Christmas Quilt-a-long Block!

OH, JOY! It's my day for a block in Michele's Quilting Gallery

Celebrate*Christmas*Quilt-a-long!!!!

I love the Christmas season and it always brings JOY!  My block was fun and easy to make and as you read on, you will see how versatile it can be.  The main fabrics that I am using for the blocks in the Celebrate*Christmas*Quilt-a-long are from Jacquelynne Steve's collection Joy*Love*Peace*Noel.  I have step-by-step photos for you to follow and a pdf file for the letter patterns (posted in Step 9).  Let's get started........

Step 1.
I used four fabrics for the pieced sections of this block.The center square is a mottled ivory fabric by Moda but you could also use a small print or check.

Cut one 6" center square

Cut two 4-7/8" squares

Cut one WOF (width of fabric) strip 1-1/2" wide, then cut into two 8" and two 10" pieces
Cut two WOF (width of fabric) strips 2" wide, then cut into two 10" pieces and two 12-3/4" pieces

Step 2.
Cut the two 4-7/8" squares in half so that you have four triangles as shown below......

Step 3.
Evenly position two triangles to each side of the square, pin carefully and then stitch and press.

Step 4.
Position remaining triangles, pin, stitch and press.

Step 5.
Trim this section to 8" square!!

Step 6.
Lay-out the pieces for the 1-1/2" strips.

Sew the 8" side strips to the center square section..........

Then add the 10" strips to the top and bottom. Press.
Step 7.
Lay-out the pieces for the 2" strips.

Sew the 10" side strips in place............

Then sew the 12-3/4" strips and press.

Step 8.

When the pieced block is complete, trim the block to 12-1/2" square.

Step 9.
You are ready to add the words. I created a letter template so that you can create whatever message you wish on your block.  You will find a pdf of this page here.

In my original block, I chose the word JOY.  I plan to make four blocks for my quilt and each will have a different word. When I made my second block, I chose the word LOVE. I used scraps of red, green and blue fabric and ironed Heat 'n Bond Lite to the fabric, then traced my letters in reverse as shown below............

I cut out the letters, removed the paper, and positioned the letters. I then pressed the letters in place following directions on the Heat 'n Bond product.

Step 10.

All that is left to finish this block is to decide if you will stitch around the letters or leave as they are. I chose to a blanket stitch by hand on my JOY block and I plan to do the same on the other blocks that I make. I chose a color called "Mustard Seed" from The*Gentle*Art threads that is the perfect compliment to the fabrics I am using. You could also use fabric glitter around each letter that would really add a festive flair to the blocks. In addition to adding holiday words to your block, you could also add names of family members. If you don't want any words, then perhaps you could choose a scene from a Christmas or holiday fabric panel and fussy-cut it for the center square. You could use 5" charms and cut them into the 4-7/8" squares. You might find a holiday fabric that has words of greeting in it, that could be used for the 1-1/2" strips. The possibilities are endless when you change the fabric choice and color!

Hope you have enjoyed this tutorial for my JOY block. And now........I would like to offer a little JOY to someone who will win a sampler of the fabrics in Jacquelynne's Joy*Love*Peace*Noel fabric line. It will be similar to this one pictured below..........

Just leave your name and e-mail contact and I will draw a winning name on Thursday evening, October 20th at 6:00 p.m. Enjoy!
Sandi

And the winner is.........Denise! And imagine my surprise when I clicked on her link and discovered the name of her blog....... Count*it*all*Joy!