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.

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.

This nine-patch quilt block is super easy and looks really great! There are many ways to make a Maple Leaf Quilt Block.  Let me show you how I made this version.

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How to Make a Perfect Maple Leaf Quilt Block

Maple Leaf Quilt Block – Materials List

• Orange Fabric (I used Kona Flame (bright orange) #323)
• White Fabric (I used Kona White #1387)

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Maple Leaf Quilt Block – Supply List

• Sewing Machine
• Quarter Inch foot for your sewing machine
• Aurifil 50 wt. Cotton Thread  
• Sewing Pins
• Fabric Marking tool (Frixion Pen)
• Rotary Cutter with sharp blade
• Acrylic Ruler
• Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
• Iron & Ironing Board

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Maple Leaf Quilt Block – 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″

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1. Place (1) White and (1) Orange square with right sides together. Draw a line diagonally corner to corner, using a pencil or Frixion 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 Step One for remaining (1) White and (1) Orange square.
2. Cut the square units in half along the middle marked line.
3. Press seams to one side (the dark side).
4. Block may be made slightly over-sized and must be trimmed down to 4.5 inches square.

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Maple Leaf Quilt Block – Making the Stem Block

1. 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 above).  Sew a quarter inch away from the raw edge and press open to the dark side.
2. Repeat step five with the remaining HST and  press to the dark side.
3. Center the ‘stem’ along your 45* angle on your acrylic ruler and trim this block to 4.5″ square

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The block assembly diagrams are available in a FREE downloadable PDF. Please follow the directions below and it will be sent directly to your inbox. Note: Current Subscribers can re-enter their names but won’t be double subscribed.

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Maple Leaf Quilt Block – Block Assembly

1. Arrange your blocks in correct layout (pictured below)
2. Using 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.
3. Join all rows, using a quarter inch seam allowance. Take time to nest your seams. Press your completed block and trim down to 12.5″ square (if necessary).

Psst. I’d love it if you’d Pin this image!

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I’ve also created a short video for quick reference.

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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!

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Did you like this post? Check out a few of the other Quilt Blocks in this Series.

Click this link to see all of the Blocks of the Month

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