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I Wish You a Merry QAL! Block 2: Christmas Tree Farm

8/14/2017

13 Comments

 
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It's time for Block 2 in the I Wish You a Merry Quilt-a-Long! I named it Christmas Tree Farm. Yes, this is the block I designed for the quilt along. I am so excited to see how you all interpret the block!  As many of you know, I live on a Christmas tree farm called JANDA Bend Christmas Trees. We raise and sell Christmas trees on our beautiful Oklahoma farm in the foothills of the Ozarks. I designed this block in honor of the farm.
All 12 of the blocks in the I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long are available for free on the designer's  web site until January 15, 2018 at midnight. I will offering links to the released block patterns on my Quilt Alongs page until then. Collect them all!

​
My block is below:
Picture of Christmas Tree Farm Block
Block 2: Christmas Tree Farm

​Doesn't it remind you of a Christmas Tree Farm? To download a pdf of the pattern, click the button below..
Purchase Christmas Tree Farm 12" Block

Tutorial for Block 2: Christmas Tree Farm

Overview
The construction features oversized blocks that are then trimmed to the correct size. This increases the accuracy of the piecing. Please read each step carefully. The block pattern is made from 8 tree block squares and 8 plain squares. The tree blocks begin as 3 1/2" Triangle in a Square blocks. Then they are trimmed and the tree trunk strip is added to the base of the triangle. Details concerning fabric requirements, required supplies, and the templates are included in the pattern. Templates are included for paper piecing as well. A Quilt in a Day Triangle in a Square ruler may be used used to make the 3 1/2" Triangle in a Square block. I have included atutorial that shows you how to use the ruler. The Tutorial for Block 2:Christmas Tree Farm will focus on using the templates and strip construction of the tree trunk strips.

Assembly
Step One
Make 8- 3 1/2” Triangle in a Square Blocks for Tree Pattern.
  • Trace the outer edge of the templates onto a clear plastic sheet and then cut the templates out with scissors. Or, you can cut out the paper templates, paste them onto a cardboard, and then cut out the cardboard templates.
  • Place the templates on the fabric. Use a water-soluble marker or pencil to trace around them on the fabric. Each 3 1/2” block will need one green fabric cut with Template C, a background fabric cut with Template A, and a background fabric cut with Template B. (Templates are included in the pattern download.)
Picture of fabric cut with templates
Cut Fabric Using Templates.

  • Sew Triangles A and B to each side of Triangle C to form a 3 1/2” square. When sewing, put right sides together and sew with an accurate 1/4” seam. Press the seams toward the side triangles as they are added. Square-up the 3 1/2" square blocks if necessary. I used a 3 1/2" Fussy Cut Ruler from Quilt in a Day, but you could use a ruler as well. Just be sure to leave a 1/4" above the tip at the top of the triangle for the seam allowance and to center the triangle.
Picture of first triangle
Add First Side Triangle.
Picture of Second Triangle
Add Second Side Triangle.
Picture of trimming triangle
Trim If Needed.

  • Trim 1/2” from the base of each of the Triangle in a Square blocks.
Picture of Trimming Triangle
Trim 1/2" from Base of Triangle.
Picture of Trimmed Tree Blocks
Trimmed Tree Blocks
 
Step Two
Complete 8 Christmas Tree Blocks
  • Make a strip set. Using a 1/4” seam, sew one of the 2” x 9” background fabric strips to each long side of the 1” x 9” brown strip to make a 4” x 9” strip set. 
  • Press the seams toward the tree trunk fabric.
  • Cut the strip set vertically to make 8-  1” x 4” Tree Trunk Strips. 
Picture of Tree Trunk Strip Set
Sew Tree Trunk Strip Set.
Picture of Cut Tree Trunk Strips
Cut Tree Trunk Strips.

  • Trim the 8 tree trunk strips so that they each measure 1” x 3  1/2"”, making sure that the brown fabric square is centered in the strips.
  • Sew a 1” x 3 ½” Tree Trunk Strip to the bottom of each of the Triangle in a Square Blocks. The block should now measure 3 1/2" square.
Picture of Strip and Tree Block
Sew Trimmed Strip to Trimmed Triangle in a Square Block.
Picture of Completed Tree Block
Completed Tree Block

Step Three
Complete the Block
  • Arrange the Christmas Tree Blocks and the 3 1/2” background fabric squares together to complete the Christmas Tree Farm Block as shown in the completed block diagram.
  • Sew rows and press the seams toward the background fabric squares. The seams should lock. Then sew rows together to form the 12 1/2” block. Press toward the bottom edge of the block.
  • Enjoy!
Picture of Blocks Before Sewing Together
Sew Blocks Together.
Picture of Completed Block
Completed Christmas Tree Farm Block

What Are the Giveaways for Block 2: Christmas Tree Farm?
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​That's right one of the prizes is my first quilt pattern for sale in my brand new online Quilt Shop! It is called Geese in Flower Pots. I am so excited! I hope you like it. Here is a view of the pattern.

