Riley Blake Spooky Alley - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake Spooky Alley Quilt Pattern – Free Downloadable PDF by Doodlebug Design Inc.

The Spooky Alley quilt pattern from Doodlebug Design Inc., available as a free downloadable PDF through Riley Blake Designs, produces a charming Halloween-themed quilt with a finished size of 46½" x 46½". Rated as an intermediate quilting project, this design is built around the Halloween Parade Collection and makes clever use of a large decorative panel as its dramatic focal point, surrounded by pieced borders that frame the design on all sides.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a square Halloween lap quilt or wall hanging measuring 46½" x 46½". The finished piece is structured around a central panel rectangle that anchors the composition, with multiple successive pieced and plain borders building outward to complete the quilt top. The result is a festive, seasonal quilt ideal for Halloween décor.

Fabrics and Materials Required

The pattern is specifically designed for the Halloween Parade Collection by Doodlebug Design Inc. for Riley Blake Designs. The required fabrics are:

• 1 multi panel – fabric code P3961 Multi, used as the central focal panel
• 1 Halloween Parade Rolie Polie – fabric code RP-3960-21, a pre-cut roll of 2½" fabric strips used throughout the pieced borders
• ½ yard (50 cm) of black star fabric – fabric code C3966 Black, used for accent squares in the borders
• 5/8 yard (60 cm) of binding fabric
• 3 yards (2.75 m) of backing fabric

A Rolie Polie is a pre-cut bundle of 2½"-wide fabric strips, each measuring the full width of the fabric. Using a Rolie Polie in this pattern provides a convenient, coordinated assortment of prints that are ready to cut into the specific rectangle and square sizes called for in each border, saving time and ensuring color harmony throughout the quilt.

Cutting Requirements

Before cutting, the pattern instructs quilters to read all instructions carefully and to measure through the center of the quilt before cutting border pieces, as seam allowances can vary. Key cutting specifications include:

• Panel: Cut 1 rectangle 34" tall x 35½" wide from the multi panel fabric
• Rolie Polie strips are cut into assorted print rectangles and squares of varying sizes for each border round
• Black star fabric is cut into 2½" squares used as corner accent pieces on specific borders

Construction Techniques

This quilt is constructed using fundamental quilting piecing techniques appropriate for an intermediate quilter. The primary method is straight-line piecing with a consistent ¼" seam allowance throughout, with all pieces sewn right sides together unless otherwise noted. The quilt top is assembled in a medallion-style format, meaning the central panel is surrounded by successive border rounds that grow the quilt outward to its finished dimensions.

Border Construction Details

The pattern features three distinct border rounds, each with its own construction method:

• Border 1 is a pieced border made from assorted print rectangles cut from the Rolie Polie. Four 2½" x 8⅞" rectangles are sewn end to end for each side border, and four 2½" x 9¼" rectangles are joined for the top and bottom borders. Black dot 2½" corner squares are added to each end of the top and bottom strips before attachment. Side borders are always sewn on first, followed by the top and bottom borders — a standard quilting practice that ensures square, even corners.
• Border 2 uses plain cut strips: side borders measuring 2¼" x 38" and top and bottom borders measuring 3" x 43", providing