The Cottage Christmas Quilt Along Part 3

Hey Everyone,

Here is the tutorial for the tree block from Brooke (her's is putting together either the table runner or the bedrunner). Here is Sally's Bedrunner which she has finished (over achiever). Here is my tutorial since I had to be difficult and make the lap size :)

Lap Size Tree Tutorial (pdf)

Cut your biggest pieces first and then use the strips to cut the next pieces. This is written as if you are using 3 green fabrics but you can use whatever you like as long as you can get all of the pieces cut. Be sure to keep your left overs you will need them for the inner tree part of the pattern that is later in this tutorial. Mark your pieces with the corresponding letter which is noted after the measurements in the cutting directions and diagrammed on the block below

Cutting For Tree Block: (10”x 20”)

From 2 green fabrics cut one 7” strip

Subcut:

                2 – 7” squares (one from each) if you don’t mind your points on each block of your tree being the same you could economize by just cutting one of these (A)

                2 – 6 ½ squares (one from each)(B)

From remaining green fabric cut one 6” strip

Subcut:

2 – 6” squares (from the new fabric and one from one of the other two 7” strips you already have)  if you don’t mind your points on each block of your tree being the same you could economize by just cutting one of these (C)

2 – 5 ½” by 3 ½” rectangles (again from 2 different fabrics)(D)

2 – 5” squares (from 2 fabrics) if you don’t mind your points on each block of your tree being the same you could economize by just cutting one of these(E)

2 – 4 ½” x 2 ½” rectangles (from 2 fabrics) (F)

2 - 4” squares (from 2 fabrics)  if you don’t mind your points on each block of your tree being the same you could economize by just cutting one of these (G)

2 – 3 ½” x 1 ½” rectangles (from 2 fabrics) (H)

2 – 3” squares  (from 2 fabrics) if you don’t mind your points on each block of your tree being the same you could economize by just cutting one of these (I)

From Background Fabric:

Cut one 7” strip

Subcut:

                2 – 7” squares (or one see above) (A)    

2 – 6” squares (or one as above)(C)

2 – 5 ½” x 2 ½” rectangles (J)

2 – 5” squares (or one as above) (E)

                2 – 4 ½” squares (K)

2 – 4” squares (or one as above)(G)

                2 – 6 ½” x 3 ½” rectangles (L)

2 - 8 ½” x 2 ½” rectangles (M)

2 – 3” squares (or one as above) (I)

Instructions:

From your 7”, 6”, 5”, 4”, 3” squares make half square triangles as we have been doing in the last two blocks. Marking diagonally on the background squares and sewing down each side of the line, cutting apart on the line. Square to 6 ½”, 5 ½”, 4 ½”, 3 ½”, and 2 ½”.

Piece the rectangles in as you see above on the block diagram. You will need two blocks just like you see them.  The easiest way to do this is lay the pieces all out so you can see the picture then piece them in rows.  This block will come out 10.5” x 20.5” unfinished.

Inner Tree Block

You will need to piece one more block from your green fabrics. You can piece this any way you like as long as it comes out 10.5” by 20.5” unfinished. Here are two different ways you can make it.

These are basically to show you that you can do this any way you like. It looks good any way.

And here is a graphic of how the whole quilt goes together again. As you can see the bottom row has the inner tree. And I show a version with either piecings of the inner block. it looks fine both ways so, go easy I say :) We will have another post next week about finishing with the border.