It's winter, but I still like autumn the best

The Autumn Leaves quilt block is a little more challenging than some I have introduced you to in the last while. However, it is only challenging due to the number of pieces in each block -- 53 to be exact. The block is a seven patch, meaning simply that it is created on a 7 grid square.

Autumn Leaves

The block is comprised of squares, rectangles and half square triangles, all the most basic of quilt patches. The only difficulty you may face is in sewing an accurate quarter inch seam allowance so that all parts will fit together precisely to create this block.

I chose to make this quilt block with a dark background fabric for a change, but you may prefer to use a light fabric instead. As in everything with regard to quilt making, the only real "rule" (aside from accurate sewing) is to have contrast in your fabric choices -- preferably including a light, medium and a dark fabric -- so that all the shapes are apparent. This will be what sets your block off rather than having all the fabrics blend together -- although, at times, that may be the desired effect. So, all in all, you get to choose all the "players" in the fabric game and that is what makes quiltmaking so interesting. No two people will make the same choices.

Download this free quilt block pattern.

Quotes about Seasons

• "The coming and going of the seasons give us more than the springtimes, summers, autumns, and winters of our lives. It reflects the coming and going of the circumstances of our lives like the glassy surface of a pond that shows our faces radiant with joy or contorted with pain."
  ~ Gary Zukav


• "And you would accept the seasons of your heart just as you have always accepted that seasons pass over your fields and you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief."
  ~ Kahlil Gibran


• "In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy."
  ~ William Blake


• "Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"
  ~ Robin Williams

_{'Autumn Leaves' image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com}