Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Michele, over at the Quilting Gallery, is publishing a different free block pattern offered up by a different designer, for a total of 36 free block patterns in all!
And if that isn't tempting enough, how about a Super Deals for Quilters that is offered each day of the Quilt Along! You will surely find some awesome deals on fabric and other quilting supplies so get on over there to see what is on the menu for today!
If you have the time to create the blocks posted by the designer and upload your photos in the
Celebrate Christmas Quilt-Along Flickr Group, you will have a chance to win some buttons from
Button Mad. There is a set of buttons for
EVERY SINGLE block! How about that!! But you can't win, if you don't make the blocks and post your photo in the Flickr photo pool! get those machines humming!
Jingle Bell FlowerDesigned by Thearica Burroughs
Materials Needed
13 1/2" x 13 1/2" background block
10" x 10" scrap for flower petals
10" x 12" scrap for leaf insets
3" x 3" scrap for center circle
Heat and Bond Lite
Thread to match
4 Jingle Bells
Iron
Instructions
Iron Heat and Bond to the backside of your 10" x 10" scrap, 10" x 12" scrap, and 3" x 3" scrap.
Lay your pattern piece on top of paper backing and trace your shapes with a pen or pencil.
Cut 4 leaf shapes.
Remember to flip any pattern piece that will come out backwards such as your flower petals. You will draw them in the reverse of how they will lay on your block.
Cut 4 flower petals.
Cut the pieces out on the drawn line. You do not need to add a quarter inch seam allowance when using fusible.
(If you want to needleturn your pieces to the block you will omit the Heat and Bond step, and add 1/8" seam allowance to your fabric shapes for turning under)
Take a straight pin and score the paper side so that it is easier to remove the paper backing.
Now that your pieces are prepared with the fusible we will prepare our 13 1/2" square background block.
Fold the 13 1/2" square background block in half and press well creating a crease.
Open up.. Can you see the crease?
Now fold in half in the opposite direction and press the crease... taking care not to press the first crease that you made away.
Open up and you will see both creases.
Now you will fold one corner over to the other corner and press this crease, taking care not to press away the previous 2 creases.
Open up and you will see 3 creases now.
Now fold the other corners together to press the last crease taking care not to press away either of the 3 previous creases.
Now you have 4 creases that will help you in laying down your flower petals and leafs.
Turn your 13 1/2" block over and lay your petals down in position between the creased lines. You can see by the white dotted line that the bottom of the petal pattern piece will fit nicely between the 2 creased lines.
Next we will add the leaf pattern pieces, lining the bottom of them up with the bottom of the petals. make sure that the tip of the leaf is on the creased line.
Add your center circle!
Now we will press all of this to the black background square. Do NOT slide your iron from side to side. Sit your iron down right in the middle of the block to start pressing.
Then by lifting and sitting the iron back down work your way over to the outer edge of the block to the left.
And then going back to center, work your way to the right side of the block by picking up and sitting down your iron.
Finish ironing your pieces down by making sure the tips of the leafs are pressed well.
Blanket Stitching
Now we will move to the sewing machine.
(If your sewing machine does not have a built in blanket stitch module, you will do this part by hand.)
My machine has the built in blanket stitch so that is how I will finish my block.
I like to choose a thread that matches my fabrics so that the fabrics and pattern is what draws your eye.
(I will also use that same color thread to stitch my center to add a little bit of pop)
I use the same color in my bobbin as I do on the top so there are NO pokies showing on my stitches!
I start by lining up the inside edge of my presser foot by the slit to the outer edge of the pattern piece that I will be blanket stitching.
Moving at a slow speed I begin making my way around the petal shape, taking extra care at the corners and curved edges. You will need to pick up your presser foot and do a lot of pivoting to get around the sharp curved shapes at the top of the petals. GO SLOW! One or two stitches at a time and then pivot!
Continue around all 4 petal shapes and then press the block before stitching the leafs.
Finish your stitching by going around all 4 leaf shapes and your center circle. Press well at this time.
Squaring To Size
Move your block over to the cutting mat.
Lay your 12 1/2" square ruler on the block so that you have 1 inch clearance from the outer edge of the ruler to the outer corner of your leaf shapes and the outer edge of your flower petals.
Trim all excess fabric away.
Move back to the ironing board and spritz some water on any creases that remain. Press the block well!
Sew a jingle bell to each flower petal on the curved points.
Ta-Da!! You have just made your very own Jingle Bell Flower block!
And in the spirit of the seasons coming up I am always thankful for all of the comments left by my readers so i would love to gift back to one of you! And in the fairness of not forgetting about Thanksgiving, how about some paperware to help you with your family gatherings! 2 packs of plates, a pack of dinner napkins, a pack of dessert napkins, and a bag of my favorite fall candy!!
I will determine a winner from all comments left on this post who tell me what their favorite block is of all the
Celebrate Christmas Quilt Along blocks that have been submitted up to this point! There are several to choose from so click the
link and head on over to the
Quilting Gallery and take a peek at all of the blocks that have been submitted so far! Tell me your favorite for a chance to win this holiday package! And I promise not to hold it against you if you don't pick mine. :)
Giveaway will close on Halloween!!
