California Oak Leaf Quilt Block

From our Free Quilt Block Patterns Library

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The California Oak Leaf quilt block will have you California Dreamin' in no time.

Simple strip sets and cut squares make this a quick one to piece.

You might know of this patchwork design by a different name—like Hand, Sassafras Leaf or True Lover's Knot.

The California Oak Leaf quilt block will have you California Dreamin' in no time. Simple strip sets and cut squares make this a quick one.

Beginner-friendly tutorial in 3 sizes: 7", 14" and 21"

In this tutorial you'll find:

A cutting chart in three sizes with a download for the chart and block design

A coloring page to download and print

Step-by-step illustrated instructions

No time to quilt? Pin this for later.

It's time to cut up and sew!

General Instructions

If you need help printing this page, you'll find it here.

I use these abbreviations in the tutorial:

SA - seam allowance

RST - right sides together

SS - strip set

1/4" SA are used through this tutorial.

Click the red iron to learn the secret for the flattest quilt blocks

Pressing instructions are highlighted in yellow throughout this tutorial.

When instructed to press, first press the patches in the closed position—just as they came off your sewing machine.

This sets the seam, melding the fibers of the threads into the fibers of the fabric.

Then press the SA to the dark unless otherwise noted.

Step 1: Cutting for a California Oak Leaf quilt block

California Oak Leaf design

Sample Block Size: 14" finished / 14 ½" unfinished

Grid: 14x14

Attribution: Carrie Hall and Rose Kretsinger

Design Type: Uneven 9-patch, small center

AKA: Hand, Sassafras Leaf, True Lover's Knot - all Carrie Hall and Rose Kretsinger

Two fabrics are used in our 14" sample block.

However, you could just as easily turn this into a scrap quilt pattern. Simple choose a single background fabric and then scraps with high contrast to it.

In the sample I've used one of my favorite fabrics designs—'Paperweight' by Kaffe Fassett. This particular colorway goes by the dreadful name of 'Sludge'.

You can find more colorways here...most with more quilter-friendly names.

Please label all your patches. We refer to their numbers throughout this tutorial.

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

			Cutting Chart for a California Oak Leaf Quilt Block ~Traditional Piecing ~
Patch	Fabric	Qty	Finished Block Size
Patch	Fabric	Qty	7"	14"	21"
1	Light	1	1" x 25"	1½" x 41"	2" x 57"
2	Dark	1	1" x 25"	1½" x 41"	2" x 57"
3, 7	Light	5	1½" x 1½"	2½" x 2½"	3½" x 3½"
4	Dark	16	1½" x 1½"	2½" x 2½"	3½" x 3½"
5	Light	4	1 1/2" x 3"	2 1/2" x 5 1/2"	3 1/2" x 8"
6	Dark	4	1 1/2" x 1"	2 1/2" x 1 1/2"	3 1/2" x 2"
Unfinished Block Size			7½"	14½"	21½"
Grid Size			½"	1"	1½"

Step 2: Assemble the units for a California Oak Leaf

#1/#2 Strip Set (SS)

Make 16

We'll use strip piecing to quickly, accurately stitch the #1/#2 units.

I prefer to use starched quilt fabric for stripsets because my cutting is more accurate and it works so well with my favorite quarter inch foot—the one with the guide on the righthand side (see picture below).

Click here to learn more about why and how to starch your quilt fabric.

With RST, layer #1 and #2 together and stitch along the long edge.

This is my 1/4" presser foot with the guide on it.

After stitching, press flat to set the seam and then open with the SA toward the darker #2.

Using the table below, check that your #1/#2 is the correct width. For our 14" sample California Oak Leaf it's 2-1/2" wide. Make any necessary adjustments now.

Find the SubCut Width for your Finished Block Size. For our 14" sample it is 2-1/2".

#1/#2 Strip Set
Finished Block Size	SS Width after stitching	SubCut Width
7"	1 1/2"	1 1/2"
14"	2 1/2"	2 1/2"
21"	3 1/2"	3 1/2"

Straighten one of the short ends of your #1/#2 stripset. Then cut sixteen squares this width.

Here they are. Perfectly straight edges—that's the beauty of starting with strip sets.

#5/#6 Sashing

Make 4

With RST, sew a #5 to a #6.

SAs are pressed to the darker #6.

Quarter Blocks

Make 4

With RST, stitch a #4 to two opposite sides of each #1/#2. Make a total of 8 segments.

Press SAs toward the #4s to avoid bulk.

With RST add the #2 side of a #1/#2 unit to two opposite sides of each #3 square.

SAs are pressed towards the #3.

Arrange the segments into the quarter block pattern. Light #1s are on the outside edges.

Segments in order to stitch a quarter block

With RST stitch the rows together.

The SA nest to make matching the joins pretty easy. You might be able to finger pin, otherwise use pins if needed.

These last two seams are pressed out from the center.

Step 3: Assemble your California Oak Leaf quilt block

Arrange the quarter blocks, sashing and cut center square into the California Oak Leaf design.

With RST sew the units in each row together. One of the reasons this block is so quick to make is there are no seams to match here, just the ends of each unit. Sweet!

Press the SA in the direction of the arrows toward the #5/#6 sashings.

Join the rows together, pressing these last two seams out from the center.

This is our completed California Oak Leaf quilt block.

California Oak Leaf block from the front

And finally, here's a view from the back to see how all those seams nest.

The California from the back

What about a different quilt block?

For a list of all the 215+ quilt block patterns on this site, start here.

If you know the name of the block, shorten your search by using these links:

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Click here if you're looking for blocks with at least some paper piecing.

Click here if you're looking for the basic building blocks of quilting, i.e., Flying Geese, half square triangles, quarter square triangles, etc., along with several techniques to make each.

And finally, use these links to find blocks in these finished sizes: