Riley Blake Triangle-In-A-Square Quilt 1 - Downloadable PDF

Riley Blake Triangle-In-A-Square Quilt 1 by Gerri Robinson – Free Downloadable PDF Pattern Summary

About This Quilt Pattern

This is a downloadable PDF quilt pattern designed by Gerri Robinson of Planted Seed Designs, available free of charge. The finished quilt measures 64" x 76", making it a generous lap or throw size suitable for everyday use or as a decorative statement piece. The design was created specifically to showcase the Gem Stones Bright Collection for Riley Blake Designs, a vibrant assortment of prints that bring energy and color to the classic Triangle-in-a-Square block format.

What Is Being Made

The project is a full-size patchwork quilt built around the Triangle-in-a-Square block, a traditional quilting unit in which a center triangle is framed on both sides by background triangles to create a clean, geometric rectangular block. When these blocks are arranged across the quilt top, they produce a striking pattern of floating triangles set against a consistent background, giving the finished piece a bold, modern-traditional aesthetic. The repeated use of 16 assorted Gem Stones prints against a single background fabric creates a scrappy, jewel-toned effect that is visually dynamic without being overly complex.

Techniques Used

• Triangle-in-a-Square construction: This specialized technique involves sewing angled center triangles between two side triangles to form a precise rectangular block. Accurate cutting and sewing are essential to keep points sharp and blocks square.
• Specialty tool use: The pattern requires the Planted Seed Designs Triangle-in-a-Square Tool, a dedicated ruler designed to cut center triangles and side triangles accurately and consistently, eliminating the guesswork that comes with cutting bias-edged triangles freehand.
• Strip cutting: Fabric is cut into 4-1/2" x width-of-fabric (WOF) strips before being sub-cut into the individual triangle and rectangle units needed for the blocks, an efficient approach that reduces waste and speeds up the cutting process.
• Scrappy block assembly: With 16 different assorted Gem Stones prints each contributing center triangles, the quilt uses a classic scrappy approach where variety in the block centers creates visual interest across the quilt surface.
• Straight-set layout: The blocks are arranged in a straightforward grid setting, allowing the Triangle-in-a-Square units to align and create a cohesive directional pattern across the quilt top.
• Binding application: The quilt is finished with a traditional straight-cut binding, cut as 2-1/2" x WOF strips and applied around the perimeter for a neat, durable edge finish.

Stitches and Sewing Methods

• Straight stitch: All piecing in this quilt is done with a standard straight stitch on a sewing machine, used to join triangles into blocks and blocks into rows.
• Accurate quarter-inch seam allowance: As with all precision patchwork, maintaining a consistent scant quarter-inch seam throughout is critical to ensuring that the Triangle-in-a-Square blocks finish at the correct size and that all points meet cleanly.
• Pressing seams: Proper pressing after each seaming step helps keep blocks flat and accurate, an important step when working with the angled edges inherent in triangle-based blocks.

Materials and Fabric Requirements

• Background fabric: 4-1/4 yards of Riley Blake Confetti Cotton in C120-Cloud, a crisp, light-toned cotton that provides a clean, neutral backdrop for the colorful triangle blocks. From this fabric, 152 pairs of side triangles, 66 rectangles (4-1/2" x 8-1/2"), and 20 squares (4-1/2") are cut.
• Block fabrics: 1/4 yard each of 16 assorted Gem Stones prints from the Riley Blake Gem Stones Bright Collection. Each print yields one 4-1/2" x WOF strip, from which 10