Welcome to Christmas Corner, January 2021

Each month on the 25th (oops, had this all ready and forgot to publish it yesterday) I'll show a completed project, a peak, and a bonus.

I started this Scrappy Christmas quilt back in 2014 and worked on it for a couple years and then put it away until this past November when I was determined to finish it.  

The backing is this anti pill fleece from JoAnn Fabrics.  It is bound with a red and white stripe.

I made an effort to complete it in December for a Christmas gift but on Christmas morning I was only this far.  Finally finished a week or so later, so now it is the first gift ready for this Christmas!

You can see the swirls and snowflakes

A few sweet hearts.  I was testing out some hearts and swirls for Cheryl's mom's quilt.  

Some cutting instructions

Each block is made with a nine patch of 3 1/2" (unfinished) squares.  Then make (4) flying geese for the star parts, which are 4 1/2 x 9 1/2" (unfinished).  The unfinished corner squares are 4 1/2".   Stagger the star rows.  (I made mine with less seams, which was a bit daunting and probably why I didn't complete it much sooner.)

PEAK AT FEBRUARY'S PROJECT.

Walk in the Forest from the Jumpstart on Christmas Quilt Along, by Sara Diepersloot of the Modern Quilter

Now for the Bonus and link to the free tutorial.

A Christmas Tree farm made with a tutorial from The Temecula Quilt Company.  Free tutorial here.

    THANKS FOR STOPPING BY CHRISTMAS CORNER!

Note:    If anyone wants to contribute something Christmas-y, they've made or a tutorial, for the next month's Christmas Corner, I'd love to add it to the post too!  Let me know.

Linked to My Quilt Infatuation

Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Alycia Quilts

Log Cabin Block Tutorial: Update with yardage requirement

Note:  See the section with cutting instructions for yardage requirement update but beware as amounts haven't been tested.

Popular Log Cabin Quilt, fabric by Maywood Studio

My manager made this quilt top and I quilted it, for a coworker.  Several people have asked about a tutorial for the block, which follows here.  The first border is 3", the little pink border is 1 1/2" and the outer border is 6".

I found some similar fabrics but rusty red and peach tones instead of pink.  Here are instructions to make this 12 1/2" log cabin block (12" finished)

Gather your fabrics.  I'm using 11 different fabrics.

Press Your fabrics using a little steam and/or starch, being careful not to stretch the fabric.  This will help prevent it from shrinking after you cut, sew, and press it.

Cut your strips.  The center is 2 1/2" and all other fabrics are 1 1/2" so cut strips the width of the fabric.  You'll need 3 or 4 or 5 of these strips depending upon how many blocks you are making.

I'm a fan of strip sewing, but you could also cut your strips into the following sizes.  Cut one each of the following for each block.  

Update:  A reader requested the yardage requirements, so I am doing some calculations, but I haven't tested these calculations so double check on your own for accuracy.  Yardage is based on a width of fabric (WOF) being 42", making a quilt 72 x 96" aka (48) 12" blocks, and assuming very little waste and no mistakes.  Also fabric amounts DO NOT include borders, binding, or backing

1.  Center:  2 1/2" square:  1/4 of a yard, cut into 2 1/2" x WOF strips

2.  First light fabric 1 1/2 x 2 1/2" strip and 1 1/2 x 3 1/2" strips:  1/3 of a yard cut into 1 1/2" x WOF strips (note: cut all the rest of the strips 1 1/2" x WOF)

3.  Second light fabric 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 strip and 1 1/2 x 4 1/2" strips (note: this is to surround the middle block for contrast, all other strips will be on their respective light or dark side):  1/2 of a yard

4.  First dark fabric 1 1/2 x 4 1/2 and 1 1/2 x 5 1/2" strips:  1/2 of a yard

5.  Third light fabric 1 1/2 x 5 1/2 and 1 1/2 x 6 1/2" strips:  5/8 of a yard

6.  Second dark fabric 1 1/2 x 6 1/2 and 1 1/2 x 7 1/2" strips:  2/3 of a yard

7.  Forth light fabric1 1/2 x 7 1/2 and 1 1/2 x 8 1/2" strips:  1 yard

8.  Third dark fabric 1 1/2 x 8 1/2 and 1 1/2 x 9 1/2" strips:  1 yard

9.   Fifth light fabric 1 1/2 x 9 1/2 and 1 1/2 x 10 1/2" strips:  1 yard

10.  Forth dark fabric 1 1/2 x 10 1/2 and 1 1/2 x 11 1/2" strips:  1 1/4 yards

11.  Sixth light fabric 1 1/2 x 11 1/2 and 1 1/2 x 12 1/2" strips: 1 1/3 yards 

(Note: I was just thinking, to preserve the fabrics you use to make the 1 1/2 x 11 1/2 and the 1 1/2 x 12 1/2" strips in #10 & #11, cut your strips 1 1/2 x 38" and that will leave the remaining fabric in larger pieces, so you aren't wasting or having so much left over, narrow strips.)

 

Okay that was stressful knowing some of you may rely on these calculations and I may have made a mistake so please, please, double check on your own!!!

Sew the 2 1/2" strip to your first 1 1/2" strip and then cut into 2 1/2" sections.  Next you will sew another 1 1/2" strip (the same fabric to one side) and then cut and trim into 3 1/2" squares (see the picture).

Your next strips will also be light to frame the center block.

Sew the 3 1/2" squares onto the 2nd light 1 1/2 strip (or 1 1/2 x 3 1/2" strip)

Cut apart into 3 1/2 x 4 1/2" sections

Sew on the next strip (same fabric), press open, cut into 4 1/2" squares

Now you will sew on your first dark 1 1/2" strip, press open, and square up to 4 1/2 x 5 1/2" (remember when squaring up to make sure the center 2 1/2" square is centered)

Sew the next strip (same fabric), press open, cut into 5 1/2" squares

Next is your 3rd light strip; follow steps as before (block will be 6 1/2") and then the 2nd dark strips and at this point you will have a 7 1/2" square

You can see how I'm sewing each block to the long strip here in assembly line fashion.

With the next set of light and dark strips, the big square is now 9 1/2"

Here you can see a row in graduated sizes, this big square is now 10 1/2"

10 1/2" square

Here is my new Laura Star steam iron.  My neighbor had raved about hers and she let me demo it and it was wonderful!  I never thought I'd spend so much on an iron, but when my iron broke last week, I decided to splurge!

With the final two set of light and dark strips, you now have a 12 1/2" block

   

Let me know if you have any questions and hopefully I haven't made mistakes in my instructions!

Linking up with Alycia Quilts love her pink placemats!

And with Sarah (fabric addict)

Think Pink

Not quite ready for Valentine's yet (see my ode to Christmas below) but here are a few PINK quilty things.

This quilt was made my friend, Cheryl, for her mom.  Her mom will be so happy when she sees this cheerful quilt.

I was happy to help her do the quilting and binding, so she could also complete a quilt for her dad who is 94 and not doing so well.

The pink binding gives it just the right pizazz!

Doll quilt for granddaughter (she calls her dollies, Mimis) 

Hung on my wall is this Christmas gift from my friend, Donna.

Now I can't wait to sew some mini quilts, to hang all around!

And now an Ode to Christmas:

Christmas went by so fast, I wish it would longer last, so once a month a Christmas post, I'll launch with a Christmas toast!  

JK, no more poems, but hope you stop by for Christmas Corner 2021 on the 25th, each month

Here's a peak at my January project, a UFO from 5 or more years ago.  The binding is ready to go, so finally, almost done!