Quilt block · Seven-patch · Intermediate
Tree of Paradise quilt block
A tree on the diagonal: rows of red and green half-square triangles for its leaves above a trunk of green triangles and a pentagon in the corner, between two large light triangles.
What to cut for one block
A 6″ finished block measures 6½″ before it’s sewn into a quilt. Each fabric’s yardage is the least that cuts its strips across the width of fabric, with a strip to spare for straightening.
Background · Snow in the picture
2 large triangles, 1 medium triangle, 2 pentagons and 20 small triangles
- A2 squares 3⅛″then cut with template A
- F1 square 2⅜″then cut with template F
- D2 squares 2¼″then cut with template D
- B18 squares 1½″then cut with template B
- E2 rectangles 1½″ × 1⅛″then cut with template E
Dark · Navy in the picture
12 triangles
- B12 squares 1½″then cut with template B
Medium · Denim in the picture
3 squares, 2 medium triangles, 1 pentagon and 14 small triangles
- F2 squares 2⅜″then cut with template F
- G1 square 2″then cut with template G
- B14 squares 1½″then cut with template B
- C3 squares 1⅜″then cut with template C
Between the lines. Tree of Paradise cuts cleanly at 3½″ or 7″. At 6″ its half-square triangles' short sides are ⁶⁄₇″, so they need templates.
Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name
A 9″ finished block measures 9½″ before it’s sewn into a quilt. Each fabric’s yardage is the least that cuts its strips across the width of fabric, with a strip to spare for straightening.
Background · Snow in the picture
2 large triangles, 1 medium triangle, 2 pentagons and 20 small triangles
- A2 squares 4½″then cut with template A
- D2 squares 3⅛″then cut with template D
- F1 square 3⅛″then cut with template F
- B18 squares 1⅞″then cut with template B
- E2 rectangles 2″ × 1¼″then cut with template E
Dark · Navy in the picture
12 triangles
- B12 squares 1⅞″then cut with template B
Medium · Denim in the picture
3 squares, 2 medium triangles, 1 pentagon and 14 small triangles
- F2 squares 3⅛″then cut with template F
- G1 square 2⅝″then cut with template G
- B14 squares 1⅞″then cut with template B
- C3 squares 1⅞″then cut with template C
Between the lines. Tree of Paradise cuts cleanly at 7″ or 10½″. At 9″ its half-square triangles' short sides are 1²⁄₇″, so they need templates.
Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name
A 12″ finished block measures 12½″ before it’s sewn into a quilt. Each fabric’s yardage is the least that cuts its strips across the width of fabric, with a strip to spare for straightening.
Background · Snow in the picture
2 large triangles, 1 medium triangle, 2 pentagons and 20 small triangles
- A2 squares 5¾″then cut with template A
- D2 squares 4″then cut with template D
- F1 square 4″then cut with template F
- B18 squares 2⅜″then cut with template B
- E2 rectangles 2⅜″ × 1½″then cut with template E
Dark · Navy in the picture
12 triangles
- B12 squares 2⅜″then cut with template B
Medium · Denim in the picture
3 squares, 2 medium triangles, 1 pentagon and 14 small triangles
- F2 squares 4″then cut with template F
- G1 square 3¼″then cut with template G
- B14 squares 2⅜″then cut with template B
- C3 squares 2¼″then cut with template C
Between the lines. Tree of Paradise cuts cleanly at 10½″ or 14″. At 12″ its half-square triangles' short sides are 1⁵⁄₇″, so they need templates.
Worked out by @quarterinch/cutting · ¼″ seams included · strips cut across 42″ of usable width · the letters are the pieces the sewing steps name
How it’s sewn
For the 6″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 10 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 5 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background B triangle to a Medium B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background E triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 half-square triangle unit
Sew a Medium F triangle to a Background F triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 section
Sew a Medium B piece and 2 half-square triangle units together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces.
- Make 2 sections
Sew 3 half-square triangle units together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 2 sections
Sew 2 half-square triangle units and a Medium C piece together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 1 section
Sew 2 half-square triangle units and a Medium C piece together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background E triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 section
Sew a half-square triangle unit and a section together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 section
Sew 2 sections and a Medium B piece together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces.
