Maple Leaf

The block for July 2004 is the "Maple Leaf" block 

The finished block measures 9 inches square.  (9 ½ X 9 ½ inches unfinished).

Instructions:  Use good quality, 100% cotton pre-washed fabrics.


        
1.          cut squares
    
2.         cut triangles

3.           cut corner triangles
 
  

4.           make HST squares
 

5.         make stem - part I


6.         make stem - part II


7.       assemble block
8.                 finished block

Choose a fall-colored tone-on-tone fabric for the leaf, and a cream solid or tone-on-tone for the background.  



Cutting instructions:

    1.  From the cream background material, cut one 3 1/2 inch square.
    From the colored fabric, cut four 3 1/2 inch squares.

    2.  From both the background and colored fabrics, cut two 3 7/8 inch squares.  Cut all four squares diagonally to form eight triangles.

3.  From the background fabric, cut two 3 1/8 inch square.  With a pencil, draw a diagonal line from one corner to the opposite corner on each square.



Piecing instructions:

    4.  With right sides together, sew each of the colored triangles to a cream-colored triangle along the long side of the triangles using a 1/4" seam allowance.  You should end up with four half-square triangle sets.  See graphic 4.  Press seams to the dark sides.

5.  With right sides together, lay one of the 3 1/8 inch cream-colored squares along the upper right hand corner of the 3 1/2 inch colored square.  Sew along the pencil line.  Cut through both layers of fabric 1/4 inch to the outside of the sewn line.  See graphic 5.  Press to the light fabric.

6.  With right sides together, lay the other 3 1/8 inch cream-colored square along the lower left hand corner of the 3 1/2 inch colored square.  Sew along the pencil line.  Cut through both layers of fabric 1/4 inch to the outside of the sewn line.  See graphic 6.  Press to the light fabric.  You should now have a "stem" square.



Assembly instructions:

7.  With right sides together and using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, join the peices in each row.  Press seams in each row in opposite directions.  (i.e.  to the left in row one, to the right in row two, and to the left in row three.).

8.  Assemble these three rows into a finished block.  Refer to graphics 7 & 8 for placement.  Remember to pin the rows together well at the seams to ensure your corners match up as closely as possible.  Do not trim the block(s).  Leave that up to the winner.


Your completed unfinished block will measure 9 ½ inches.

9 inches after sewn into a quilt!

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