How to Make a Perfect Maple Leaf Quilt Block

Inside: How to Make a Perfect Maple Leaf Quilt Block

The Maple Leaf Quilt Block is such a timely block! Perfect for fall! It is an old design and likely originated in the late 1800s.

Typically made in two strongly contrasting colors, the block is constructed of 1 light and 3 dark squares and 4 half-square triangles. The stem is a strip of the dark fabric constructed diagonally within a light square.

Want an ad-free, printable copy of this tutorial? Scroll to the bottom of this post for more details!

How to Make a Perfect Maple Leaf Quilt Block

While all seasonal colors are appropriate for the Maple Leaf design, autumn red, oranges, and browns are particularly popular. The pieced blocks can be joined with plain blocks or sashing can be used to create a lovely Quilt Top.

Materials

Orange Fabric
White Fabric

Supplies

Sewing Machine
Quarter Inch Foot for your sewing machine
Aurifil 50 wt. Cotton Thread
Sewing Pins
Water Erasable Pen
Rotary Cutter with sharp blade
Acrylic Ruler
Square Acrylic Ruler
Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Iron & Ironing Board

Step 1: Download the FREE PDF

The Maple Leaf Block Assembly Diagram is available in a FREE downloadable PDF. I recommend you download the diagram which includes more details about assembling the block.

Download the Free Maple Leaf Block Assembly Diagram

Step 2: Making the HST’s

White Fabric
- (1) 4.5″ x 4.5″
- (3) 5″ x 5″
Orange Fabric
- (3) 4.5″ x 4.5″
- (2) 5″ x 5″
- (1) 1.5″ x 7″

Finished block size is 12 1/2″ x 12 1/2″

Place (1) 5″ x 5″ White and (1) 5″ x 5″ Orange square with right sides together. Draw a line diagonally corner to corner, using a pencil or water-erasable pen. Mark an outside line, one-quarter inch on each side of your diagonal lines (these will be your sewing lines). Sew along your outside lines. Repeat for remaining (1) White and (1) Orange square.

Cut the square units in half along the middle marked line.
Press seams to one side (the dark side).
Block may be made slightly over-sized and must be trimmed down to 4.5 inches square.
Remove any remaining markings that show.

Step 3: Making the Stem Block

Cut the remaining 5″ white square in half, diagonally. Place the Orange 1.5″ x 7″ rectangle against the raw edge (as shown in the picture below). Sew a quarter inch away from the raw edge and press open to the dark side.

Repeat the above step with the remaining triangle and press to the dark side.
Center the ‘stem’ along the 45-degree angle on your acrylic ruler and trim this block to 4.5″ square

Step 4: Block Assembly

Using the Free Assembly Diagram, arrange your blocks in correct layout.
Use a quarter inch seam allowance, sew each row and then sew the rows together. Be sure to nest your seams! Press your seams in the opposite directions.
Join all rows, using a quarter inch seam allowance. Take time to nest your seams. Press the completed block and trim down to 12.5″ square (if necessary).

That’s all there is to it! Wasn’t that fun and easy?

Here’s a quick project you can make!

Want a nice fall table runner? Just make four blocks and connect them with 2.5″ sashing. Then surround the quilt with 2.5″ sashing. Voila! A fun fall table runner to use year after year!

Don’t you just love this block? It makes me crave a cup of Pumpkin Spice Latte! Yum!

The options for this simple quilt blocks are fun to imagine! You could make several more for an entire quilt or just a couple more for a seasonal Table Runner. The Maple Leaf Quilt Block is a really fun and simple quilt block. I hope you make lots and lots of them!

Happy Quilting!

>>> Want an ad-free, printable version of this post? Click the pink button below and download the Printable PDF instructions.

Click here to get a downloadable Maple Leaf Tutorial PDF with the Assembly Diagram