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Maple Leaf Block Tutorial

Maple Leaf Block Tutorial

The following tutorial will yield two 12 ½” (unfinished size) Maple Leaf quilt blocks from 2 fat quarters or yardage of your choice.

The block itself is a simple nine patch made up for 4 half square triangles (hst), 4 squares (1 background, 3 main color, in this case red) and the block with the stem.

The method I describe here to create the hst that form the points of each maple leaf is the fastest way I know to sew multiple hst at one time. Two contrasting squares of fabric sewn and cut as demonstrated gives you 8 hsts.

Maple Leaf Quilt Block Tutorial

 

Begin by cutting:

  • 1 – 10 ¼” square from main fabric
  • 1 – 10 ¼” square from white (or low volume fabric)
  • 6 – 4 ½” squares of main fabric
  • 4 – 4 ½” squares of white fabric
  • 2 – 2″X7″ rectangles of main fabric

Affiliate Link Disclosure Notice

Tools used needed for cutting squares 

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 1

To make the half square triangles:

Draw two intersecting diagonal lines on the 10 ¼” white square.

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 2 Draw 2 diagonal lines forming an X

Place the red 10 ¼” square and white 10 ¼” square right sides together. Stitch ¼” seam on either side of each line.

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 3A Stitch a quarter of an inch on either side of the drawn lines

If you look closely at the photos below you can see what the stitched lines should look like.

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 3B

Now… being careful not to move the block between cuts… cut on the drawn lines.

Then cut in half vertically and again in half horizontally as shown.

You will be cutting through the center point 4 times.

For the third and fourth cuts (bottom two photos) make sure to have your ruler lined up so that it is square and the side you will be cutting along lines up with where your stitching lines intersect.

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 4 Cut as indicated in the photo

Once you’ve made your cuts, it will look like this.

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 5

Flip them open and like magic you have 8 half square triangles!

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 5A

Press each hst with the seam towards the red fabric.

Square up them up to 4 ½”

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 5B square up the hsts to 4 and a half inches

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 5C

Set the hsts aside for now.

To make the stem of the leaf:

Cut two of the 4 ½” white squares in half on the diagonal.

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 6 Cut square on the diagonal forming two triangle

This is give you 4 equilateral triangles.

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 6-1

Place a pin at the half way point on the long side of one triangle and match it to the half way point of one red 2″X7″ rectangle as in the photo.

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 6A Center the triangle on the rectangle

Sew using a scant ¼” seam allowance.

Note: In the photo below you may notice that I’ve switched back to my regular presser foot and added an adhesive block to act as my scant ¼” seam guide. I find this method much more accurate than using the edge of my ¼” presser foot. But use whatever method works best for you.

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 6B Stitch using a quarter inch seam allowance

Sew the second triangle to the other side of the red rectangle in the same manner.

Repeat these steps to make a second stem.

You will have 2 blocks that look like this:

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 6C

Now I have a little trick to show you to make it easy to square up those stem blocks.

Fold each block in half along the middle of the stem as shown and press along the fold.

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 6D Fold right sides together as indicated

Next… line the 45º line of your ruler up along the ironed crease and continue to square up as usual.

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 6E Line up the rule on the ironed crease and square up the blocks to 4 and a half inches

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 6F

To assemble the maple leaf blocks:

Lay the blocks out according to the photo.

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 7 Lay your blocks out as indicated

Flip the right hand blocks over onto the middle blocks and sew using a scant ¼” seam.

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 7A Flip the row on the right onto the middle row and sew

Lay them back down in order so the blocks again look like maple leaves.

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 7B

This time flip the left hand blocks over onto the middle blocks and sew.

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 7C flip the row on the left onto the middle row and sew

Press seams as indicated in the photo so the when you sew your rows together the seams will nest.

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 8 Press the seams in opposite directions as indicated

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 9A

Flip the top row down onto the middle row. Pin and sew.

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 9B Flip the top row down onto middle row and sew

Here’s another little trick:

To help make sure you don’t lose the points of the hsts… as you approach the point where the seams intersect (see the arrows,) sew just inside or to the right of that point.

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 9C Easy trick to make sure you don't cut off your points

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 10

Flip the bottom row up onto the middle row. Pin and sew.

Maple Leaf Blocks - Step 10A Flip the bottom row up over the middle row and sew

Press seams towards the middle row.

You now have two completed maple leaf blocks.

Maple Leaf Blocks After Pressing

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments.

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4 Comments

  • Maria
    May 15, 2016 1:02 am

    Yes love making HST that way.. Great tutorial . Would love to make a few and send from Aussie is that okay?

    • Super Mom No Cape
      May 15, 2016 1:30 pm

      Oh for sure Maria… I’m sure they’d love that! The more blocks that come in, the more quilts they’ll be able to make.

      And the blocks don’t have to be done in red and white. They can be done in any of the colors of the Alberta flag. It’s pictured with the blocks I made.

      And thanks so much Maria!

  • Jo ButterZ
    May 14, 2016 7:43 pm

    You have done a great tutorial. Love that method of the half square triangles. I use it all the time….

  • Susan
    May 14, 2016 6:53 pm

    What I like about your multiple block HST is that no sides are bias! Thanks.

Comments are closed.