| The Maple Leaf Quilt Block
The Maple Leaf Quilt Block is another favorite quilt block usually made in Autumn colors. It is a 9-patch, so there are a lot of blocks that fit nicely with it. Most of the block is made with squares and half square triangles.
You can also make this block with a appliquéd curved stem. To make the block to the left, first decide on the measurement for the patches. Then make the half square triangles and cut the squares. If you want to make a stem, here is how you do it. Let's make the patches finish at 3 inches. The first thing you want to do is cut a square 3 1/2 inches from the fabric you want for the stem. You are going to use the Snowball Quilt Square technique to attach the squares and make the stem. You are putting squares on opposite corners of the stem fabric, sewing down the middle, and then turning them back to reveal the stem fabric. The smaller the two squares, the wider the stem. If you want a thin stem, you will make the small squares almost as large as the stem fabric square beneath. Cut away the excess fabric under the backing to reduce bulk.
Here are a couple layouts that show you how beautiful this block can look. The first is with the stems, and the second without them. As you can see, the second layout looks like a star.
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There
are several ways to make this block. The block on the top has a straight
stem. The block on the left doesn't have a stem. I have also put the grid
marks on this block, so you can the 9 patches. 
The white portion in the
square to the left is the fabric that was attached with the small squares, sewn
across the square diagonally, and then folded back. The black is the
revealed stem fabric.
