Make a 30" Square Weeping Willow Quilt Block

The Weeping Willow quilt block pattern finishes at 30-inches square, making it large enough to use as a wallhanging or perhaps a small table cover. Use a single block as a medallion center for a bed sized quilt, or repeat blocks in rows throughout a quilt.

I love the Art Deco-like look of the Weeping Willow quilt block. It originated in the 1930's and is a design that's attributed to both the Rural New Yorker and the Indiana Farmer's Guide.

The block example uses only three fabrics, but make it scrappy if you like. Try to keep the light, medium and dark color values in the same positions so that the tree's patchwork contrasts nicely from patch to patch.

If we were making a bunch of Weeping Willow quilt blocks, assembly steps would differ -- we'd use more more strip-pieced units for faster sewing. We'll make a few strip sets, but strip piecing isn't too critical for one large block.

Weeping Willow Block Materials

Light Background: 1/2 yard

Dark Green: 1/4 yard

Light Green: fat quarter or 1/4 yard

See cutting instructions on each page.

More Tree Blocks and Quilts

• Tree of Temptation
• Log Cabin Tree Quilt
• 10" Tree Quilt Block
• Christmas Tree Rag Quilt Pattern
• Miniature Christmas Tree Quilt Pattern
• Tree Everlasting Quilt Blocks

Make Strip Sets for the Weeping Willow Quilt Block

Strip Piecing Part of the Quilt Block

The two strip sets you'll make, and their segments, are illustrated separately, but they are cut from the same parent set.

Sew a dark green 2-1/2" x 42" (selvage width) strip lengthwise to a light green strip of the same size. Press seam allowance towards the light strip. Square up one end of the strip set. 

Strip Set 1

1. Cut four 4-1/2" segments from the set, starting at the squared up end.

Strip Set 2

1. Make sure the leading end of the strip set is still squared up. Cut nine 2-1/2" segments from the set.

Begin Sewing Rows for the Weeping Willow Quilt Block

Sections A-1 and A-2 are mirror images of each other.

• A-1 sits at the top left side of the Weeping Willow block.
• A-2 sits at the right side of the block.

Refer to the illustration as you assemble patchwork for the block.

Section A-1, Left Upper Corner

What You'll Need:

• One 2-1/2" x 8-1/2" background bar
• One 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" background rectangle
• One Strip Set 1 segment
• One Strip Set 2 segment

1. Arrange the four components as shown for the A-1 unit.

1. Sew the Strip Set 2 segment lengthwise to the 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" background bar as shown. The light green fabric should be at the lower left.
2. Press the seam allowance towards the background bar. Sew the Strip Set 1 segment to the right side of the unit you just made. Press.
3. Sew the new unit along the bottom edge of the 2-1/2" x 8-1/2" background bar. Press seam allowance towards the background bar.

Section A-2, Right Upper Corner

Gather the same patches listed above to make an A-2 unit. Sew the pieces together as you did for A-1, but assemble a mirror image unit as shown. Press seam allowances the same direction as for the A-1 unit.

Section B, Middle Patchwork

What You'll Need:

• Four 2-1/2" x 6-1/2" dark green bars
• Two 2-1/2" x 6-1/2" light green bars
• One 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" light green square
• One Strip Set 2 segment

1. Sew a 2-1/2" x 8-1/2" dark green bar to a light green bar of the same size. Press seam allowance towards the light green bar. Repeat to make a second identical unit (lower area of Section B drawing, used on both sides of the unit).

1. Sew a Strip Set 2 segment vertically between the units you created in step 1. Press seam allowances away from the center.
2. Sew a 2-1/2" light green square between the remaining dark green bars. Press seam allowances towards the center.
3. Sew the unit you just created to the top of the unit created in step 2. Press seam allowance towards the center row.

Sew the three units (two outer and one middle) together as shown to create the top row of the Weeping Willow quilt block. Press seam allowances away from the center unit.

Make More Patchwork for the Weeping Willow Quilt Block

You'll make two side units for the Weeping Willow quilt block.

What You'll Need for Each Side Unit

• One 2-1/2" x 14-1/2" background bar
• One 2-1/2" x 12-1/2" background bar
• One 10-1/2" x 10-1/2" background square
• Two 2-1/2" x 12-1/2" dark green bars
• One 2-1/2" x 8-1/2" dark green bar
• One 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" light green rectangle
• Two 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" light green squares
• One Strip Set 2 segment

Refer to the illustration and arrange the patches as shown before you begin to sew.

C-1 - Left Side Unit

1. Sew a 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" light green square to the bottom of a 2-1/2" x 12-1/2" dark green bar. Press seam allowance either way.
2. Sew a 2-1/2" x 12-1/2" dark green bar lengthwise to a background bar of the same size. Press seam allowance towards the background bar.
3. Sew a Strip Set 2 segment to the top of the unit you assembled in step 2, with its light green portion adjacent to the dark green bar. Press seam allowance either direction.
4. Sew a 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" light green rectangle to the top of the 2-1/2" x 8-1/2" dark green bar. Sew a 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" light green square to the bottom of the bar. Press seam allowances either direction.
5. Sew all four long units together side by side. Press seam allowances away from the center.
6. Sew a 10-1/2" x 10-1/2" background square to the bottom of the unit. Press.
7. Repeat to make the C-2 unit for the left side of the block. Assemble it in the same way, and by cutting the same patchwork, but as a mirror image of the first. Refer to the illustration as necessary.

What You'll Need for Section D:

• Two 4-1/2" x 16-1/2" background bars
• One 2-1/2" x 16-1/2" dark green bar
• Two 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" background rectangles
• Two Strip Set 1 units
• Four Strip Set 2 units

1. Arrange all units as shown in the left portion of the illustration. Work from top to bottom to assemble the the D unit.
2. Sew a Strip Set 2 unit between two Strip Set 1 units (top). Press seam allowances towards the center unit.

1. Sew the long, dark green bar lengthwise between the two long background bars. Press the seam allowances towards the background bars.
2. Sew a Strip Set 2 unit to the top of a 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" background rectangle (bottom). Repeat, but turn the strip unit around as illustrated. Press seam allowances towards the background strips.
3. Sew the last Strip Set 2 unit between the two units you just created. Press seam allowances away from the center.
4. Sew the three rows together. Press seam allowances either direction.

1. Sew the three lower vertical sections of the block together as shown. Press seam allowances towards the center section.
2. Sew the top row to the bottom portion of the quilt block. Press.
3. Add borders if you like, or leave the quilt block as is and use as desired. The Weeping Willow quilt block makes a good medallion center for a larger quilt.