From a Tiny Acorn, a Mighty Oak

Thanks for all the cheerful comments on our leaf block tutorials so far! Seems I am not alone in the love of October color - especially when mixed with sewing.

Find the previous tutorials:

Maple Leaf Quilt Block

Sweet Gum Leaf Quilt Block

This week, we make an oak leaf and I don't know about you, but I particularly like oaks for dropping the cute acorns in fall. They always make me think of squirrels and seeing them busy preparing for winter right now.

Oak Leaf Block Fabrics

Pink: cut (7) 3" squares

Orange: cut (2) 3" squares; (2) 3 1/2" squares; (1) 1" x 4 1/2" strip

Navy Blue: cut (3) 3" squares; (2) 3 1/2" squares

Sewing

1. Cut one of the navy 3" square once on the diagonal to make two half square triangles (HST). Center one of the navy HST, right sides facing, the orange 1" x 4 1/2" strip. The long side of the triangle should be aligned with one long side of the strip.

Sew with 1/4" seam. Press toward the navy triangle.

2. Center the second navy HST, right sides facing, with long edge aligned with the opposite side of the orange strip. Sew and press toward navy triangle.

3. Use a rotary cutter to trim the stem unit to 3" square. This will make the ends of the orange strip 90 degree angles - two corners of the 3" square unit.

4. Match each orange 3 1/2" square with a navy 3 1/2" square, right sides facing. Use a pen to mark a line from one corner to opposite, diagonally across the back of the orange fabric.

5. Sew 1/4" on both sides of the marked line. Cut on the marked line and press.

Trim resulting HST squares to 3". Make four orange/navy HST squares.

6. Arrange the units to make the oak leaf block:

The first row consists of a navy 3" square, a pink 3" square, then an orange HST square, and a second pink 3" square. Note the orientation of the orange HST square in the photo below.

Row 2 starts with a pink 3" square, an orange 3" square, a second pink 3" square, then an orange HST square. Make sure the HST square is oriented correctly as shown in the photo above.

Row 3 starts with an orange HST square, then pink - orange - pink 3" squares.

Row 4 starts with the stem unit - note it's orientation in the layout - then an orange HST square, pink 3" square and a navy 3" square.

7. Arrange the pieces as shown above and sew the rows together. Press rows 1 and 3 to the left and rows 2 and 4 to the right.

8. Sew the rows together to finish the quilt block. Press well.

That's THREE! we are getting a pretty little collection of autumn leaves. Each block is 10 1/2". I've been thinking about how to put these together - perhaps one of each in four patch for a fall table topper or small wallhanging? I think it would look best to sew strips of the navy fabric (or your chosen background) between the blocks so the leaves float rather than sit directly adjacent to each other. 

What do you think?

One more leaf block next week to round out the foursome.

See you there!

-Sharon