Drafting for the Creative Quilter

LOGCABINANDPINEAPPLEBLOCkS 41

Pineapple Block

Pineapple Quilt, 65 ̋ × 65 ̋, designed, pieced, and machine

quilted by Charlene Dakin, Lafayette, CA. Inspired by a Freddy

Moran pattern.

Pineapple block

The Pineapple block is a close relative to the Log Cabin

and Courthouse Steps blocks (page 38), although its

inception was well after the introduction of the Log

Cabin. All three blocks are created by adding strips

around a center square. Visually the Log Cabin block is

divided in half diagonally, the Courthouse Steps block is

divided into quarters diagonally, and the Pineapple block

is divided into eight sections, with four on the hori-

zontal/vertical planes and four on the diagonal planes.

A common Pineapple block comprises a center square

surrounded by five rounds of strips. The center square

is twice the size of the strip width. For example, a 1 ̋

center square would be surrounded by 1/2 ̋ strips. The

number of rounds is up to the maker, although five

rounds is common because it is visually balanced: Five

strips on each side of the center makes 10; and a center

that is twice the width of the strip makes 2; so the block

is divided equally by 12. If you choose to have 4 strips

Continue to add logs until you have a center square the size

you want. Check to be sure you have the same number

of logs on all 4 sides of the block.

Drafting from

the Inside Outward

1. You can estimate the size of the center square or
   add together the finished width of 1 wide and 1 narrow
   strip. For example, 1/2 ̋ and 1/4 ̋ logs equal a 3/4 ̋ center.


2. Draw the 2 narrow logs first, then the 2 wider logs,
   repeating this sequence until the block is close to the
   size you want.

1

2

3

4

Draw the off-set center square,

approximating its position

on the paper.