Riley Blake Twirl - Butterfly Dance - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake Twirl - Butterfly Dance Quilt Pattern

Project Overview

The Riley Blake Twirl - Butterfly Dance is a beginner-friendly downloadable quilting pattern that creates a finished quilt measuring 52½" x 52½". This design combines pre-cut fabric components with traditional piecing techniques, making it an accessible project for quilters new to the craft who have basic knowledge of quilting terminology and fundamental techniques.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a complete quilt featuring the Butterfly Dance fabric collection from Riley Blake Designs. The design incorporates a large central panel as the focal point, complemented by pieced borders and binding. The virtual quilt diagrams show the intended layout, though the final appearance will vary based on the specific fabric prints and colors used in construction.

Quilting Techniques Used

• Panel piecing with a large 35" x 35" center square
• Rotary cutting and precise measurement techniques
• Right-sides-together seam construction with ¼" seam allowances
• Border attachment with center-measured sizing to ensure square construction
• Binding application for finished edges

Stitches and Construction Methods

The pattern employs standard quilting seam techniques with consistent ¼" seam allowances throughout. Quilters sew fabric pieces with right sides together and press seams according to pattern instructions. The construction method emphasizes accuracy in measurement, particularly when cutting border pieces, as seam allowance variations are accounted for by measuring through the center of the quilt before final border cuts.

Materials and Fabric Requirements

Fabric: The pattern utilizes Riley Blake Designs fabrics from the Butterfly Dance collection, including 1 yard of multi main (C3890 Multi), 1 blue panel (P3892 Blue), and 1/3 yard of snow white shade (C200-03 Snow White). A Butterfly Dance 3.5-inch Bitty Stacker pre-cut bundle (35-3890-18) is also incorporated. Backing fabric requires 3⅓ yards, and binding requires 5/8 yard.

Notions: While specific needle and thread information is not detailed in the pattern, standard quilting supplies are required. Rotary cutting tools, a quilting ruler, and a cutting mat are essential for accurate piece preparation.

Difficulty Level

Classified as a beginner project, this pattern is designed for quilters with foundational skills. The use of pre-cut fabric components, particularly the Bitty Stacker squares, reduces cutting complexity and allows newer quilters to focus on accurate piecing and assembly techniques.