Stitchtale

Orange Peel quilt block

A classic block that sews up in an afternoon and looks right in almost any fabric.

6 steps, start to finishWatch the Orange Peel sew up, cut to press.

Try it in your colours

Tap a colourway, or pick each fabric. The film at the top changes too.

Colourways

Or pick each fabric

Love it? Find real fabric in these colours at the fabric shop.

Cut sizes for one Orange Peel block

Pick the finished size. Every cut includes the ¼″ seam allowance.

Cutting for one 6″ finished Orange Peel block
PieceCutQty
Orange peel backgroundbackground fabric3½″ × 3½″4
Orange peel petalmain fabric4⅝″ × 2¼″4
Cutting for one 9″ finished Orange Peel block
PieceCutQty
Orange peel backgroundbackground fabric5″ × 5″4
Orange peel petalmain fabric6¾″ × 3⅛″4
Cutting for one 12″ finished Orange Peel block
PieceCutQty
Orange peel backgroundbackground fabric6½″ × 6½″4
Orange peel petalmain fabric8¾″ × 4″4

Good to know

What size should I make an Orange Peel block?

Any size that suits your quilt. 12″ is the easiest to sew, and 9″ or 6″ look lovely in a busy, scrappy quilt. It sits on a 2 by 2 grid, so a finished size that divides by 2 gives you friendly cutting numbers. The cut sizes for all three are on this page.

How many Orange Peel blocks do I need for a quilt?

At 12″ you need 9 blocks for a wall quilt, 12 for a baby quilt, 30 for a throw, 48 for a twin quilt and 72 for a queen quilt. Sashing or a border between them means fewer blocks for the same size.

Is the Orange Peel good for a beginner?

Yes, if you take it slowly. The one new skill is the orange peel, and the film at the top shows every cut, seam and press.

What's the trick to a neat Orange Peel?

Sew a test Orange Peel first and measure it. If it comes out the right size, the rest will too.