Pineapple Quilt Block Made Easy

Pineapple Quilt Block Made Easy no special ruler required!  I love scrap quilts, and my method of making this block with 1 1/2 inch strips of scrap fabrics makes this a great scrap buster, and a very colourful quilt. You can use any quilting ruler with 1/4″ markings.

It all starts with a “square in a square” which can be made 2 different ways:

1. Sew triangles to opposite sides of the center square, press the seams away from the center, trim the points even with the center square, then triangles get sewn to the remaining 2 sides and pressed.
2. (My favourite) Sew strips to opposite sides of the center square, press the seams away from center, trim the excess even with the center square, then strips are sewn to the remaining 2 sides.

In this sample, the center square starts at 2 1/2 inches.

If you’re using the triangle method, cut 2 squares 2 1/2 inches and cut each in half diagonally to make 4 triangles.

If you’re using strips, 1 1/2 inch wide strips work very well and makes a GREAT scrap buster. Cut them about 1/2 inch longer than where you’re sewing them to and center them so the excess is about the same at the beginning and the end.

Either way, after pressing and trimming, your block should be 3 3/8” inches.

Note about Pressing: all seams will be pressed away from the center.

Round #1

Cut 4 strips of fabric 1 1/2 inches wide and 4 inches long. These can all be the same fabric, or be different with the same value. Sew them on opposite sides first, centering each one so a bit extends at each end. Press, then attach the other 2 strips and press.

Trim Round #1

Lay your quilting ruler over the pressed unit lining the vertical edges of the center square along vertical lines on the ruler.
Slide the ruler until the top edge of the square is on the line 1 1/4 inches from the top edge. Cut!  Rotate the block and trim the opposite side, then do the remaining sides.

Round #2

Cut 4 strips 1 1/2 inches wide, about 1/2 inch longer than needed (4 inches will do), Sew them to the 4 edges that you just trimmed, then press.

Trim Round #2

Place your ruler over the pressed unit, this time the vertical lines are the edge of the square in a square. Slide the ruler until the top edge is 1 1/4 inches from the top of the square in a square, and trim. Shown with black lines.

Subsequent rounds are done the same way, as many rounds as you desire.

Our guild block has  6 rounds, then finishes by cutting two 5 inch squares in half diagonally for the corners to finish at 10 1/2 inches.

Many members of our guild approached me for help in making this block.  My method for making a pineapple quilt block is quite different from the instructions provided by our guild, but the results are identical.  If you prefer a printable of my method, click here for a PDF. Pineapple block any ruler

These pineapple quilt blocks are small, just 4 rounds after the square in a square.

Here is another post that focuses on quilt piecing, working with half square triangles.