Maypole Dance Quilt Block

From our Free Quilt Block Pattern Library

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A Maypole Dance quilt block is a great introduction to pinwheel quilt blocks for the beginning quilter.

No triangles to cut.

No bias edges to mess with!

Learn to stitch up this pattern quickly using the Connector or Folded Corners technique.

There are instructions to make this block in 4 different sizes.

Let's get started.

The Maypole Dance quilt block tutorial starts here.

General Instructions

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

These abbreviations are used in this tutorial:

SA - seam allowance

RST - right sides together

CC - connector corners

SA are 1/4" and pressed toward the dark fabric unless noted otherwise.

Decorating the tree is sew much fun

Ditch the tinsel and get that vintage quilt look with these hand blown glass ornaments this season.

Old World Christmas Hobbies Gifts Glass Blown Ornaments for Christmas Tree Sewing Machine

Sewing Machine
2¾" x 3½" x 1¾"

Iron
2¼" x 3¼" x 1"

Old World Christmas Ornaments: Asstorted Quilt Square Glass Blown Ornaments

Quilt Blocks
3¾" x 3¾" x ¾"

Step 1: Cutting patches for a Maypole Dance

Maypole Dance design

Sample Size: 6" finished / 6½" unfinished

Grid: 4x4

Attribution: Quiltmaker

Design Type: 4-patch

Choose fabrics with good contrast so that the points in the center of the pinwheel aren't lost.

The Connector Corners (CC) technique is used to create the half square triangle.

When making CC, I find it easier to fingerpress the patches when the fabric is starched before cutting.

[Learn more about starching fabric here...]

			Cutting Chart for a Maypole Dance Quilt Block ~ Traditional Piecing ~
Patch	Fabric	Qty	Finished Block Size
Patch	Fabric	Qty	4"	5"	6"	8"
1	L	4	1½" x 2½"	1¾" x 3”	2” x 3-1/2”	2½" x 4½"
2	D	4	1½" x 1½"	1¾" x 1¾"	2” x 2”	2½" x 2½"
3	D	4	1½" x 2½"	1¾" x 3”	2” x 3½"	2½" x 4½"
Unfinished Block Size			4½"	5½"	6½"	8½"
Grid Size			1"	1¼"	1½"	2"

Step 2: Assemble the Maypole Dance units

Make 4

With a pencil (I've used my Bohin Mechanical Chalk Pencil) mark a diagonal line on the backside of all four #2 patches.

With right sides together (RST), align the #2 square with the right side of the #1 patch as shown below.

Sew on the drawn chalk line. (Using an open toe applique foot makes it easier to see where you need to stitch.)

Sewing on the drawn line with an open toe applique foot.

Now you have a choice to make. You can either trim away just the excess #2 fabric (below, top), or both the excess #1 and #2 fabric (below, bottom). Be sure to leave behind a 1/4" seam.

Leaving a quarter inch SA, trim away either #2 or #2 AND #1. The final result is the same.

Trim all four pairs of patches.

With RST, add the #3 to the top of each #1/#2 unit, pressing the SA towards the darker #3 fabric.

Repeat for a total of 4 matching units.

After sewing, press the SA toward #3, the darker fabric.

Step 3: Assemble your Maypole Dance quilt block

Arrange the patches into the Maypole Dance design, remembering to rotate each a quarter turn as you make your way clockwise around the block.

Arrange the units into the Maypole Dance design

Each unit is rotated a quarter turn.

Stitch the patches into rows. The seams nest in the center which makes it easy to get a good match. Use pins if needed to hold everything together. (I do!)

Press with the SA away from the #1 light rectangle.

Sew the rows together. Again, the SAs nest. Pin the center match point if needed. A pinwheel block with a perfectly matched center is a BEAUTIFUL thing!

After checking to see that the match is good, remove a couple of the stitches in the SA from the backside so that you can twirl the SA. This distributes the bulk in the center making the block easier to machine quilt.

Twirl the seam allowances to reduce bulk in the center

Twirl the seam allowances in the center to reduce bulk. When done correctly, a tiny pinwheel forms in the center.

Our Maypole Dance quilt block is complete!

The Maypole Dance is finished!

An idea for a quick baby quilt...

It doesn't get much easier than this.

Three fabrics. Simple sashing and cornerstones.

A quick baby quilt to whip up at the last minute!

Baby quilt using the Maypole Dance quilt block

If you need a different size block...

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

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

A-D

E-M

N-Z

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:

4-1/2"

For even more blocks to make...

Click here to learn about my favorite quilt book resources that inspire my patchwork designs.

For you, are quilt block patterns like potato chips?

You can't have just one?!!

Check the fantastic resources I rely on for the majority of the quilt block designs you see on this website.

To see if they're worthy of a spot in YOUR quilting library, read about them HERE.

NOTE: All the attribution and alternate names shared in the Free Quilt Block Patterns Library came from these four resources.