The block finishes at 14" square (14½ unfinished) and can be used in any Petit Four project. Download a PDF version here.

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You will need...

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3 4½" contrasting squares*

1 1" x 17" strip for the planter frame

1 1" x 1½” scrap of brown

1 Fat Quarter background fabric

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* Please note that, if you are using the left-over quarter square

triangle from the Arrosoir block, you will only need 1 4½" square

and will omit steps 3-4 in the instructions.

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Cutting...

 

1.      From the background Fat Quarter cut as shown, below:-

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2.      From the planter fabric strip cut 2 1" x 5" pieces and 2 1" x 3½" pieces.

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Please read through the pattern before you begin. Fabric is  joined with a ¼” seam allowance unless otherwise noted. 

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To make the Quarter Square Triangle...

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3.      First mark a diagonal line on the back of one 4½” square and pin - right sides together - to a contrast 4½” square, then stitch ¼” away from each side of your marked line. Cut along that line and press both half square triangles (HSTs) open, pressing towards the darker fabric.

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4.     Mark a diagonal line on the back of one of the HSTs at right-angles to the seam and pin - right sides together - to the other HST, matching the contrasting fabrics so that the seams nest. Again, stitch¼” away from each side of the marked line, cut apart and press open. You will only need one QST, so set the second aside for another project. Trim to 3½” square.

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To make the block...

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5.     Mark a diagonal line on the 4 1½” background squares, pin one to each corner of the remaining 4½” square, stitch on the line, flip ‘open’ and press – to ‘snowball’ the corners – trimming away the back pieces if preferred.  This will form the top of your Orange tree.

 

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6.     To make the trunk, join a 1½” x 2¼” background piece to each side of the 1" x 1½” brown piece, pressing as directed (>).

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7.     To make the planter, join a 1" x 3½” piece to the top and bottom of the QST and then a further 1" x 3½” background piece to the bottom, pressing away from the QST. Then add a 1" x 5” piece to each side, again pressing away from the QST.

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8.     Assemble the three sections, top, trunk and planter, pressing the seams away from the trunk.

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9.     Finally, join a 5½" x 10” background piece to each side and a 2¾" x 14½” background piece to the top and bottom, pressing away from the trunk. Dreaming about real orange trees in French gardens is optional, but much encouraged.

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