Stitch a Strippy Pumpkin Quilt Block for Fall

By Diane Knott

If you’re looking to make an adorable, totally one-of-a-kind project this fall, look no further. This scrappy, stash-busting pumpkin quilt block is made entirely of 1½”-wide strips. It comes together in a snap, and it’s perfect for autumn stitching. All you need now is a warm mug of homemade apple cider and the perfect fall afternoon is complete.

Good to Know: You need fabric in orange, green and brown, along with a background fabric of your choosing. To make the pumpkin strips stand out, use different fabrics — we mixed six different orange prints for ours.

Pumpkin Quilt Block

Level: Easy

Size: 8½” unfinished

What You Need

For the pumpkin fabric

  • Six orange fabric strips, cut into 1½” x 5½” strips
  • Brown fabric, cut into a 1½” square
  • Green fabric, cut into a 1½” x 3″ strip

    • For the background fabric

  • Two strips, cut 1½” x 8½”
  • Two strips, cut 1½” x 6½”
  • One strip, cut 1½” x 3″
  • Six squares, cut 1½”

    • Tools

  • Rotary cutter
  • Cutting mat
  • Quilting ruler
  • Fabric marker

    • Instructions

    1. Sew the Pumpkin Strips

    Once you’ve cut all of your fabric into the needed dimensions, sew the orange strips together lengthwise. Press the seams open to one side.

    2. Mark and Sew the Corners

    Place a background square on each corner of the strips right side down, as shown above. To shape the pumpkin, mark each square with a diagonal line from corner to corner. Sew on these lines.

    3. Trim the Corners

    Using a ruler and rotary cutter, trim the corners ¼” from the sewn line. Press the corners away from the orange strips.

    4. Make the Leaf

    Place the remaining two background squares on top of the green strip. Mark these from corner to corner as well, then sew on the lines.

    Just like you did with the other squares, trim away the corners ¼” from the sewn lines. Press the corners away from the green strip.

    5. Sew the Stem

    To make the top of the block, arrange (from left to right) the 1½” x 3″ background strip, the brown square and the open green leaf unit you just cut.

    Sew the pieces together, then press both seams open toward the brown square.

    6. Attach to the Pumpkin

    Sew the stem and leaf row to the top of the orange strips. Press the seams away from the pumpkin.

    7. Finish the Block

    Sew the 1½” x 6½” background strips on either side of the pumpkin block. Press the seams toward the border strips.

    Sew the 1½” x 8½” background strips to the top and bottom of the pumpkin block. Press the seams toward the background strips.

    This pumpkin block will now be an 8½” square. Put it in a frame and give it as a gift, or work it into a fall-themed quilt design!

    Share tips, start a discussion or ask other students a question. If you have a question for the instructor, please click here.

    Make a comment:
    characters remaining

    126 Responses to “Stitch a Strippy Pumpkin Quilt Block for Fall”

    1. Charlene

      It is clever and cute! Thanks for sharing !

    2. Cheri

      Can't wait to try these !!!

    3. Frances

      Just what I was looking for; thanks for sharing.

    4. Joanne

      Thanks for sharing this pattern

    5. Martha

      Appreciate this pattern and instructions. Thank you.

    6. carol

      BEAUTIFUL PATTERN

    7. Anita Bengtson

      I made this using 2 1/2 "

    8. Bobi Levine

      Cute pumpkin!!!

    9. Pat

      Thank you

    10. Daryla

      I had to make this as soon as I saw it! I'm making the blocks and will then make them into a table runner. I can't wait until it's completed.