Free Patchwork Apple Mini Quilt Pattern

First, there was a pineapple then there was an orange and now we have an apple! Well, two apples. I couldn't resist making a whole apple and an eaten one. This would be a fun quick project for a teacher's gift too! Check out the apple at the bottom I made my little sister who is a kindergarten teacher. Here is a free tutorial on how to make this 13" x 10" mini quilt. 

Materials Needed

• assorted red scraps
• assorted cream scraps
• assorted green scraps
• one brown scrap
• 1/8 yard of solid white
• 1/8 yard of red stripe for binding
• 2-1/4" wide black & white scrap for binding
• 15” x 12” scrap for backing

Cutting Instructions

From the assorted red scraps, cut:

• sixteen 1-1/2” squares
• four 1-7/8” squares

From the assorted cream scraps, cut:

• four 1-1/2” squares
• two 1-7/8” squares

From the assorted green scraps, cut:

• two 1-7/8” squares

From the brown scrap, cut:

• two 3/4” x 1-1/2" rectangles

From the white background, cut:

• eight 1-7/8” squares
• two 1-1/2" x 2-1/4" rectangles
• two 1-1/2" x 2-1/2" rectangles
• one 1-1/2" x 4-1/2" rectangle
• one 1-1/2" x 6-1/2" rectangle
• two 2-1/2” x 6-1/2” rectangles
• two 2-1/2” x 13-1/2” rectangles

Sewing Instructions

To make the half-square triangles: 1. Layer a 1-7/8” white square and red square right sides together. 2. Draw a line down the center. 3. Using a 1/4” seam, sew on both sides of the square. 4. Cut along the drawn line. 5. Press the seams open.

Make 8 total white/red half square triangles, 4 total white/green half-square triangles, and 4 total white/cream half-square triangles.

To make the full apple - sew the squares, rectangles and half-square triangles into 6 rows. Press the seams open. Sew the rows together to form the apple. Press the seams open.

To make the eaten apple - sew the squares, rectangles and half-square triangles into rows as shown. Press the seams open. Sew the rows together to form the eaten apple. Press the seams open.

Sew the 2-1/2” x 6-1/2” background rectangles to each side and the 1-1/2" x 6-1/2" between the apples. Press towards the white borders. Sew the 2-1/2” x 13-1/2” rectangles to the top and bottom. Press towards the borders.

Finish the Quilt

Layer the apples, batting and backing fabric. Quilt straight horizontal lines 1/2” apart between the seams. Sew the binding strip to the 2-1/4” wide black & white scrap strip on the diagonal. Create your binding and sew it to the quilt in your favorite method. Voila!

As I mentioned earlier, my little sister is a kindergarten teacher, so after I made one of these mini quilts, I knew I needed another. Creams aren't are in abundance in my scrap bin, so to up the contrast of the eaten low volume scraps, I changed the background to a light blue. I think it turned out adorable. I am hoping it will hang in her classroom next year!

I am collecting quite the collection of mini fruit quilts. Next up is a pear so stay tuned! If you make this or any other Sassafras Lane project, we would love to see it! Send us photos or post them to our Flickr group.