Use Fabric Scraps to Make This Festive Christmas Tree Block

By Diane Knott

Grab your end-of-the-year scraps and add a little extra festivity to the house with an adorable Christmas quilt block. This design can be sewn into cute pillows or place mats, or you could pair ’em with other designs (like a modern Christmas block) to make an entire Christmas quilt. ‘Tis the season to be merry!

Christmas Tree Block

Level: Easy

Size: 8½” square (unfinished)

What You Need

  • Six green fabrics
  • Background fabric
  • Thread
  • Ruler
  • Rotary cutter
  • Cutting mat
  • Fabric marker
  • Iron

    • Cutting Instructions

  • Four 1½” x 5½” green strips
  • Two 1½” x 4½” green strips
  • Two 1½” x 8½” strips of background fabric
  • Two 1½” x 6½” strips of background fabric
  • Two 2½” x 3½” rectangles of background fabric
  • Four 2½” x 2½” squares of background fabric

    • Instructions

    1. Sew the Green Strips

    Lay your green strips together in pairs and stitch with a ¼” seam allowance along one long side. Open and press the seam to one side. You’ll now have three green units.

    2. Lay Out the Block

    Lay the pieces out to form your block as such:

    Bottom and middle rows: 2½” background square, one longer green strip; 2½” background square.

    Top row: 2½” x 3½” background rectangle; smaller green strip; 2½” x 3½” background rectangle.

    3. Sew Diagonals

    Place a background square on each end of the two 6½” units, right sides together. Mark each square with a diagonal line from corner to corner. Sew down this line.

    4. Trim

    Using a ruler and rotary cutter, cut away the corners ¼” away from the sewn line. Open the squares and press them away from the green strips.

    5. Create the Tree Top Unit

    Layer one background rectangle on top of the short green strip unit and mark diagonally from corner to corner. Sew on the drawn line and trim ¼” away from sewn line. Press the seam away from the green strips. Repeat with the other side in the same manner.

    6. Sew the Rows Together

    Arrange the three tree units as shown and sew them together. Press the seams toward the bottom unit. This tree unit will now be 6½” square.

    7. Add the Border

    Sew the 1½” x 6½” background strips to both sides of the tree unit and press the seam allowance toward the center. Sew the 1½” x 8½” background strips to the top and bottom of the unit. Press the seam allowances toward the center as well.

    And you’re done, just in time for the holidays!

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    4 Responses to “Use Fabric Scraps to Make This Festive Christmas Tree Block”

    1. Elaine

      Made the block this evening. It turned out so beautiful. Thank you.

    2. Elizabeth

      Would really like to be able to download the pattern!

    3. Lucille

      Love the square for placemat or potholder. Cant wait to make it

    4. Karen Wenger

      Looks cute and a possible block for an advanced beginner like me!