9″ Pumpkin Block

Hi There! Ready to make a 9″ Pumpkin block? Well, I’m ready to show you how I made mine. If you’re not into a whole lot of details I’m sure you can get the cutting measurements and skim the pictures. For those of you that need details you’re in the right place.

There is a little bit of hand stitching on the stem, but not too much. It was the best way I could come up with so that I didn’t have to make a bunch more pieces and seams on the main part of the pumpkin.

Here is the drawing that I came up with. You will need to make four of these for the Fall Pumpkin Mini Quit.

Colors needed:

• Brown (Br)
• Blue (B)
• Blue Pattern (P)
• Tan (T)

Measurements (all in inches):

• Br-1: 2 x 1 1/2 cut 4
• B-1: 6 1/2 x 4 1/2 cut 4
• P-1: 2 3/8 x 2 3/8 cut 4 (cut diagonally, corner to corner, to make 8 triangles)
• P-2: 1 7/8 x 1 7/8 cut 4 (cut diagonally to make 8 triangles)
• P-3: 6 1/2 x 2 cut 8
• T-1: 1 1/2 x 1 1/4 cut 4
• T-2: 2 x 1 1/2 cut 8
• T-3: 3 x 2 cut 8
• T-4: 2 3/8 x 2 3/8 cut 4 (cut diagonally to make 8 triangles)
• T-5: 7 1/2 x 1 1/2 cut 8
• T-6: 9 1/2 x 1 1/2 cut 8

You should now have all these pieces:

Start with the center of the block. Use pieces B-1, P-1 and P-2

Step 1: Draw a 1/4 inch line on the long side of P-1 on the wrong side. Using this line sew P-1 to upper right corner of B-1 right sides together.

I’m using the back of my pattern fabric for the right side for a more muted look. Step 1 picture may be confusing if you don’t know that little tidbit.

Step 2: Cut off excess and press open

Step 3: Repeat with remaining P-1 pieces on the upper left corner of B-1

Step 4: Sew P-2 to both lower corners of P-1. Cut excess and press open.

Make the stem section. Use pieces Br-1 and T-1

Step 5: On the back side of T-1 measure down 1 inch on the left and mark. Measure down 1/4 inch on the right and mark.

Step 6: Rotate T-1 clockwise and place on right side of Br-1. Left side mark is to be 1/4 inch down and right side is to be 1 inch down on the brown.

Step 7: Sew from mark to mark. Cut excess.

Step 8: Press open.

Next expand the stem block using T-2.

Step 9: On the wrong side of T-2 mark four pieces 1/4 inch up and 1/4 inch in from lower right corner. Place right sides together with stem block, align on the right.

Step 10: Sew down from top and stop on the 1/4 inch mark. (Only go to the end of T-2 if you are making the simplified version. See *Simplified Version after Step 16 for more info.)

Step 11: Repeat steps 9 and 10 but on the back side of T-2 mark on the left. Sew to the left side.

Step 12: Press open.

Attaching the full stem block to the B-1 and P-1 pieces.

Step 13: Place stem block on B-1/P-1 block right sides together. Line up T-2 with P-1. The brown stem will be extending off the block. Sew from the mark made on T-2 in Step 9 outwards to the edge on both sides of the stem. Do not sew the stem.

Step 14: Press open and pull the excess stem piece through the opening.

Step 15: Fold the bottom corners of the stem into a point. Press in place.

Step 16: Use a hidden running stich to secure the stem onto B-1.

*Simplified Version:

After placing right sides together sew all the way across. Press open. This will leave you with a straight bottomed stem.

Make the outer pumpkin parts. You will need T-3, P-3 and T-4.

Step 17: Separate T-3 into two piles. On the left pile draw a 45 degree diagonal line from lower left to upper right. On the right pile draw from lower right.

Step 18: Place right sides together with P-3 as shown. The diagonally drawn line should end at the top corner of the P-3 piece. Sew on the line.

Step 19: Cut off excess and press open.

Lower part:

Step 20: On the wrong side of T-4 draw a 1/4 inch line on the long side. Place on P-3 as indicated in the picture and sew along the line.

Step 21: Cut off excess and press open.

Finish the pumpkin block:

Step 22: With wrong sides together attach the pumpkin sides to the center. Press open. Square block up to 7 1/2 x 7 1/2.

Step 23: Attach T-5 to the sides, right sides together. Press open.

Step 24: Attach T-6 to the top and bottom, right sides together. Press open.

And there you have it! Pretty little pumpkin blocks. They should be 9 1/2 x 9 1/2 at this point.

Now that you know how to make the pumpkin you can go back to the Fall Pumpkin Mini Quilt post to see the finished project or go to the Cross Over Boarder page to get the next set of instructions.