2026 Temperature Quilt – First Block Tutorial
February 5, 2026
Hi!
This year I decided to do another Temperature Quilt, but I wanted a smaller project than last time, and so I decided to modify a classic Pineapple Block to record the high and low temperatures for a full month in each block. This is a quick tutorial for how to foundation piece these blocks, based on my January block.
This (unfinished) block measures 7 ½ x 7 ½ inches square.
You Will Need:
A copy of the block template printed on regular paper
Your scraps/fabrics sorted into your colour graduations based on your range of temperatures
(You’ll find the template link and all this info in my last couple of weekly newsletters.)
A selected fabric for the small square middles of each block. I used a dark teal colour for mine as it was different to my other fabrics.
Plain white fabric for the background.
Your recorded January temperatures
Three coloured marking pens and glue stick
To Piece:
Before you start piecing this block, you will need to do some preparation, to make it easy to put together.
I used pink and blue highlighters to mark the high and low temperature rows, and a red fineline marker to record the temperatures.
Grab your recorded temps for January, and let’s get started.
First, use the two highlighters to mark which are the rows for high, and for low temperatures.
My highs are the vertical and horizontal rows, and the lows are the two diagonals, as shown by the coloured arrows.
This part can be tricky (yes – I made a mistake at the start!), but just follow through it in order and you’ll be fine.
With Foundation piecing, you add the fabrics in numbered order, and we will do this too, HOWEVER we want the daily low and high temps to be recorded next to each other, on the appropriate row, so we can keep some consistency with the block, and hopefully see the pineapple pattern emerge.
Remember, my blocks are going to be scrappy as I chose a general colour grouping for each band of temperatures. If yours has specific colours/fabrics for specific temperature bands, then you will see a more defined colour gradient as you progress.
Also note – my temps are in degrees C, so don’t worry about the actual numbers, but follow the same process for yours.
Starting at the innermost round (Marked A4 on the block) of the marked blue low temperature row on the bottom left of your block, use the fine red pen to write the low temperature for 1st January. (Mine was 16.)
Next to that, on the high temp row to the right (marked A8), add that day’s high temperature. (mine was 21).
Working anti-clockwise (from left to right), add the low temp for the 2nd January next. That’s my 13 in the A3 spot.
Then add the high for that day – my 25 in the next A7 spot.
Continue working around in an anti-clockwise direction, filling in the low, and then the high for each day in order.
Make sure that your lows correspond with the marked (blue arrow) rows, and that your highs are on the pink rows.
When you have finished day 4 (in the A9) spot, move onto the A13 spot with your low temp for your day 5, and keep building rounds in order, working outwards.
My finished marked block.
As January has 31 days, there are 2 spaces (one high and one low) that do not have a marked temperature.
These have a squiggly line drawn on, so I know when I’m piecing that these will be white strips to blend in with my background.
With that done, let’s start piecing!
With foundation piecing, the fabric is placed on the back of the paper, and you sew from the front, following the drawn lines on the block.
Start with your A1 piece. This is the centre square, and I used a dark teal for mine.
Hold your paper up to the light and place your fabric behind, so it covers the square space fully, and has at least a ¼ inch seam allowance around all sides.
From the back. Your fabric should be right sides up.
I’d recommend using a tiny dob of glue from a gluestick to hold it in place here.
Turn back to the front.
We now add the strips in number order according to the block diagram.
A2 is next. For mine, this is marked 15, which falls into my green band of fabrics.
Cut a strip of fabric so it is large enough to cover that A2 space, with a seam allowance around all sides.
Use the edge of a small ruler and fold your paper ON THAT LINE between pieces A1 and A2, as pictured.
Measure a ¼ inch seam allowance past the folded edge and trim the teal square edge as shown.
Flip your paper over and place the strip on top of the trimmed edge of the square, so that the edges are aligned.
Your strip should be face down, so that right sides are together.
Hold that strip in place (you can pin if you need to, but holding it works just as well and makes sure you don’t sew over any pins!), then turn your paper over so you can sew on that line through the paper, and the fabric on the back.
It is important to start and stop directly on each end of the marked line.
We’re sewing between A1 and A2 here.
Do a little back stitch at each end too, so that your stitching won’t come undone.
And sewn.
It’s a bit like paint by numbers, but with fabric.
You can work through your block, adding strips in order, and coloured according to your marked temperatures.
Your first piece added.
Open it out and use your iron to press it flat.
Next is the A3 piece.
Again, fold the paper on that line between A1 and A3.
Trim the ¼ inch seam allowance past that folded line.
And lay your strip along that edge, face down.
Sew from the front, on the marked line, then open out and press.
Add the remaining strips to complete the first (low temp) round.
Now start the next round in order. This will be your high temp round.
Each strip is added in exactly the same way.
Fold on the line, trim the seam allowance, place the strip with right side down, sew from the front, then open out and press, before adding the next numbered strip in order.
With four rounds done. You can see the start of the pattern emerging.
Half way through.
And with all the strips pieced.
Note the two white strips for the remaining spaces on the block after the end of the month.
In exactly the same way, add the white corner pieces in order, and then the side and top and bottom strips to finish.
Press your block well.
Turn over to the paper side, and trim your block on the outer (dotted) marked lines.
It should measure 7 ½ x 7 ½ inches.
And from the front – your finished January block!
Leave the paper on for now (and make sure you write January on it somewhere), and put it aside safely for the end of the year, when you can make a temperature quilt from your 12 blocks.
Enjoy!
7 responses to “2026 Temperature Quilt – First Block Tutorial”
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This is great! Thank you for this tutorial – I have never attempted the ‘pineapple’ block but maybe I will!
Thank you again.
Regards.
That is lovely, and what a great idea!!
Where do I find your past newsletter I order to find the template for the temperature quilt
Hi! You can download the block at:
https://www.onlinequiltmagazine.com/members/content/f/id/1407
Save it, and then you’ll have it for your blocks this year.
Somehow I never downloaded the pattern, is it possible to repost ?
Thank you
Terry
Hi!
You can download my Pineapple Block for my Temperature Quilt by clicking the link below.
https://www.onlinequiltmagazine.com/members/content/f/id/1407
If you’re planning on making yours alongside me, then save this block to your computer, or print it off 13-14 times (allowing for any spares needed), and keep them aside for the end of each month.
Today I was able to get this post. Thanks and it looks like a fun way to do a temperature quilt! Kathy