The Rosebud Quilt Block

From our Free Quilt Block Patterns Library

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Skill Level: Beginner

Sweet. Simple. Cute.

That's the Rosebud quilt block in a nutshell!

To make it, we'll use a bit of strip piecing. A wee amount of traditional piecing. A few seams and this block it ready for your quilt.

It'd be perfect for a baby quilt.

The center square is large enough that you could also use it as a memory quilt for a new bride. Have the squares signed at the shower or mailed to you. Then whip up the blocks as they arrive in the mail.

The Rosebud quilt block tutorial

Easy enough that it could be finished even in the whirlwind of wedding preparations.

See our layout suggestions at the end of this page.

Let's get started!

General Instructions

These abbreviations are used in this tutorial:

  • SA - seam allowance
  • RST - right sides together
  • BAC - background fabric

SA are a 1/4" throughout.

When pressing, first press with the patches in the 'closed' position—just like they were sewn. Then press them open with the SA toward the darker fabric unless instructed otherwise.

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Step 1: Cut patches for the Rosebud block

The Rosebud patchwork designRosebud design

Sample Size: 8" finished / 8½" unfinished

Grid: 7x7

Attribution: KC Star

Design Type: Uneven 9-patch large center

It'll take just three fabrics to complete this block.

You'll need to watch the scale of the fabrics for the 8" block (the rosebud patch finishes at 1" square).

Other than that, just be sure there is enough contrast between the bud and leaf fabrics so that the buds stand out.

If you plan to use the center square for autographs or best wishes for a wedding or baby quilt, cut the #7 patch larger and use painters tape to mark off the area for people to sign. Make this area a bit smaller than the finished size of this patch so that nothing gets cut off in the seam allowances.

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Cutting Chart for a
Rosebud Quilt Block

~ Traditional Piecing ~

Patch Fabric Qty Finished Block Size
8” 12” 16”
1 Bud 4 1-1/2” x 1-1/2” 2” x 2” 2-1/2” x 2-1/2”
2 Leaf 4 1-1/2” x 1-1/2” 2” x 2” 2-1/2” x 2-1/2”
3 Leaf 4 1-1/2” x 2-1/2” 2” x 3-1/2” 2-1/2” x 4-1/2”
4 BAC 1 2-1/2” x 7” 3-1/2” x 9” 4-1/2” x 11”
5 Leaf 2 1-1/2” x 7” 2” x 9” 2-1/2” x 11”
6 BAC 4 1-1/2” x 4-1/2” 2” x 6-1/2” 2-1/2” x 8-1/2”
7 BAC 1 4-1/2” x 4-1/2” 6-1/2” x 6-1/2” 8-1/2” x 8-1/2”
Unfinished Block Size 8-1/2” 12-1/2” 16-1/2”
Grid Size 1” 1-1/2” 2”

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Step 2: Assemble the Rosebud units

The Rosebud quilt block - corner units

Rosebud

Make 4

With right sides together, stitch #1 to #2, pressing the SA toward #2.

Sew #3 to the righthand side of the #1/#2 pair.

Press toward #3.

Stitch #1 and #2, then add #3Press SA in the direction of the arrows.

Repeat for a total of four.

Sides

Make 4

The Rosebud quilt block - side units

With RST, stitch a #5 to both sides of the #4 strip, pressing the SA toward #5.

Before subcutting this into units, you should straighten the edge.

Match a straight line on the ruler to one of the seamlines (see arrow below). Trim the edge with your rotary cutter.

Straighten the edge of your strip setTrim off only as much as is needed.

Find your finished block size in the chart below. Cut four patches from this strip set equal to the corresponding 'Subcut Width'.

Finished
Block Size
#5/#4/#5 Measurements Subcut Width
8” 4-1/2” x 7” 1-1/2”
12” 6-1/2” x 9” 2”
16” 8-1/2” x 11” 2-1/2”

The #5/#4/#5 patches look like this after cutting, the extra is to the right.

Subcut the #5/#4/#5 stripset into units

With RST, stitch this patch to a #6. Press SA toward #6 to reduce bulk.

Stitch the #5/#4/#5 unit to a #6Repeat for a total of four of these units.

Step 3: Assemble the Rosebud quilt block

Arrange the sewn units and center square into the Rosebud design. The #1 bud fabric is always in the outside corners.

The white lines below highlight the seam between #1/#2 and #3. Orient your seams in this manner and all the SA will nest. This makes matching them so much easier.

Arrange the units in the block design

With RST, sew the units in each row together. SAs are pressed away from all the side-units and towards the center or rosebuds.

Sew the units in each row togetherPress the SA out for the top and bottom rows and in for the center.

With RST, stitch the rows together. Give it a final press.

You have finished the Rosebud quilt block. Enjoy!

The finished Rosebud quilt block

Quilt Design Options

Since the rosebud patch is at every corner of the block, you may want to add some sashing around each to put some distance between those patches.

For an adorable baby quilt, a sashing is added around each of the Rosebud blocks. Then they are set with a solid alternate block in an on-point layout.

With only half the blocks to make, it'd make up quick as a whistle!

The Rosebud quilt block set on-point with a solid alternate block

In this next example, the Rosebud quilt block is used in a straight set. The sashing is bigger this time, equal to twice the grid unit (found at the bottom of the cutting chart on this page) plus SA.

The Rosebud quilt block in a straight set with sashing

Sweet. Simple. Cute.

What's not to love?!


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:

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:


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

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