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Maple Leaf Quilt Pattern

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Make the Maple Leaf Stem Units
Maple Leaf Quilt Pattern

Make stem units for the Maple Leaf quilt blocks.

Janet Wickell
You have a couple of choices to assemble the stem units that are sewn in each corner of a Maple Leaf unit.

Method one is illustrated, and involves sewing a background square to opposite corners of a leaf-colored square using the easy Snowball corners technique.

The second method is foundation piecing. I've included a PDF template for quilters who are familiar with the technique.

Snowball Corners Stem Assembly

Do not cut all of your fabric at once. Cut only enough to make a sample block. That's good advice for any pattern you follow, mine and others.

From each leaf fabric, cut:

  • (18) 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" squares (from 2-1/2" wide selvage to selvage strips)
From neutral background fabric, cut:

  • (72) 2-1/8" x 2-1/8" squares (from 2-1/8" wide selvage to selvage strips)

    1. Draw a diagonal line from one corner to the other on the reverse side of each neutral square.

    2. Place a neutral square face down onto a leaf square, line arranged as shown. Sew a seam on the line.

    3. Trim away the corner through both layers, leaving about 1/4" seam allowance past the line.

    4. Flip the neutral corner upright and press in place.

    5. Repeat on the opposite corner.

    6. Make a stem for the three remaining leaf colors in your quilt block. After you've assembled a complete test block, make the remaining stem units (a total of 18 of each color).

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