There is a $25 gift certificate from Fat Quarter Shop as well. It was donated by Jan Altomare of Cocoa Quilts.

How Do I Enter to WIn the Giveaway?

There are three ways to enter. Do one of the following by August 28, 2017 at midnight EST:
  1. Upload a photo of your finished block to my Linky Party. Links are below.
  2. Upload a photo of your finished block to the I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long Facebook Group.
  3. Upload a photo of your finished block to Instagram using #iwishyouamerryqal
Linky Party

You can link up your block here:
An InLinkz Link-up

I Want to See More Versions of the Block. Who Are the Other Hosts?

Abbie at Sparkle On
April at JANDA Bend Quilts
Becca at Pretty Piney
Bobbi at Snowy Days Quilting
Diane at Cwilt Fabrics & Haberdashery
Jennifer at The Inquiring Quilter
Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts 
Sandy at Sandy Star Designs
Sherry at Powered by Quilting
Vanda at Quilt in PieceAbbie at Sparkle On

I Have Questions. Who Can I Ask?

You can ask me in a comment to this post or in an email. 

When Will the Next Block be Released?

August 29, 2017 (There will be two blocks released that day.)

Where Will I Be Able to Find Blocks 3 and 4?

You can find the block patterns at Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts and at Jennifer at The Inquiring Quilter. Links to their blogs can be found here at JANDA Bend Quilts, on I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long Facebook Group, or on any other host's blog.

Thanks for joining me and Happy Quilting!

This post was originally published at JANDA Bend Quilts.
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13 Comments
Abbie link
8/14/2017 11:49:22 pm

Congratulations and thank you April for a wonderful block! It was so fun to sew my own Christmas Tree Farm 🎄

Reply
April link
8/15/2017 07:17:20 am

Thanks, Abbie! I am glad that you enjoyed the block.

Reply
Diana bennett
8/15/2017 02:19:42 am

U mentioned quilt n a day's triangle I a square ruler. I have the v block ruler from deb tucker to use for " peaky and spike" units . Will this work

Reply
April link
8/15/2017 07:29:51 am

I have never used this ruler Diana, so I cannot speak from experience. However, I went to Deb Tucker's web site and from the description, it sounds like it would work. Just make sure you make 3 1/2" Triangle in a Square. Once you get there, you can cut off the base of the tree and add the trunk strip. Please let me know if it works for you!

Reply
Vanda Chittenden
8/15/2017 03:29:01 am

I love your block April!

Reply
April link
8/15/2017 07:19:06 am

Thanks, Vanda!

Reply
susan link
8/15/2017 10:06:15 am

Thanks for not making it paper-pieced! =) I look forward to finding just the right pieces for the trees.

Reply
April link
8/16/2017 06:25:34 am

Glad you like the pattern!

Reply
Bobbi @ Snowy Days Quilting link
8/15/2017 10:59:49 am

I've said it before, but I just love this block! Little pieces always make me so happy. I could just see this as a throw in Christmas colors, or year round in masculine colors.

Reply
April link
8/16/2017 06:23:59 am

Both quilt ideas sound great!

Reply
Diane Lomax link
8/16/2017 08:45:16 am

Thank you so much for this lovely block I really enjoyed making it and I love seeing people's different interpretations of it too! It came together like a dream :)

Reply
April link
8/16/2017 11:25:49 am

Thanks, Diane. I love seeing everyone's interpretations as well!

Reply
susan link
8/28/2017 10:43:30 am

Thirteen hours extra this time! Much better than six minutes. This block was so much easier than I expected. Thank you for the block and thank you for the giveaway. Your geese pattern is so cute!

Reply



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    April adams

    I am a quilter who is starting a new adventure. After retiring in May 2016, I became a certified Quilt in a Day Instructor. I am certified to teach workshops using Quilt in a Day patterns and techniques. In addition, I am designing my own quilt patterns.

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Quilt in a Day: Although I am a Quilt in a Day Certified Instructor, I do not receive compensation from Quilt in a Day for conducting workshops or including Quilt in a Day products and links on this web site.

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