CCC Blog Hop: Day 1

 

Fabric Requirements

Background fabric: 1/3 yard

Green fabrics: 4 different Fat Eights

Tree Trunk & Narrow Border: Fat Quarter

Prairie Points: Fat Quarter

Wide Border & Binding: 1/2 yard

Backing: 2/3 yard

Batting: At least a 22" x 30" rectangle

Cutting:

Background: Cut One 5-1/2" strip and Two 1-1/2" strips. From the 5-1/2" strip cut Two 5-1/2" squares, Two 4-1/2 x 4" rectangles and Six 3-1/2" squares.

Green fabrics: Cut One 5-1/2" x 10-1/2" rectangle from one of the fabrics and One 3-1/2" x 10-1/2" rectangle from each of the 3 remaining fabrics.

Tree Trunk and Narrow Border: Cut Four 1-1/4" strips (from the longer side of the fat quarter) and One 3-1/2" x 4-1/2" rectangle.

Prairie Points: Cut Ten 4" squares. 

Wide Border and Binding: Cut Two 3" strips and Three 2-1/2" strips.

Baste your backing and batting together using fusible batting or with a basting spray.

 Draw a horizontal line parallel to the shorter side of the batting, 6" from the edge of the batting with a pencil or erasable pen. Then draw a vertical line from the first line, exactly in the center of the batting and two short lines 1-3/4" from the center line on each side as shown.

Place the tree trunk rectangle exactly between the short lines as shown and aligned with the horizontal line, right side up and pin down. Lay a 4-1/2" x 4" background rectangle on top of the trunk piece, right sides together aligning raw edges.

 
 
Using a walking foot on your machine and bobbin thread that matches your backing, stitch through all layers with a 1/4" seam. When starting and ending each seam, sew a few stitches in the same place to secure threads. Press out.

Repeat on the other side of the trunk piece with another 4-1/2" x 4" background rectangle and press.

Now layer a green 3-1/2" x 10-1/2" rectangle on top of the sewn unit with right sides together, aligning raw edges.

Stitch through all layers as before and press.

 
 
 Draw a diagonal line on the back of all the background squares and place two 3-1/2" squares on each corner of the green unit, exactly as shown, right sides together. Sew exactly on the line.

Trim the seam allowance to a 1/4" and press.

Repeat the process with the remaining 3-1/2" x 10-1/2" green pieces and 3-1/2" background squares. to create the 2nd and 3rd level of the tree.

Sew the green 5-1/2" x 10-1/2" piece to the top of the tree and press. Place a 5-1/2" background square on one corner as shown and sew on the line. Trim the seam allowance and press.

Repeat on the other side with the last background square, trim and press.

 

Layer a 1-1/2" background strip on each side of the tree unit, trim them to the right length and stitch down with a 1/4" seam allowance. Press out.

Repeat with the top and bottom. Add the narrow border in the same way by first sewing them to the sides and then the top and bottom, pressing in between.

Fold the Prairie point squares in half with wrong sides together and press. Then fold them again so that all the raw edges are on the same side and press.

Place 3 prairie points on each side of the unit as shown and pin down. Make sure that the tips are overlapped by a 1/4 inch or so. Now place a border strip on top of the prairie points, aligning all raw edges, pin down and trim the strips to length. Sew through all layers with a 1/4" seam, catching all the prairie points in the border seams. Press both the borders and the points out.

 
 
 Place 2 prairie points on each short side as shown.

Make sure that the points are placed as shown, overlapping the edge of the narrow border a little bit. Then place the border strips on top and pin down. Sew through all layers and press.

Trim your backing and batting to the same size as the front of the quilt. Sew the 2-1/2" binding strips together into a long strip, press it in half lengthwise and finish the quilt with the binding.

I embellished my quilt with some buttons. That is of course optional but I put green buttons on the prairie points and then I put 24 red buttons on the tree. My idea is to hang little candies on the buttons and then use the quilt as an advent calendar. Each day of December I get to eat a piece of candy until Christmas!!

I hope you enjoyed the Sweet Trimmings wall quilt. Remember to comment to be able to win the prizes!! Also be sure to check in with the other designers and read their stories.

Comments

[Marsha]

This is so cute - I must make this soon. Thank you!

[Shirl]

Thanks for the cute project! I have really enjoyed your stories about your family and the traditions from your home country of Iceland.

[Paula W.]

Thanks for the cute tree pattern.

[SuzK]

What a great project! thank you for sharing it with us.

[Patti Trygg]

Thank you for the wicked cute pattern Gudrun!

[Christie]

I just had to stop back in and thank you again for the Sweet Trimmings pattern (don't tell the rest, but, this was my favorite) - I love trees and this project is so fun, fast and easy! And, thank you for participating in this CCCQD blog hop. What a great advent to the upcoming Advent season. And, what a wonderful way to meet so many wonderful designers and get to know them. And you all gave us early Christmas presents - your free patterns! THANKS A BUNCH!!!! HUGS...and stitches

[nicolette]

Thanks for organizing this wonderful event. I enjoyed reading the posts and looking at the gorgeous Christmas decorations and patterns!

[arlette]

I love your christmas tree, it's yummy!

