Pineapple Fruit Quilt Block and Free Quilt Pattern!

Have you ever wanted to sew a pineapple fruit quilt? Here’s your chance… This free pineapple quilt block and twin quilt pattern is as easy as sewing half square triangles! It’s a great way to use up fabric scraps plus I’ll show you how I used my Accuquilt fabric cutter (totally optional) to make the cutting part faster and get to sewing sooner.

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This blog post has been converted to an optional PDF that’s optimized for printing. Find it here. The free Pineapple Fruit Quilt Pattern is included in the blog post below and is totally free to read, print, and sew! Just hit CTRL +P on your computer to print. The PDF download is inexpensive and optional. Did you know you can get ALL the Optimized for Printing PDF files organized in a library for you to access anytime you want? Check it out.

Pineapples are my favorite because they are a symbol of friendship and hospitality. I love decorating the inside (and outside) of my home with pineapple decor. So this summer I thought it was about time for me to sew a Pineapple Fruit Quilt!

The Pineapple Fruit Quilt Block is a standard 12” size (when finished) so it will be easy to incorporate this block into any of your other quilts too if you don’t want to make a quilt full of pineapples like I did. You are going to love this free pineapple quilt pattern because it’s:

• Totally easy patchwork
• All half square triangles (HSTs), rectangles, and squares
• An amazing scrap buster
• The perfect quilt to give as a housewarming gift or put in your guest room!

My twin sized Pineapple Fruit Quilt Pattern consists of 18 pineapple fruit quilt blocks set on point. I used 3” sashing plus setting triangles at the edges.

If you love to use your AccuQuilt fabric cutter like I do, I’ll share the optional cutting die numbers to make this pattern Accuquilt-friendly. Using an Accuquilt is optional, but I love it! See all my Accuquilt-friendly quilts. Look under the cutting dimensions below for a list of fabric-cutting dies you may use instead.

My quilt has 4 different colored pineapples that I made my raiding my scrap bins for yellow, pink, turquoise, orange, and green scraps. Then I used my Accuquilt fabric cutter to cut my HST triangles in a snap. The tutorial below uses a more common technique for making half square triangles that does not require special tools. Read past the step by step tutorial to see how I used my Accuquilt.

How to Sew a Pineapple Fruit Quilt

Finished twin quilt dimensions: Approximately 64’’ x 85’’. Finished block size: 12” x 12”.

You will need:

• 4 1/2 yards background fabric (suggested: white or cream fabric)
• 1/2 yard total of scrappy yellow fabrics (for 5 yellow pineapple blocks)
• 1/2 yard total of scrappy turquoise fabrics (for 5 turquoise pineapple blocks)
• 3/8 yard total of scrappy pink fabrics (for 4 pink pineapple blocks)
• 3/8 yard total of scrappy orange fabrics (for 4 orange pineapple blocks)
• 3/4 yard total of scrappy green fabrics (for all 18 pineapple blocks)
• 5/8 yard binding fabric
• 5 1/4 yards backing fabric, or enough to piece together a 67” x 90” backing piece (in this instance I highly recommend using 108” wide quilt backing fabric because you’ll only need 2 yards!)
• a 67” x 90” piece of quilt batting
• a rotary cutter, acrylic ruler, and mat
• sewing machine
• thread (I suggest thread matching the background fabric)

Cutting:

Just so you know, ONE yellow pineapple quilt block would require:

• 13 scrappy yellow squares 3” x 3”
• 5 scrappy green squares 3” x 3”
• 4 background fabric squares 3” x 3”
• 2 background fabric squares 2 1/2” x 2 1/2”
• 2 background fabric strips 2 1/2” x 12 1/2”

Here are cutting instructions for the ENTIRE quilt.

From your scrappy yellow fabrics, cut:

• 65 squares 3” x 3”

From your scrappy turquoise fabrics, cut:

• 65 squares 3” x 3”

From your scrappy pink fabrics, cut:

• 52 squares 3” x 3”

From your scrappy orange fabrics, cut:

• 52 squares 3” x 3”

From your scrappy green fabrics, cut:

• 90 squares 3” x 3”

From your cream fabric (or other background fabric), cut:

• 72 squares 3” x 3”
• 36 squares 2 1/2” x 2 1/2”
• 48 sashing strips 3 1/2” x 12 1/2”
• 17 cornerstone squares 3 1/2” x 3 1/2”*
• 2 squares 9 3/8” x 9 3/8” for corner setting triangles
• 3 squares 18 1/8” x 18 1/8” for the side setting triangles
• 4 squares 5 1/2” x 5 1/2” for the sashing side setting triangles

*You will notice that I cut my sashing in many pieces and use 3 1/2’’ ‘cornerstone’ pieces in between the 3 1/2’’ x 12 1/2’’ sashing strips. While this technique is not absolutely necessary, it makes lining up the rows and blocks a cinch. In my experience, if you cut long sashing strips instead of shorter strips with cornerstone blocks, it will take lots of time (and frustration) making sure that the blocks in each row are lined up properly.

Binding fabric:

• cut 8 strips 2 1/2” x width of fabric (40-42’’) or your desired width for binding quilts

instructions:

Use a scant 1/4’’ seam allowance and a medium stitch length such as 2-2.5.

How to Sew a Pineapple Quilt

Start by making 2 1/2” half square triangle units. The diagrams below show how to make HST units using the 2 at-a-time method and 3” squares.

