SeeMyQuilt
Baskets & pictures · Confident beginner

Maple Leaf quilt block

Three squares and four half-square triangles make the leaf. The stem is shown here as a plain square; it is usually a narrow diagonal strip across a background square. Also called Autumn Leaf.

Maple Leaf: main, background and accent. A 3 × 3 grid.

Cutting chart by block size

6" Maple Leaf (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 rectangle4 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Main2 squares2 7/8" × 2 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Main1 square2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Background2 squares2 7/8" × 2 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background1 square2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–
Accent1 square2 1/2" × 2 1/2"–

9" Maple Leaf (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 rectangle6 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Main2 squares3 7/8" × 3 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Main1 square3 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Background2 squares3 7/8" × 3 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background1 square3 1/2" × 3 1/2"–
Accent1 square3 1/2" × 3 1/2"–

12" Maple Leaf (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 rectangle8 1/2" × 4 1/2"–
Main2 squares4 7/8" × 4 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Main1 square4 1/2" × 4 1/2"–
Background2 squares4 7/8" × 4 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background1 square4 1/2" × 4 1/2"–
Accent1 square4 1/2" × 4 1/2"–

15" Maple Leaf (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main1 rectangle10 1/2" × 5 1/2"–
Main2 squares5 7/8" × 5 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Main1 square5 1/2" × 5 1/2"–
Background2 squares5 7/8" × 5 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background1 square5 1/2" × 5 1/2"–
Accent1 square5 1/2" × 5 1/2"–

How to make a 15" Maple Leaf block

  1. Cut the pieces in the chart above. All measurements include a 1/4" seam allowance.
  2. 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.
  3. Lay all the pieces out as in the diagram. The block is a 3 × 3 grid, and each cell finishes at 5". Sew neighbouring pieces into sections, then the sections into rows, pressing seams in opposite directions from row to row.
  4. Join the rows. The block should measure 15 1/2" now and 15" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a Maple Leaf quilt (15" blocks)

Quilt sizeBlocksFinished sizeMainBackgroundAccentBorder & bindingBacking
Baby2 × 3 (6)36" × 51"7/8 yd5/8 yd1/4 yd1 yd3 1/2 yd
Lap3 × 4 (12)51" × 66"1 5/8 yd1 1/8 yd3/8 yd1 1/8 yd4 1/4 yd
Throw4 × 4 (16)66" × 66"2 1/8 yd1 1/2 yd5/8 yd1 3/8 yd4 1/4 yd
Twin4 × 6 (24)66" × 96"3 yd2 yd3/4 yd1 1/2 yd6 yd
Queen6 × 6 (36)96" × 96"4 1/2 yd3 yd1 1/8 yd1 7/8 yd8 3/4 yd
King7 × 7 (49)111" × 111"5 7/8 yd3 3/4 yd1 1/4 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" Maple Leaf 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 Maple Leaf 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 Maple Leaf 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 Maple Leaf?

1 main rectangle at 10 1/2" × 5 1/2"; 2 main squares at 5 7/8" × 5 7/8"; 1 main square at 5 1/2" × 5 1/2"; 2 background squares at 5 7/8" × 5 7/8"; 1 background square at 5 1/2" × 5 1/2"; 1 accent square at 5 1/2" × 5 1/2".

How many Maple Leaf 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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