Modern Leaf Burst Quilt Block – Step-by-Step Tutorial
Handmade quilts have a way of turning simple shapes into elegant stories. This block blends the calm of low-volume fabrics with the structure of clean lines, creating a leaf-inspired motif that looks refined in neutrals or striking in color. Its geometry is crisp, but the construction is approachable—perfect for a feature block, a cushion cover, or a full quilt repeated in rows.
The design is built from four rotating quadrants that radiate from the center like a stylized leaf. Each quadrant begins as an oversized half-square triangle (HST); then we insert a slim “vein” strip for dimension. A skinny cross of sashing through the middle finishes the modern look and keeps the eye moving across the block.
Because the pieces are cut a little large and trimmed, the results are beautifully square even if you’re newer to precision piecing. The technique also invites experimentation: vary the vein width, swap the corners for a different print, or remove the center sashing for a cleaner, minimalist finish.
Sewn in soft beiges and taupes, the block feels calm and classic. Try a seasonal palette—russets and golds for autumn leaves, icy blues for winter, or bright botanicals for spring. However you color it, this block delivers texture and balance with very little fuss.
Finished Size
- With the skinny cross: 13″ finished (13½″ unfinished)
- Without the cross (sew quadrants directly together): 12″ finished (12½″ unfinished)
Materials (for one block)
- Background (A): fat eighth is enough
- Leaf/Print (B): fat eighth is enough
- Thread, rotary cutter, ruler, mat, iron
Cutting (oversized for clean trimming)
Background A
- Four 7″ squares (for HSTs)
- Four 1½″ × 7″ strips (for the leaf “veins”)
- Two 1½″ × 6½″ strips (vertical center sashing)
- One 1½″ × 13½″ strip (horizontal center sashing)
Leaf/Print B
- Four 7″ squares (for HSTs)
- Four 3″ squares (for stitch-and-flip outer corners)
Step-by-Step
1) Make the HST Bases (4 units)
- Pair one 7″ A square with one 7″ B square, right sides together.
- Draw a diagonal line; sew ¼″ on both sides; cut on the line.
- Press toward B. Trim each HST just to 6¾″ (do not square to 6½″ yet).
- Repeat to make 4 HSTs total.
Tip: Keep the B triangle oriented toward what will become the outer edge of the quadrant.
2) Insert the Leaf “Vein”
- On each HST, make a single angled cut from the inner corner toward the outer edge (roughly a 30–35° slice; the angle does not need to be exact—keep it pleasing and consistent).
- Insert a 1½″ × 7″ background strip between the cut edges, sewing with ¼″ seams.
- Press seams toward the strip to create a slim vein.
- Now square each unit neatly to 6½″. This gives you four 6½″ quadrants with a vein running through the leaf.
3) Add the Outer Corner Accents
- On the outermost corner of each quadrant (the corner farthest from the center), place a 3″ B square RST, aligning raw edges.
- Draw a diagonal across the 3″ square, sew on the line, trim ¼″ away, and flip/press to create a print triangle.
This echoes the sample’s checked corners and frames the motif.
4) Assemble the Rows with the Center Cross
- Top row: Sew one quadrant to a 1½″ × 6½″ background strip, then sew the second quadrant to the other side. Press away from the sashing.
- Bottom row: Repeat with the remaining two quadrants and the second 1½″ × 6½″ strip.
- Join the two rows with the 1½″ × 13½″ horizontal strip in between. Press away from the sashing.
- Square the block to 13½″ unfinished.
No-cross option (12½″ unfinished): skip the sashing strips and sew the four quadrants directly together; press seams to spin the center and square to 12½″.
Finishing Ideas
- Quilting: straight-line echoing along the veins looks sleek; a gentle serpentine stitch softens the geometry.
- Repeat blocks with alternating light/dark leaves for a secondary lattice pattern.
- Bind a single block into a pillow: add a 2″ border to reach your preferred cushion size.