[Marie Sagers]

Thank you for the beautiful little quilt. It is so great!

[Kelly Kreft]

Thank you for the Sweet Trimmings pattern! I love the placemats. I'm anxious to get one made. Quilty Hugs

[Donna Rae]

Forgot to leave a comment back when.....Or did I. So much fun reading everything I just plain forget. LOL
This sure is fun. Love the tute and all your patterns.
Donna Rae

[Mary Jo Larson]

I'm loving this blog hop and the stories and the great patterns. Thanks so much. Mary Jo

[Pauline]

This is so cute, Gudrun! Thank you.

[Sharon S]

Not sure if I commented yet or not. Oops if I did, Nice pattern & thanks if I didn't!

[Jill]

I apparently didn't comment on the day I first read this, so I will now. Thanks so much for the pattern. I love it!

[Roseanna J.]

You are such an inspiration. I love this project. This blog hop has been such a fun way to start the holiday season.

[Linda J]

Very cute, Gudrun! Looks to be a quick project for seasonal decorating or gift giving.

I do enjoy your designs. I have one of your magazine submissions ready to try and a pile of Strip Twist blocks bumped up to queen/full size!) ready to get to a flimsy. Keep those great ideas coming!

[Mandy]

I'm just making sure that I commented on everyone's project blog for the draw... I thought I had but I think I forgot some of the security words and they all didn't get posted :(

So if I'm a double please ignore this entry!

[Kim B.]

What a great project! I've never seen this "quilt as you go" technique before. I love how this turned out!

[Sally Keathley]

I love the quilt as you go process. I can't wait to try this out! It's a great size. My local shop has gotten your book so now I can try some other projects too.

[Margaret]

Way too late for the prize, but I do love the design! Thank you!

[Kitty]

Gudrun: I made your project the first day in an afternoon and love showing it to my quilting friends. Last Friday I was able to find your "Fast and Furious" at a show here in FL - I especially wanted it for my grandchildren who quilt with me every summer in MD. They make projects for our County Fair and since the quilting is the most difficult for them, I thought your flip and sew projects would be perfect for them. I'm so glad to have found you. Kitty

[QuiltSue]

I love it and can't wait to make one.

[Sharon]

I think this tree is great. Can't wait to make one.
Thanks for the pattern.

[Granny J]

How cute is this! Sweet Trimmings will loook great in my newly renovated sewing room. thanks so much.

[grace]

its beatiful ... thanks ... :)

[Laura]

Fabulous pattern and technique! Thanks for sharing!

[Patsy Hinchey]

Thank you for the pattern. This will be the first time I have tried this technique but with the photos and your instructions I think it will be a success.

[Kelli Kramer]

I love the prairie points on the Christmas Tree...

[Freda Henderson]

Love the pattern. Thanks so much for sharing.

[Susan Pletcher]

Today's the day! House is clean and I'm sure ready to sew. Thanks so much for the great patterns and all the memories on this blog.

[Sandy McCause]

This is a really cool project and I am thinking it will be good for a winter wall hanging, not just Christmas! So thanks a bunch!

[Eileen Kane]

I just bought your book on ebay! Fast and Furious ...

[Eileen Kane]

I love quilt as you go...fantastic! I'm just thrilled to be hopping with ya'll!

[Leslie]

love the detail of the project; very cool

[marcella]

Great pattern! I love the way you piece and quilt at the same time.

[Stephanie M]

Very cute pattern..
Thanks!

[Patty]

cut out a few to work on this weekend, thanks for the pattern!

[Elaine]

I will have to find your Quilt as you go book. Sounds very interesting. Love your Christmas tree pattern and plan to try it.

lsandes@comcast.net

[Maretta]

Wonderful project. Thanks for the blog hop!
Maretta

[Amy]

Thank you for the cute free pattern and for the blog hop. This has been so much fun!!

[Mary Meats]

I came to revisit your blog and couldn't remember if I commented earlier. So here goes. Love the design you came up with and I have enjoyed reading your traditions from Iceland. Thanks for sharing.
Mary

[Elizabeth]

Very cool pattern! I love that we make it and quilt it all at the same time. This idea is a keeper--thanks for sharing your talents. And. . .love the blog hop--it's very fun.

[Penny Fraley]

I'd really like to try this. I hope it stays up long enough for me to get to it. This hop looks to be a lot of fun.

[Valerie]

Thanks for the great pattern. I love how it is sewn and quilted at the same time, very clever. I'm really enjoying the blog hop.

[Carol]

Thanks for sharing the pattern. I am hoping to do a couple for gifts for Christmas.

[Kim Juilfs]

Love your "Sweet Trimmings", and i can't wait to make it. Thanks for sharing.

[Janet Kopecky]

Can't wait to make this. This is so much fun. A new pattern to look forward to every day!!! Thanks so much

[Jane]

Love the tree pattern. It is simple but sweet. I hope to whip one up for my daughter before Christmas.

[Kathy]

I love everything about this cute little wall hanging.Love the idea for the 24 buttons.My daughter just asked me if I had a pattern for an Advent calender to sew.
Now I do. thanks for the perfect pattern.