)
• 3 squares from C2672 Blue (blue leaves)
• 4 squares from C2673 Blue (blue damask)
• 3 squares from C2675 Blue (blue dots)
• 1 square from C2676 Gold (gold stripe)

Each block receives half-circle appliqué pieces attached to all four sides, creating the signature curved runway shape. A total of 48 half-circle pieces are cut using the included template (with seam allowance) from C200-02 Cream fabric. Twelve of the blocks receive this appliqué treatment.

Techniques Used

Fusible Interfacing Appliqué

The half-circle appliqué is prepared using lightweight fusible interfacing, a technique that produces clean, smooth curves and prevents fabric distortion. The half-circle fabric pieces are laid right sides down onto the bumpy (adhesive) side of the fusible interfacing, then stitched along the curved top edge using a small stitch length to achieve a precise, smooth curve. The seam allowance is trimmed, and the piece is turned right side out before being pressed and applied to the block. The pattern notes that the interfacing also serves a practical purpose: it prevents darker fabrics from showing through the lighter cream shade, ensuring crisp color contrast.

Curved Appliqué Attachment

Once prepared, the half-circle units are attached to the blocks using your favorite method of appliqué, giving quilters the flexibility to use hand appliqué, machine appliqué, or blind stitch techniques according to their own preference and skill level. Placement is guided by the quilt photo included in the pattern.

On-Point Diagonal Setting

The quilt center is assembled using a diagonal on-point setting, a classic quilting technique in which blocks are rotated 45 degrees and sewn together in diagonal rows. This layout requires setting triangles along the edges and corner triangles at each of the four corners to complete the rectangular quilt center. Rows are sewn together on the diagonal, and the quilt center is squared up before borders are added, with the pattern advising quilters to leave a ¼" seam allowance on all sides when squaring up.

Bordered Finishing

The quilt center is framed with Border 1, applied in the traditional sequence of side borders first, followed by top and bottom borders. The pattern emphasizes measuring through the center of the quilt before cutting border strips, as se