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

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:

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.)

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.

Add First Side Triangle.

Add Second Side Triangle.

Trim If Needed.

• Trim 1/2” from the base of each of the Triangle in a Square blocks.

Trim 1/2" from Base of Triangle.

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. 

Sew Tree Trunk Strip Set.

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.

Sew Trimmed Strip to Trimmed Triangle in a Square 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!

Sew Blocks Together.

Completed Christmas Tree Farm Block

What Are the Giveaways for Block 2: Christmas Tree Farm?

​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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