🍂 Autumn Leaves Quilt Block: From Simple Shapes to Stunning Leaves

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The secret to a gorgeous Autumn Leaves quilt block?

It's simpler than you think! 🍂

This tutorial combines the accuracy of paper piecing with traditional techniques you already know, creating stunning results with nothing but your everyday rulers.

Choose from 4 sizes (10" through 25") and watch simple shapes be transformed into intricate-looking leaves that'll have everyone asking for your "secret."

🚨 Spoiler alert : there isn't one—just smart techniques that actually work! 🍁😉

📋  General Instructions

A gaggle of abbreviations are used on this page. They are:

• SA - seam allowance
• RST - right sides together
• HST - Half Square Triangle
• QST - Quarter Square Triangle
• FG - Flying Geese
• FC - Folded Corners

A 1/4" SA is used in this tutorial.

My must-have tools for paper piecing

Most of the tools you'll need for paper piecing, you likely already have. (Whew!!!!)

Compare your current inventory with the recommendations in 'Essential Paper Piecing Skills: The right tools for the job'. 

In the meantime, these are the three must-haves in my paper piecing toolbox.

• Karen K. Buckley's Perfect Scissors (6")

• An Add-a-Quarter Plus ruler

• Rotating cutting mat for trimming - 12" or 17"

6" Perfect Scissors - perfect for paper piecing

Add-A-Quarter Plus ruler for cutting a perfect 1/4" SA

A rotating cutting mat for trimming units to size after piecing

✂️   Cut patches for your Autumn Leaves quilt block

Sample Block Size:  15" finished / 15½" unfinished

Grid:  10x10 

Attribution:  Maggie Malone's "5,500 Quilt Block Designs", #2885, pg.120

Design Type:  Leaf  |  Paper piecing

Label each patch now or spend forever hunting for the right piece later (your choice, but I know what I'd pick)! 🏷️😉

To print a copy of the Autumn Leaves block design and cutting chart to use at your cutting table, click here.

			Cutting Chart for an Autumn Leaves Quilt Block ~ Paper PLUS Traditional Piecing ~
Patch	Fabric	Qty	Finished Block Size				Sub Cut
			10''	15''	20''	25''
1, 5	Bac	12	1½'' x 1½''	2'' x 2''	2½'' x 2½''	3'' x 3''	---
2	A, B, C, D	1 ea	1½'' x 1½''	2'' x 2''	2½'' x 2½''	3'' x 3''	---
3	A, B, C, D	1 ea	1½'' x 2½''	2'' x 3½''	2½'' x 4½''	3'' x 5½''	---
4	A, B, C, D	1 ea	2½'' x 2½''	3½'' x 3½''	4½'' x 4½''	5½'' x 5½''	---
6	Bac	4	1½'' x 2½''	2'' x 3½''	2½'' x 4½''	3'' x 5½''	---
7	Bac	4	2½'' x 2½''	3½'' x 3½''	4½'' x 4½''	5½'' x 5½''	---
8	Dark	1	2½'' x 2½''	3½'' x 3½''	4½'' x 4½''	5½'' x 5½''	---
QST.1, Goose.1	Bac	3	3¾'' x 3¾''	4¾'' x 4¾''	5¾'' x 5¾''	6¾'' 6¾''
QST.2	A, B, C, D	1 ea	3¾'' x 3¾''	4¾'' x 4¾''	5¾'' x 5¾''	6¾'' 6¾''
QST.3	A, B, C, D	1 ea	3⅜'' x 3⅜''	4⅜'' x 4⅜''	5⅜'' x 5⅜''	6⅜'' 6⅜''
Sky.1	Dark	4	2⅜'' x 2⅜''	2⅞'' x 2⅞''	3⅜'' x 3⅜''	3⅞'' 3⅞''
Unfinished Block Size			10½''	15½''	20½''	25½''	na
Grid Size			1''	1½''	2''	2½''	na

✂️✂️  Subcutting

QST.1, QST.2 and Goose.1 are subcut twice on the diagonal to create QST shapes with straight of grain on the outside long edge.

QST.3 and Sky is cut once on the diagonal to make HST shapes whose two shorter edges are on grain.

🧵  Create the units for your Autumn Leaves quilt block

To get started, use an Elmer's Washable Glue Stick ® to hold the wrong side of your QST.1s and Goose.1 patches in position on the unprinted side of the pattern,

Use those dashed lines around the patch to help you get the patches in the correct position. 

We need to make a few adjustments to our sewing machine settings to paper piece.

• Reduce your stitch length to 16–20 stitches per inch (1.3-1.6 mm). This perforates the paper and stabilizes the seam when you remove the pattern. [Learn more about stitch length here.]

• Reduce your machine's speed or just plain slow down. Sew only as fast as you can AND stay on the solid stitching line.

• Install an open toe appliqué foot (sometimes called an 'embroidery' or 'satin stitch' foot) if you have one (it makes it easier to see where you're stitching). 

• Use a larger needle (90/14) IF you have problems removing the pattern. Personally, I use an 80/12 Microtex Sharp for paper piecing without any issues.

QSTs

Make 4 of  A and 4 of B

Our QST patches are a mirror image of the pattern after they are sewn.

With RST, match BOTH short sides of QST.2 with QST.1.

Sew the seam.

Your stitches should end roughly at the point of the red arrow.

Press.

If you matched the edges of the QST.1 and QST.2, there is no need to trim to establish a 1/4" seam allowance. It's close enough.

With RST, match the long bias edge of QST.3 to the edges of QST.1/QST.2.

My advice is to trim away that thread in the center (from the previous seam) NOW. It's a PITA to have to stop and trim all kinds of threads once the block is finished. Wouldn't you rather start piecing these into a quilt?

Stitch.