The 2 at-a-time Method for Sewing Half Square Triangle Units

1. Place one 3” background square and one 3” scrappy yellow square right sides together. Use a pencil or fabric pen to draw a diagonal line across the square on top. This is a cutting line and should be drawn on the wrong side of the fabric.

Pin the squares together.

2. Sew a scant 1/4’’ away from the cutting line on on both sides of the drawn line.

3. Cut the piece in half diagonally along the line. 

4. Open and press the half square triangle (HST) units. Press the seams toward the darker fabric.

Trim each HST to 2 1/2’’ square.

For one yellow pineapple block, you will need to make 22 HST units:

• 4 yellow/cream HST units
• 10 yellow/yellow HST units
• 2 yellow/green HST units
• 4 green/cream HST units
• 2 green/green HST units

The twin sized Pineapple Fruit Quilt has 5 yellow pineapple blocks, 5 turquoise pineapple blocks, 4 pink pineapple blocks, and 4 orange pineapple blocks. So for the entire Pineapple Fruit Quilt, you will need to make:

• 20 yellow/cream HST units
• 50 yellow/yellow HST units
• 10 yellow/green HST units
• 20 turquoise/cream HST units
• 50 turquoise/turquoise HST units
• 10 turquoise/green HST units
• 16 pink/cream HST units
• 40 pink/pink HST units
• 8 pink/green HST units
• 16 orange/cream HST units
• 40 orange/orange HST units
• 8 orange/green HST units
• 72 green/cream HST units
• 36 green/green HST units

How to Sew a Pineapple Fruit Quilt Block

1. Arrange the 22 HST units needed for one block together with 2 background fabric squares (2 1/2” x 2 1/2”) as shown in the layout diagram above.

2. Use a 1/4” seam allowance to sew the half square triangle units together in 6 rows. Sew the rows together to make the center of the pineapple block.

3. Sew a 2 1/2” x 12 1/2” background fabric strip to each side of the pineapple center.

4. Trim the block to 12 1/2’’ square, if desired.

Tip: I love my 12 1/2” square ruler for squaring up blocks this size.

If you are sewing the twin sized quilt, repeat to make:

• 5 yellow pineapple blocks
• 5 turquoise pineapple blocks
• 4 pink pineapple blocks
• 4 orange pineapple blocks

Assemble the Pineapple Quilt Top

1. Arrange the 18 blocks on a quilt design wall or another large surface as shown above. Pay close attention to the color and orientation of the block layout. Note that the blocks are on point.

2. Sew the blocks into 6 diagonal rows with 3 1/2” x 12 1/2” sashing strips in between each block and at the ends of each row. Press the seams toward the sashing strips.

3. Cut the three 18 1/8” x 18 1/8” background fabric squares in half diagonally twice to make 12 quarter square triangles to use for the sides of the quilt. Sew 10 of the quarter square triangles to the ends of most of the rows as shown above. You will have 2 quarter square triangles left over.

4. Cut the two 9 3/8” background fabric squares in half diagonally to make 4 half square triangles. These half square triangles will make the corners of the quilt. Sew 2 of these triangles to one end of the longer rows as shown above. Lay out the remaining two half square triangles as shown. They will be attached with the sashing.

5. Cut the four 5 1/2” background fabric squares in half diagonally twice to make 16 small quarter square triangles.

6. Sew the small quarter square triangles together with the remaining 3 1/2” x 12” sashing strips and 3 1/2” cornerstone squares to make 7 sashing rows as seen above. Press the seams toward the sashing strips.

Pay close attention to the orientation of the quarter square triangles at the ends of the sashing rows. It may help to layout the remaining sashing strips, cornerstone squares, and quarter square triangles together with your pineapple rows before sewing the sashing rows.

You will have 2 triangles leftover.

7. Sew the pineapple rows and the sashing rows together to finish the pineapple quilt top. Having cornerstone squares helps ensure that your blocks are all aligned correctly. You might not even have to use pins!

Finishing Your Pineapple Quilt

1. Cut or piece together a piece of backing fabric that is at least 67’’ x 90’’. Make a quilt sandwich with the backing, batting, and top.

2. Baste together with pins or basting spray.

3. Quilt as desired. Straight line quilting with your walking foot would be fast and easy.

4. Cut 8 binding strips and bind using your favorite method. This is my favorite quilt binding method.

How I used my AccuQuilt Fabric Cutter for this Quilt

If you have an AccuQuilt Fabric cutter, you can cut the half square triangle pieces for this quilt faster than ever!

Shopping tips: I love my AccuQuilt Go! machine and Go! Me (smaller) machine and use them whenever I get the chance – especially when cutting scraps, half square triangle pieces, and strips. Shipping is faster (and free) when you purchase AccuQuilt products on Amazon Prime, but there is a larger selection of machines and dies on the AccuQuilt website. Their shipping is pretty quick too. Make sure you browse their sales page!

You will need:

• An AccuQuilt die cutting machine (I used my smaller Go! Me machine for this job because it was just the right size and so easy to lift and carry)
• One of the AccuQuilt dies that cuts 2” half square triangles (the value die that comes with the AccuQuilt Go! starter kit can cut these triangles, or there is a small die that cuts only 2” HST triangles – that’s what I used)

If you are using your AccuQuilt to cut up scraps, be sure to press them flat first. Then you can place up to 6 layers of fabric on the die.

Roll the die and mat through the machine and your cut triangles will be absolutely perfect just like these!

When using HST triangles cut with an AccuQuilt, you won’t need to use a scant 1/4” seam allowance or trim the HST units after sewing. That’s one of my favorite reasons to use my AccuQuilt!

xoxo,