RBD Block Challenge 2025 - Week 8: Bowdacious
This week, we’re bringing some flair to our quilts with the Bowdacious block by Karen Walker of Laugh Yourself into Stitches. True to its playful name, this block features bold shapes and clean lines, creating the perfect opportunity to experiment with color and contrast.
A Creative Twist on Bowdacious
I have to admit—working on Bowdacious felt like tying a ribbon around a gift! The block’s combination of Half Square Triangles (HSTs) and clever piecing creates a dynamic bow effect that’s both eye-catching and satisfying to sew.
For my version, I turned to my It Takes a Village collection, selecting prints that brought warmth and energy to the design. The mix of coral, gold, and soft cream tones gave this block a cheerful, celebratory vibe. It reminded me of how quilting itself feels like wrapping creativity into something beautiful.
A Closer Look at Bowdacious
Bowdacious is a 10" x 10" finished block that comes together with HSTs, rectangles, and a centered square to create its striking bow-inspired design. Karen’s thoughtful layout ensures the block remains approachable while offering a rewarding challenge for quilters of all skill levels.
My Fabric Choices and Tips
Here’s how I made Bowdacious stand out:
- Fabric Choices: I paired prints from It Takes a Village with Riley Blake Designs’ Confetti Cottons for balance and contrast. The coral pops beautifully against the softer tones.
- Focus on Precision: Accurate trimming of the HSTs was key to creating clean lines in the bow design.
- Tips for Success:
- When creating HSTs, use a rotating cutting mat for precise trimming and faster workflow.
- Lay out all your pieces before sewing to ensure the bow shape aligns perfectly.
- Press seams toward darker fabrics for crisp, defined edges.
Fabrics I Used
- It Takes a Village by Jennifer Long, Sew A Story for Riley Blake Designs
- Confetti Cottons by Riley Blake Designs
Bowdacious Together
This block is as fun to make as it is to admire! I’d love to see how your Bowdacious block comes to life. Whether you stick with soft tones or go bold with bright contrasts, the possibilities are endless.
Share your blocks with me on Instagram and tag @sewastory, @laughyourselfintostitches, @rileyblakedesigns, and #RBDblockchallenge. Let’s celebrate our creativity together!
What is the RBD Block Challenge?
The Riley Blake Designs Block Challenge is a free quilt-along featuring 16 unique blocks created by Riley Blake’s talented designers.
- New blocks released every Tuesday through May 27, 2025.
- Perfect for quilters of all levels.
- Free to participate!
Find all the details and resources here:
Let’s keep quilting and inspiring one another. I can’t wait to see your Bowdacious blocks!