- Make 1 section
Sew a Medium B piece and 2 sections together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces.
- Make 1 section
Sew 3 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium F triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 1 section
Sew 2 sections together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 1 section
Sew 2 sections together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 1 section
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 1 section
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Sew the units into 2 rows
Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 2 rows. Press the seams in row 1 to the left, row 2 to the right, and so on, so they nest when the rows are joined.
- Join the rows
Join the 2 rows, matching and nesting the seams where they meet. Press the long seams open or to one side. The block measures 6½″ (6″ finished).
For the 9″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 10 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 5 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background B triangle to a Medium B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background E triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 half-square triangle unit
Sew a Medium F triangle to a Background F triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 section
Sew a Medium B piece and 2 half-square triangle units together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces.
- Make 2 sections
Sew 3 half-square triangle units together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 2 sections
Sew 2 half-square triangle units and a Medium C piece together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 1 section
Sew 2 half-square triangle units and a Medium C piece together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background E triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 section
Sew a half-square triangle unit and a section together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 section
Sew 2 sections and a Medium B piece together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces.
- Make 1 section
Sew a Medium B piece and 2 sections together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces.
- Make 1 section
Sew 3 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium F triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 1 section
Sew 2 sections together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 1 section
Sew 2 sections together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 1 section
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 1 section
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Sew the units into 2 rows
Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 2 rows. Press the seams in row 1 to the left, row 2 to the right, and so on, so they nest when the rows are joined.
- Join the rows
Join the 2 rows, matching and nesting the seams where they meet. Press the long seams open or to one side. The block measures 9½″ (9″ finished).
For the 12″ block. Choose another size above and these steps follow it.
- Make 10 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background B triangle to a Dark B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Dark. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 5 half-square triangle units
Sew a Background B triangle to a Medium B triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background E triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 half-square triangle unit
Sew a Medium F triangle to a Background F triangle along their long edges. Press toward the Medium. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add 2 corner triangles
Sew the Background B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 section
Sew a Medium B piece and 2 half-square triangle units together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces.
- Make 2 sections
Sew 3 half-square triangle units together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 2 sections
Sew 2 half-square triangle units and a Medium C piece together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 1 section
Sew 2 half-square triangle units and a Medium C piece together in a row. Press toward the plain pieces. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background E triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 section
Sew a half-square triangle unit and a section together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Dark B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Make 1 section
Sew 2 sections and a Medium B piece together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces.
- Make 1 section
Sew a Medium B piece and 2 sections together in a column. Press toward the plain pieces.
- Make 1 section
Sew 3 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium F triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Background A triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 1 section
Sew 2 sections together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 1 section
Sew the two parts together along the diagonal seam. Press the seam to one side.
- Make 1 section
Sew 2 sections together in a row. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 1 section
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Add a corner triangle
Sew the Medium B triangle across the corner, along its long edge, and press toward the triangle. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Make 1 section
Sew 2 sections together in a column. Press the seams to one side. Its size isn’t on the ⅛″ ruler at this block size, so sew it as cut and don’t trim it.
- Sew the units into 2 rows
Lay out the units as in the picture and sew them into 2 rows. Press the seams in row 1 to the left, row 2 to the right, and so on, so they nest when the rows are joined.
- Join the rows
Join the 2 rows, matching and nesting the seams where they meet. Press the long seams open or to one side. The block measures 12½″ (12″ finished).
Blocks like it
More like this: Seven-patch quilt blocks · all quilt blocks
Questions
Short answers.
Something else? A real person replies.
hello@quarterinch.app
What size should I make it?
On its 14 × 14 grid, 6″, 9″ and 12″ put some pieces between the ⅛″ marks, so they need templates. It cuts cleanly at 10½″ or 14″.
Can I paper piece it?
Yes. It splits into 10 sections (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and J), each sewn on its own paper in order and then joined with straight seams. In Quarter Inch, the Foundations tab prints its papers at true size (with Quilter).
Is it a good block for a beginner?
It’s an intermediate block: 57 pieces in 7 different shapes and 28 points to match. Take it slowly and pin the points. We work the level out from the block’s own geometry, never by eye.