Modern Maple Leaf Quilt Block Pattern and Video Tutorial

Instructions

Gather Sewing Supplies

1. Cut background fabric: (2) 3 inch square; (1) 2.5 inch square; (2) 2 inch squares and Cut leaf fabric: (2) 3 inch squares; (4) 2.5 inch squares
2. Prepare Half Square Triangles (hst). Place (1) 3 inch background square and (1) leaf fabric square right sides together. Using a marking tool, draw a line diagonally on the lighter fabric so that you can see it. Do this for the other set of 3 inch squares. Place a pin so they stay together.
3. Take (1) 2.5 inch leaf print fabric and the (2) 2 inch background squares to create the stem unit. Place the fabric right sides together and put the 2 inch square lined up in a corner. Draw a line diagonally down the 2 inch square and pin in place.
4. Place the 2nd 2 inch square on the opposite corner and repeat process from step 5.
5. Take the hst units and stem unit to the sewing machine.
6. For the hst units, sew 1/4 inch on either side of the diagonal line.
7. Sew along the diagonal lines, just slightly to the right of the ling, from each background square on the stem unit being careful not to catch the other square in the stitch.
8. Cut along the center line of both hst units.
9. Trim to the right of the sew lines on the stem unit to create a 1/4 seam allowance.
10. Iron the stem unit flat.
11. Press the half square triangles so that the seam is laying along the darker fabric. Repeat for remaining 3 half square triangles.
12. Trim half square triangles so that they are 2.5 inches. Using a ruler with a diagonal line is helpful for this step. Trim the stem unit if necessary, there will be very little to trim off.
13. Layout squares to prepare for sewing them together.
14. Stack squares to take them over to the sewing machine. For the left 2 column place right sides together and then stack from the top to bottom of the block. Do this for column 3 also.
15. Sew column 1 and 2 together with a 1/4 seam allowance, chain piecing each block together. Do not cut the chain pieced threads.
16. Attach column 3 in the same manner.
17. Do not cut connecting chain pieced threads. This allows all of the blocks to stay together in preparation for sewing the longer seam.
18. Press the seams from the top row to the right, the middle row to the left and the third tow to the right. This allows you to "lock" those seams together as you sew and create nice corners.
19. Take block to the sewing machine and sew down remaining two seams with a scant 1/4 inch seam allowance, making sure that you keep those nested corners locked together. You may use a pin if desired.
20. Iron seam open once complete. At this point you will need to cut the little chains from the chain piecing that we did in order for the seam to press open.
21. Trim maple leaf block to 6.5 inches square.

You're done! Refer to the video for tips on making these assembly line fashion for making multiple at a time to maximize your time and efforts.