Cactus Rose Quilt Block

Make a Cactus Rose Quilt Block quickly and easily with this tutorial. There are no tricky templates, this method uses only squares and rectangles to make the beautiful quilt block.

This tutorial is for a Cactus Rose block that finishes at 5-1/2″, which is an unusual size. To see directions for a 6″ or 12″ block, scroll to the end. The assembly is the same, but the pieces are different sizes.

This tutorial uses the stitch and flip technique. This is a great technique anytime you want to have a triangle on the end or corner of a larger piece.

Watch the video and scroll down for a written tutorial with images.

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Tutorial

This tutorial is for a 5-1/2″ finished block made up of four birds in air units. Scroll down to see measurements for a 6″ or 12″ finished block.

Fabric requirements

main fabric:

• 2″ x 6″
• two 2″ x 4-1/2″
• 2″ x 3″

accent fabric:

• 2″ square

background fabric:

• four 2″ squares
• 1-1/2″ x 2″
• 1-1/2″ x 3″

Making the petals

On the back of each of the background squares, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner.

Use a pencil or erasable marker.

Align these squares with the ends of the main fabric rectangles. Notice that longest piece and the shortest piece go in opposite directions and the medium pieces go in in each direction.

Stitch directly on the marked line, then trim away the excess from the corner.

Since the cut-off triangles are quite small, I won’t save these, but you are welcome to use these in another project.

Open and press. The size of these pieces will be the same size as the original rectangles.

Centre unit

Join the small background rectangle onto the accent fabric square with a 1/4″ seam allowance.

Then join the longer rectangle to the side of that piece.

Now all the units are made, so you are ready for the block assembly.

Block Assembly

Layout the pieces as shown in the image. The accent fabric unit goes in the corner and the petal units go around it. Notice that the triangles are pointing away from the accent fabric piece.

If you stitched the diagonal lines on your flower petals in the opposite directions, that isn’t a problem. Just move the petals to the other side.

Join the smallest petal to the accent fabric piece, and then join a medium piece. This could be used alone as a little rose bud block.

Join the last two petals and then the unit is complete.

This piece should measure 6″ square, which will finish at 5″ square.

I chose this size because I made four cactus rose pieces and joined them together with a 1″ sashing to make a 12″ block.

Alternate block sizes

If you prefer to make your block a different size, here are some suggestions. The assembly is the same.

6″ finished cactus rose

The diagram illustrates a light and dark main fabric. For this option, make the longer piece and one of the medium pieces in a darker shade.

Main fabric:

• 2″ x 6-1/2″
• two 2″ x 5″
• 2″ x 3-1/2″

Accent fabric:

• 2-1/2″ square

Background fabric:

• four 2″ squares
• 1-1/2″ x 2-1/2″
• 1-1/2″ x 3-1/2″

12″ finished cactus rose

This version has leaves and dark and light petals. Feel free to play with different fabric combinations.

Main colour light:

• 3″ x 5″
• 3″ x 7-1/2″

Main colour dark:

• 3″ x 7-1/2″
• 3″ x 10″

Green:

• 3″ x 10″
• 3″ x 12-1/2″

Accent colour:

• 3-1/2″ square

Background:

• six 3″ squares
• 2″ x 3-1/2″
• 2″ x 5-1/2″

In this variation, be sure that when you add the squares to the end of the rectangles, the diagonal lines are pointed in the opposite directions.

Enjoy this beautiful quilt block in any size!