Pineapple Plant Quilt Block Pattern

New to quilting? Click here for a beginner in-depth sewing class covering all the basics.

How to Sew a Pineapple Plant Quilt Block

The Pineapple Plant quilt block is a charming and distinctive design that creates a bold, graphic look. It's built from a combination of squares, rectangles, and half-square triangles arranged to suggest the shape of a pineapple plant.

Materials:

• Fabric in 3 colors: background, pineapple body, and leaves/top
• Rotary cutter, cutting mat & ruler
• Sewing machine & thread
• Iron and ironing board

Instructions:

1. Cut your fabric pieces according to your chosen block size. You'll need squares and rectangles for the pineapple body, half-square triangle units for the leaf top, and background pieces to frame the design.
2. Make your half-square triangle units for the leaf section: pair leaf fabric with background fabric, draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the lighter square, sew ¼" on each side of the line, cut along the line, press seams toward the darker fabric, and trim to size.
3. Assemble the leaf/top section by arranging the HST units in a row or triangle formation pointing upward.
4. Assemble the pineapple body section using your body fabric squares and rectangles, sewing in rows with ¼" seam allowances. Press seams in alternating directions.
5. Sew the leaf section to the top of the body section. Press seam downward.
6. Add background framing pieces to the sides and bottom as needed to complete the block.
7. Press the finished block and trim to your desired size, keeping all corners square.
8. Repeat to make as many Pineapple Plant blocks as needed for your quilt.

How to Resize Quilt Blocks

The first step in modifying any quilt block is to decide on the finished size. You can base this on doubling a pattern, cutting it in half, or working with your available fabric.

Important: Always remove the seam allowance before doubling or tripling the size. For example, if your pattern calls for 3½" squares, subtract the seam allowances (½"), double the finished block size (3" → 6"), then add the seam allowance back (½"). You'll end up cutting a 6½" piece of fabric.

Resizing Square Blocks

Add ½" to your desired finished block measurement. For a 4" finished square, cut a 4½" square of fabric.

Resizing Rectangular Blocks

Add ½" to both the length and width. To double a block that measures 3" × 4", cut a 6½" × 8½" rectangle of fabric.

Resizing Half-Square Triangle Blocks

Add ⅞" to the desired finished block size. For a 4" finished block, cut 4⅞" squares.

Resizing Quarter-Square Triangle Blocks

Add 1¼" to the desired finished block size. For a 4" finished block, cut your squares 5¼".