This is the 'B' version of this QST after stitching. The A is a mirror image of this, which you'll see in the finished Autumn Leaves block at the end of the tutorial.

Complete the remaining QSTs and put them aside for now.

Flying Geese (FG)

Make 4    

With RST, position the first Sky.1, its edge matched to the Goose.1.

Stitch. Since the seam runs from outside edge to outside edge, you can chain piece the first Sky.1.

End your stitches at the tip of the red arrow

After pressing, position the 2nd Sky.1.

Stitch.

After a quick pressing, our FG is finished and ready to be trimmed. 

Trimming the FGs and QSTs

At your cutting mat, place an FG pattern side up, with the 1/4" mark of your ruler directly over one side of the solid rectangle that surrounds your FG.

Trim away the excess paper and fabric with your rotary cutter.

Rotate the FG a 1/4 turn and repeat.

Trim every side of every FG and QST in the same manner.

An untrimmed FG (left) and trimmed (center). The waste is on the right.

An untrimmed QST 'B' (left) and trimmed (center). The waste is on the right.

These units all have straight of grain on the outside edges and are no different from if you pieced them with traditional methods.

Since the paper no longer has a role to play, remove it.

Sometimes pulling the paper from a seam that runs through a corner can undo a couple of stitches. 

To avoid this problem, rip the paper from a patch in the middle of the patch. Then rip from there to the outside point. 

Below, I've finished half the job. Just remember to pull from the center out to the point. It much gentler with your stitching.

Leaf Point

Make 4    

On the back side of eight #5s, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner (below right)

Accuracy counts here. For best results, use a mechanical pencil with a light touch—the lead creates a consistently fine line. You only need a line dark enough for YOU to see it.

With RST, match two edges of a #5 with the edges of a corner. I like to pin these in position. Repeat for the opposite diagonal corner.

Stitch the seams.

Sewing on the side of the line closest to the corner

Press.

While you could leave the excess layers of #5 and #4, I prefer to remove the extra bulk now. 

Check your pressed Leaf Points.

If the top edges of the #5s line up with the edges of the bottom #4 (below left), then:

• Open a #5 revealing the 2 underneath layers
• Place the 1/4" mark on your ruler directly over the stitching
• Trim away the excess fabric leaving your perfect 1/4" SA
• Repeat for the opposite side

Continue the process on the remaining squares of different fabrics.

Yep. This is a fabric from another of the leaves.

📏Check for Accuracy

After a last visit to your ironing board, the units should measure the original size of the #4s.

All the 'stitching on a line' is done. Install your favorite 1/4" presser foot to use for the rest of this tutorial.

1-2-3 Units

Make 4 - one from each A, B, C, and D fabric

With RST, sew a #1 to #2, pressing to the dark.

Add the #3 to #1/#2 as shown below. Press this SA toward #3.

Repeat for the patches from the 3 remaining fabrics.

📏Check for Accuracy

Corners

Make 4    

Time to put those patches together. Layout the Leaf Point, QST A & B and the 1-2-3 unit that are all stitched from the same leaf fabric (A, B, C, or D) as shown below.

The QST 'A' is in the upper right; the QST 'B' in the lower left

With RST, sew the units in each row together, pressing the SA in the direction of the red arrow.

With RST, join the rows together. This seam is pressed towards the 1-2-3 and QST 'B'.

📏Check for Accuracy

Sides

Make 4    

With RST, stitch a #7 to the top of a FG and a #6 to the bottom, as shown below.

Both seams are pressed away from the FG.

📏Check for Accuracy

🧩   Final Assembly of our Autumn Leaves quilt block

What with a]l the units in this block, you'd think it'd be a bugger to piece together.

But fear not!

Other than matching seams at the top and bottom of each FG, the block goes together just like a 9-patch made from cut squares.

Arrange your patches into the Autumn Leaf design—leaves and FG all pointing away from the center.

With RST, sew the units in each row together. Our seams were pressed to make matching them easier...they nest!

The SAs in each row are pressed away from the Side units.

With RST, sew the rows together.

Here you can see how I've pinned two rows to hold the edges and match points even and together. 

A final turn at your pressing station and our Autumn Leaves quilt block is finished.

The last 2 seams are pressed in towards the center.

From the backside, you can see how all the seams are pressed. You can also see that the leaf in the lower right is a hand dye, while the other three are commercial prints.

You did it! 🎊

From simple squares to this gorgeous Autumn Leaves block—and all with tools you already own! This is what smart quilting looks like: beautiful results through clever techniques, not expensive gadgets.

Your skills are growing with every stitch, so don't let that momentum stop here. The best quilters are the ones who keep practicing! 🍁🔥

🍁  Don't Leaf It Behind 📌

Pin this tutorial now because you know you'll want to make these gorgeous blocks later! 📌✨ Your Pinterest board needs this yummy, Autumn-y goodness!

🍁 Fall for More Leaf Blocks 

Can't get enough autumn vibes? I've got a collection of leaf blocks just waiting to fill your quilting queue! 🍂✨

Autumn Leaf
5", 10", 15"

Autumn Leaves
10", 15", 20", 25"

Bear Tracks
3", 4½", 6", 12"

Maple Leaf
6", 9", 12"

Maple Leaf Design
6", 9", 12"

Ozark Maple Leaf
6", 9", 12"

While the following blocks look nothing like a leaf, some of their names contain 'leaf' or 'leaves'. (filed under 'you could have knocked me over with a feather'!)  😏

Bear’s Paw
7”, 10½”, 14”

For even MORE blocks to make… 🧩🎨

...visit our Free Quilt Block Pattern Library, with over 260+ blocks to choose from in multiple sizes.

Free downloads are included in all sizes for any blocks require paper piecing patterns or templates.

This article was printed from Generations-Quilt-Patterns.com

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