Hi I’m Jenny from the Missouri Star Quilt
Company. Today I want to talk to you about the fall leaf block or the maple leaf block.
This is a darling little block. I’ve used them here in this table runner, and this is
made by using Jones Fabric by Victorian Albert Museum from Rowen Fabrics. So it’s just
a darling line, and I think leaves can be any color, any time. Traditionally, we make
them at fall time, but think how cute a spring time leaf table runner would be. This block
is made by using squares. It is based on a square and I am going to show you how to make
one out of a jelly roll strip. So for this, you are going to need 6 background squares
and 7 printed squares, and 1 1/2 by 4” strip for your stem. And I have a special trick
for that stem. So what we’re going to do is 4 of these need to become half square triangles,
so we are going to take our one of our background squares, and we are going to come to the iron
here and press a line so that we have a sewing line on there. You can draw it if you like.
We are going to put them right sides together, and we’re going to sew straight down this
line right here. Now I have one right here that is already done, and we’re just going
to take that and cut off the edge. Like this. And Iron this open. So we are just going to roll that back like
that. So now that we have all of our half square triangles made, we can lay out the
block. I have a block right here set, set right here, so I can know exactly where to
put things, cause you guys know I am kind of angley challenged. So what we are going
to do is start with our block like this. And we are going to lay our half square triangles
and this will be the first row and I suggest laying out the whole block before you sew
because it is really easy to get this mixed up a little bit. So your second row consists
of ½ square triangle and two of the printed squares. The third row is a half square triangle,
a printed square, and your stem block. Now to make this stem block, traditionally they’re
applicade on, but you know me I am fast, I like to do things fast and easy. So I have
this 1 ½ by 4 “ strip, and I just cut it a little longer to give me some room and I
am going to iron that in half, like this. And then we are going to, our block here has
an ironed crease in it and we are going to lay this stem right along this crease and
we’re going to put our presser foot right along this edge and sew a quarter of an inch.
So let me show you how we do that. We are going to go over here. And we are going to
sew this right down. Like this. Then we are going to head to the ironing board, and we’re
going to press that over, I am going to trim of these threads. And what I’m going to
do, is I am just going to fold this over like this. And then I am going to go back to the
sewing machine and top stitch that down. So that’s going to make our stem, and we didn’t
have to do any applicade. Now you can hand applicade that on down there if you want,
it’s a great way to hide all the little edges of your seams. So there’s our, our
little stem, all topstitched right there. Then we need to trim it up so we can sew it
in, so it stays block size, so we’re just going to line up our ruler along the edge
and trim that. And there’s another. We want to turn it back into a square. And then this one also. There we go. Now we
just get to put it right in there, and you can see how the leaf block is going to look
and now we just need to put it together. So I am going to start and do this in rows, and
I am going to put these two together. Just keep them, you know lay them right next to
each other so I don’t get my angles mixed up. Then we will put that last one right there.
I always open it up and check again. Because you don’t want a leaf going, then one of
your leaves parts going in the wrong direction. Easier to check then to pick out. So here
we go, I am going to press this down. And I’ll lay it back and now we’ll do the
second row. And again, remember this is based on a square,
so if you want to use, you know, 5” squares for this and make big leaves, or you know
any size you want, it will work just great, it all the squares are the same size in this
block. Now we just need to attach these 3 rows So I am just going to lay them right
on top of each other, from the, from one you know from the bottom to the middle row. And
I like to take a few stitches and stop and make sure that my seams are nested nicely.
And if one seem is laying one direction, then I’ll push that seam the other. And then
we have one more row on here. Make sure that I have it in the right spot. And I just line
up again the very top edge. Anchor it with a couple of stitches and then I am going to
lift this up and I can feel which direction that seam is going and make sure they are
nested in there nice and tight. And one more. And we are going to trim these
threads off of here, I have a bunch, it looks kind of like a wholly mammoth at the moment.
There we go. Alright. So now I am going to head here and just press this open. Give it
a shot of steam, I like my steam. And we have made a darling little leaf block. So now that
you have made your cute little leaf block, you can use it in just about anything. A table
runner like I’ve done is cute, or you could make a big quilt. To make this table runner,
what I did, was I used an inch in a half sashing, to make a, to sash between the blocks so that
they all come together this way. This is an inch in a half corner stone in the middle.
My first border is also an inch in a half, tiny little borders. And then I have this
outer border that is 3”, and so with about 12” of fabric, you can border a little table
runner like this. So we hope you enjoyed this tutorial on the leaf block, from the Missouri
Star Quilt Company.
