SeeMyQuilt
Baskets & pictures · Intermediate

Fruit Basket quilt block

A basket built from rows of half-square triangles on a five-by-five grid, with accent triangles as the fruit and two triangles for the base.

Fruit Basket: main, background and accent. A 5 × 5 grid.

Cutting chart by block size

5" Fruit Basket (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main6 squares1 7/8" × 1 7/8"12 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background1 square3 1/4" × 3 1/4"2 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Background2 rectangles3 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Background7 squares1 7/8" × 1 7/8"13 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background2 squares1 1/2" × 1 1/2"–
Accent3 squares1 7/8" × 1 7/8"5 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)

7 1/2" Fruit Basket (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main6 squares2 3/8" × 2 3/8"12 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background1 square4 1/4" × 4 1/4"2 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Background2 rectangles5" × 2"–
Background7 squares2 3/8" × 2 3/8"13 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background2 squares2" × 2"–
Accent3 squares2 3/8" × 2 3/8"5 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)

10" Fruit Basket (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main6 squares2 7/8" × 2 7/8"12 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background1 square5 1/4" × 5 1/4"2 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Background2 rectangles6 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Background7 squares2 7/8" × 2 7/8"13 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background2 squares2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Accent3 squares2 7/8" × 2 7/8"5 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)

15" Fruit Basket (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main6 squares3 7/8" × 3 7/8"12 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background1 square7 1/4" × 7 1/4"2 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Background2 rectangles9 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Background7 squares3 7/8" × 3 7/8"13 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background2 squares3 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Accent3 squares3 7/8" × 3 7/8"5 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)

How to make a 15" Fruit Basket block

  1. Cut the pieces in the chart above. All measurements include a 1/4" seam allowance.
  2. Cut the squares marked "cut twice" on both diagonals. Each gives four triangles with the long edge on the straight grain: these are the large triangles in flying geese and hourglass units.
  3. Cut the squares marked "cut once" in half on the diagonal. Each gives two triangles. Sew them to their neighbours along the long edge first and press toward the darker fabric.
  4. Lay all the pieces out as in the diagram. The block is a 5 × 5 grid, and each cell finishes at 3". Sew neighbouring pieces into sections, then the sections into rows, pressing seams in opposite directions from row to row.
  5. Join the rows. The block should measure 15 1/2" now and 15" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a Fruit Basket quilt (15" blocks)

Quilt sizeBlocksFinished sizeMainBackgroundAccentBorder & bindingBacking
Baby2 × 3 (6)36" × 51"1/2 yd1 1/8 yd1/4 yd1 yd3 1/2 yd
Lap3 × 4 (12)51" × 66"1 yd2 1/4 yd3/8 yd1 1/8 yd4 1/4 yd
Throw4 × 4 (16)66" × 66"1 1/4 yd3 yd1/2 yd1 3/8 yd4 1/4 yd
Twin4 × 6 (24)66" × 96"1 7/8 yd4 3/8 yd3/4 yd1 1/2 yd6 yd
Queen6 × 6 (36)96" × 96"2 5/8 yd6 3/8 yd1 1/8 yd1 7/8 yd8 3/4 yd
King7 × 7 (49)111" × 111"3 5/8 yd8 5/8 yd1 5/8 yd2 1/8 yd10 yd

Blocks side by side with a 3" border, 2 1/2" binding, 42" usable width and 10% extra.

Four ways to set it

A throw quilt of 15" Fruit Basket blocks in each setting.

SettingBlocksFinished sizeExtra fabric
Side by side1666" × 66"–
With sashing1255" × 72"Sashing 3/4 yd, Cornerstones 1/8 yd
Alternating plain blocks8 pieced + 8 plain66" × 66"Plain blocks 2 yd
On point1369 3/4" × 69 3/4"Setting triangles 1 3/4 yd

See Fruit Basket in your own fabrics

1. Your fabrics (tap a fabric, then choose a sample or your own photo)
2. Block
3. Quilt size
4. Block size
5. Setting

What to buy

FabricYardageCut

Based on 42" usable fabric width, 1/4" seams and 10% extra. Your photos stay on your device.

Questions

How many fabrics does a Fruit Basket block need?

Three: main, background and accent. Choose a main fabric that contrasts clearly with the background so the design reads from a distance.

What size pieces do I cut for a 15 inch Fruit Basket?

6 main squares at 3 7/8" × 3 7/8"; 1 background square at 7 1/4" × 7 1/4"; 2 background rectangles at 9 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 7 background squares at 3 7/8" × 3 7/8"; 2 background squares at 3 1/2" × 3 1/2"; 3 accent squares at 3 7/8" × 3 7/8".

How many Fruit Basket blocks for a lap quilt?

12 blocks at 15", set 3 by 4 with a 3" border, make a 51" × 66" quilt.

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