#maple leaf block

Modern Maple Leaf Table Runner: For this month’s Riley Blake Not So Basic project, we were challenged to use Riley Blake Designs “Shades” fabrics and a modern take on a maple leaf block to create a table runner.

I have made many maple leaf blocks and (many!) maple leaf quilts from when we sent charity quilts to Fort McMurray (and even have this tutorial)! So, I wanted to try something a little different than I’d done before. 

I made two maple leaf blocks and a bunch of half-square triangles. I played around with the layouts until I found something I liked, then adding the blue and grey to square it off. I quilted with straight lines and did faced binding (so the binding doesn’t show on the front) to keep things simple and modern. It ended out at about 16 x 30″ finished.

Quilts for Fort McMurray in progress: We are planning to ship the quilts out to Fort McMurray next week!

I have two quilts to finish up. I basted two quilts at the same time, with one large backing (I’m running out of backing fabric, and this was a little more efficient)

I finished up the quilting on one of them this week. I used straight line quilting at 1″ spacing and I will probably do the same thing on the second one! Then I’ve got to attach the binding, which I will do by machine.

I’ll share the quilts when they are done, along with a whole bunch more that have been delivered! (For photos so far, check out the Flickr page). 

If you are a local quilter and have been helping out - just a reminder that the quilts are due to me on Monday evening’s Ottawa Modern Quilt Guild meeting! 

Block Fab App-Maple Leaf 42

The next block is the Maple Leaf.

I chose these fabrics.

I cut 2 7/8″ w and 3 1/4″ w strips from both fabrics. I also cut 2 1/8″ squares from the blue fabric.

Next I cut 4 squares the 2 7/8″ w strips of the light green fabric (not shown).

Cut 2 squares from the light blue and the patterned fabric 3 1/4″ w strip, then cut 4 half squares triangles.

Cut 1 squares from the light blue 2 7/8″ w strip.

Hi friends!

Starting on a new Modern Maples Quilt and am so happy to be joining up with a fantastic Flickr group called: Falling for Modern Maples. If you are on Instagram just look for #fallingformodernmaples to see everyone's progress. 

I wanted to share a quick and easy tutorial that I always use when making a Maple Leaf Block. This block size comes to 12" square and has some of the same methods that I also use to make my shortcut Pinwheel Blocks. 

So grab some fall colors and let's all Fall for the Maple Leaf!

I love the look of a patchwork background, and I see many of these quilts using a different background fabric in a similar color. For mine I am using one fabric, but a fun text fabric that adds some character. 

Background fabric: Robert Kaufman - Objects - Newspaper Vintage

Maple Leaf fabrics: Timeless Treasures - Sketch - Ruby / Citron / Pumpkin / Latte / Coffee Brown

For each block you will need to choose 2 fabrics:

Maple Leaf fabric - 

1 - 2" x 7" Rectangle

1 - 7.25" Square

3 - 4.5" Squares

Background fabric - 

1 - 7.25" Square

2 - 4.5" Squares

Sewing Step 1 : 4 HST Triangles

Lay your 7.25" Leaf and Background squares right sides together. Sew around all four edges 1/4" from the edge.

Cut corner to corner creating creating 4 HST

Iron all 4 pieces and trim each to measure 4.5" square.

Sewing Step 2 : Leaf Stem

You may choose to omit a stem - If so, this block will be a 4.5" square of  your background fabric.

Cut a piece of your background fabric in half diagonally. This will make 2 triangle pieces.

Line up on each side of your 2" x 7" rectangle piece a triangle, make sure right sides are facing each other. One way to make sure you are aligning properly you may make a small mark at the halfway of each fabric or just fold in half and iron to create a small mark. Line up your marks and pin to sew. 

Press open and your piece will look like this.

Line up and cut the piece to measure 4.5" square.                      

Sewing Step 3 : Put the pieces together

Next to your sewing machine lay out all of your pieces in the Maple Leaf pattern.

Sew each row together and press. ( I like to lay out each row on my ironing board and iron the back down in alternating directions so when you sew the rows together they nest together nicely)

Stitch all three rows together and press.

This block if sewn at a 1/4" seam you should need just a teensy bit of trimming to create your 12" block.

Congrats! You are finished with one block!!!

I will be posting some progress pictures on the blog later as I complete some more of the other color Maple Leaves. 

Also linking up with Lee's "WIP Wednesdays" over at Freshly Pieced. She is catching up on a pile of WIP and they are some pretty beautiful ones at that.

Thanks for stopping by!