Orange Peel quilt block
Four quarter-circle units meeting so the arcs form a pointed oval — the peel — against a contrasting ground.
Also known as Pumpkin Seed, Lafayette Orange Peel.
Orange Peel dates to the nineteenth century and appears in both pieced and appliquéd forms. The pieced version is genuinely challenging; the appliquéd version, where the peel shapes are stitched onto a whole square, is how most quilters make it and is entirely legitimate.
Orange Peel cutting chart
Cut sizes include a ¼″ seam allowance: ½″ on squares and rectangles, ⅞″ on half-square triangles, and 1¼″ on quarter-square triangles. Pick a finished block size:
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Pie template | 4" × 4" | 4 | 3" finished radius |
| Dark | Background template | 4" × 4" | 4 | 3" finished radius |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Pie template | 5½" × 5½" | 4 | 4½" finished radius |
| Dark | Background template | 5½" × 5½" | 4 | 4½" finished radius |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Pie template | 6" × 6" | 4 | 5" finished radius |
| Dark | Background template | 6" × 6" | 4 | 5" finished radius |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Pie template | 7" × 7" | 4 | 6" finished radius |
| Dark | Background template | 7" × 7" | 4 | 6" finished radius |
| Fabric | Shape | Cut size | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Pie template | 8½" × 8½" | 4 | 7½" finished radius |
| Dark | Background template | 8½" × 8½" | 4 | 7½" finished radius |
How it goes together
Four quarter-circle units arranged so the convex pieces meet along the block's centre lines, creating a lens shape. Precision at the four points where arcs meet is what makes it look right.
Tips
- Consider appliqué instead of piecing. It is the traditional alternative and much more forgiving of the points.
- Two high-contrast fabrics only — the shape is subtle and extra colours bury it.
- Alternating the peel orientation between blocks makes an allover pattern rather than isolated motifs.
How much fabric for a Orange Peel quilt?
Yardage for a whole quilt of Orange Peel blocks, computed the way the studio does it — every piece packed across a 40″ usable width with 10% added for waste.
| Quilt size | Blocks | Finished | Top fabric | Backing | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby 36×48 | 12 | 36" × 48" | Background 2¼ yd · Dark 2¼ yd | 2½ yd | ⅜ yd |
| Throw 60×72 | 30 | 60" × 72" | Background 5¼ yd · Dark 5¼ yd | 3⅞ yd | ½ yd |
| Queen 90×108 | 72 | 96" × 108" | Background 12½ yd · Dark 12½ yd | 8¾ yd | ⅞ yd |
What it looks like in a quilt
A single block only tells you half the story. Set sixteen of them together and the secondary pattern appears where the blocks touch:
Orange Peel questions
Is Orange Peel pieced or appliquéd?
Both are traditional. Piecing is harder and lies flatter; appliqué is far more forgiving at the points and is how many antique examples were made.