Christmas Corner June 2015

Merry Christmas Corner!  A Place to share ideas and work on Christmas Projects throughout the year!

 

I got a few things accomplished this month.  Have you started thinking about Christmas sewing yet?  Seven months to go.

Cathy of A Quilting Chick has been hosting this encore quilt along with permission from the original designer and blogger, JULIANNA GASIOROWSKA
of  Sewing under Rainbow  who held the Last Minute Quilt Along last year.  A paper pieced angel is due for June.  Note:  If you visit her blog, you'll see the words are in Polish, but she provides an English translation below each paragraph.  It's fun and free!

Also on Julianna's blog, I found a button for another free Christmas Quilt Along starting on July 8th with just 3 blocks (made 3 times) and it's so cute I'm planning on joining in so stop back on July 25th to see my version!

Here's the button and sample:
 
Here's the link to the Fat Quarter Shop with more details.

Back to my work....

I started this 9 patch star quilt back in January.  This month I completed 14 blocks for two sides of this quilt.  The blocks (other than some of the border blocks) are 9 1/2" unfinished.  I love that it is scrappy and that each finished star is 18" so it goes together pretty quickly!

As hinted at last month, I've completed a tutorial for this deer block.  It can become a wallhanging, pillow, or part of a woodland animal quilt.  I debated whether to make a red Christmasy background and maybe a red nose, but in the end went with a black nose and the blue snow flake background

I would love to have some pattern testers.  Please contact me for questions or if you find errors in the instructions.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts

Read on for the tutorial!




Merry Christmas Deer!

Tutorial
Step 1.  Cut out the pieces.

Background Fabric                               Deer Body Fabric                    Muzzle
2 x 6 1/2"          6 1/2" x 11"                1 1/2 x 2 1/2"   2 x 1 1/2"        (2) 2 x 1"
2 1/2" square     2 x 3"                          3" square         1 x 4"              (2) 1" Squares
4 x 4 1/2"           1 x 2 1/2"                   2 x 3 1/2"          1 1/2 x 4"  
2 x 5 1/2"          (9) 1" squares              (2) 2 x 3 1/2"    1 1/2 x 5"        Nose 1" square
4 1/2 square      (7) 1 1/2" squares         1 x 2 1/2"         1 x 4 1/2"
(2) 3 x 3 1/2"      3 x 8 1/2"                    1 1/2 x 3"         2 1/2" square    Chest 2 x 4"
                                                              5 x 5 1/2" (opt. spotted)
                                                              (5) 1" squares

Step 2.  Mark a diagonal line on 1 1/2" and 1" background and on 1" dark brown squares

Step 3.  Sew all squares on diagonal lines to angle the corners as shown.

 Place square on delegated corner.  Sew along the diagonal line.  Trim leaving 1/4" seam.  Press back.

For the ears, sew the 1 1/2" background square on first and press back, then sew the 1" background on opposite corner.

Note that all circled sections have a square sewn on the diagonal to angle each corner.

Step 4. Sew muzzle together -- square up to 2 1/2".

Sew chest area together -- square to 3 1/2 x 4".  

Step 5. Sew right cheek to background -- square to 3 x 4 1/2".  Sew right ear to background -- square to 3 1/2 x 4 1/2".

Sew forehead to background and square to 3 x 4 1/2".

Step 6.  Sew chin on to bottom of muzzle and then sides to muzzle.  Square to 3 x 2 1/2"

Step 7.  Sew right ear section to right cheek section and square to 4 1/2 x 6".  Step 8.  Then sew right ear/cheek section to background section and square to 4 1/2 x 10".

Step 9.  Sew background to left cheek -- square to 2 x 2 1/2" and then sew to left ear section.

Step 10.  (Sorry this is a little tricky because it's a partial seam).  Sew small corner cheek piece to chest, but only half way (red arrow shows where to stop).

Then sew to 1 1/2" body section as shown.

Step 11.  Sew Corner cheek/chest piece to cheek ear section.

Step 12.  Sew forehead section to muzzle section.

Step 13.  Sew center face to left ear/check section, carefully folding back the chest piece, exposing the unsewn area.  See diagram.

Step 14.  Now sew the chest area to chin side of center face section.  Trim to 4 1/2 x 10"

Step 15.  Sew face /chest section to right ear section.  Trim to 8 1/2 x 10"

Step 16.  Sew background to main body and trim to 5 1/2 x 6 1/2".   Sew 2 1/2" background to tail and trim to 4 1/2 x 2 1/2.  Sew buttock to background and trim to 4 1/2" square.

Step 17.  Sew buttock to tail and then buttock/tail section to body.

Step 18.  Sew remaining background pieces on and then sew head and body sections together.

Finish with embroidery or buttons for eyes and sew into the project of your choice.