Row 4 - the complete Nordic Mini Quilt

The Patchsmith's version of the Nordic Mini Quilt

The Nordic Mini Quilt-Along has proved a lovely diversion from the busyness of this time of year.  Four small rows of patchwork pleasure which will look good all year round – not just for Christmas.

Row 4 saw us patching ‘woven’ hearts finished with a touch of appliqué.  

Row 4 - Love, love, love red gingham hearts

As you know I am a fan of quick-fuse appliqué but Crafty Quilter Julie provides a super fast way of finishing the hearts with turned appliqué.  No fiddly turning of 1/8” seams required – just simple stitching with a little bit of fusible batting.  It was very, very easy.

Four rows of fabric fun

Row 4 also brought us to the end of this Nordic quilt along.  With all four rows joined together I finished this patchwork mini with some red and grey hand quilting.  Those rustic stitches (using two strands of embroidery thread) complement the Nordic simplicity of the red-and-white design.

The rustic hand quilting distracts from my less-than-perfect piecing.
Cunning eh?

If you haven’t joined in the quilt-along I can wholeheartedly recommend it.  You will find all of the tutorials over at the Crafty Quilter. 

It is never too late for a Nordic Mini Quilt

I'm off to finish my very last Patchiqué block.  Sew until next time .......

Quilted Trees Across the Pond

December heralds the start of the Christmas season and this year I am well prepared.  The cards are written, food is ordered and presents are wrapped – yes wrapped!

This has left me plenty of time to indulge in some sewing for December’s Across the Pond project.  Amy, Susie and I have each taken a theme and come up with some free projects for you to enjoy.  My theme is CHRISTMAS TREES and I have found some great projects for you.  

But more about those next week.  This week I would like to share my own FREE QuiltedChristmas Tree project.  So grab a cuppa and find a comfy seat as there is a lot to get through.  Ready?  

First - download the handy PDF pattern sheet HERE which comes complete with colour diagrams and easy-to-follow instructions.  

   The Patchsmith’s Quilted Tree

(finished size approx 5” x 8”)

You can make your tree from just one fabric or you can use a different fabrics for each section of the tree. I quilted my fabric using 4oz polyester batting which I then pressed with a hot iron.  This made my quilted squares nice and firm.  Oh and before I forget, all seams are ¼” and are included in the pattern template but a smidgen either way won't make a lot of difference. 

To make one tree you will need:

·         One 12” square of quilted fabric

OR three 6” x 10” quilted rectangles.  If you are quilting your fabric specifically for this project then you will only need front fabric and batting – there is no need for backing fabric as the tree is lined. 

·         One 12” square of lining fabric

·         Tree Template from the Patchsmith's PDF Pattern Sheet

1.         Using the template from the pattern sheet, cut three triangles from the quilted fabric and three triangles from lining fabric.  

2.         With rights sides together stitch one outer quilted triangle and one lining triangle together along the bottom curved edge.  Repeat to make three units.  

3.         Open out the units.  

4.         With right sides together, stitch the three units together along the long sides as shown.  (I found it easier to start stitching at the centre and stitch out towards the points.)

.

Your tree will look like this once
two units have been stitched together.

5.         Continue until all sides are stitched together but leave a 3” gap in the lining of the final seam, for turning the tree out.   

  

6.         Trim the tips of the tree taking care not to cut too close to the intersection. 

7.         Turn the tree right sides out and slip-stitch the gap closed.  

Use a chopstick to help
when turning the tree right side out.

The tree top will be slightly rounded
due to the thickness of the seams.

8.         Push the lining inside the tree so that a small rim of lining shows around the bottom edge.  

It looks like the tree has binding around the bottom doesn't it?

There you have it - one quilted tree.  You can leave it plain for a country look or decorate the tree using buttons, rick-rack or pom-poms .....

Pom-Pom Tree

But if quilted trees are not your thing come back next Sunday when I will showcase some alternative ways to have fun with trees this Christmas.  

Want to know what themes Amy and Susie have chosen for this special month?  Then you should head straight over to Susie's Sunroom for a glimpse of a very special man before popping into AmyMade That for some snowy inspiration.

Don’t forget to check out the Across the Pond Flickr group for a look at what is being made on both sides of the pond this month.

Gotta go – I have to convince that merry fella to include me on his ‘GOOD’ list this year.  Surely, oh surely I can make it onto that list for one year in my life!

Relax with Row 3 of the Nordic Mini Quilt Along

Time is in such short supply for everybody but, when you have Thanksgiving and Christmas within a month of each other, the minutes seem to tick by much faster.  But it is still possible to find time for a little bit of pure-pleasure sewing.   If anything, it is essential at this time of the year to find an hour or two – just you and your sewing machine.   

There's still time for some fun with the Crafty Quilter

And the Nordic Mini QAL from the Crafty Quilter is just the thing if you are looking for relaxation in amongst little rows of patchwork pleasure.

Row 1 was a teeny-tiny (under 5") patchwork block .....

Then we gaggled some geese for a chevron row ......

before slicing and dicing a set of on-point patch blocks for row 3 .....

Julie’s method for making the four-patch blocks and getting them to line up perfectly is so easy and foolproof.   

The fabric I have chosen has a touch of grey in it which I am hoping will blend nicely with the grey that is yet-to-come. 

Just one more row before I decide the final order of the rows.  Sew until then .......

A Gaggle of Geese stop by the Nordic Mini Quilt Sew Along

Patchsmith Rows 1 and 2 of the Nordic Mini QAL.

I saw a flock of flying geese heading south over Farlington Marshes yesterday.  And today I have seen another flock of geese sitting on my workdesk – fourteen of them all in a row - row 2 of the Nordic Mini quilt-along is a chevron row of geese.  

Julie provides an excellent tutorial on how to make the geese quickly and easily.  However, I like things quicker and easier, so my geese are 3D flying geese.  It all starts with a goose sandwich.....

One Goose Sandwich

I love this method as I only need stitch one seam per goose. 

A Gaggle of Geese - just one seam each.

And when I’ve pressed the backs I can see clearly where the points are.  

I can see easily where the points are when stitching the blocks together.

This is so helpful for stitching two geese together into one chevron.   

Two geese - one chevron.

We all have our favourite method of gaggling our geese but if you want to give 3D flying geese a go then here is a 3D FLYING GEESE PDF print out to help you on your way. 

I am looking forward to the next row later this week, but for now I must get on with my last two Patchique blocks.   

Sew until next time .................

Nordic Mini Quilt Sew Along

Have you heard?  Julie over at Crafty Quilter is having a little mini sew-along.  Just three weeks and three little rows of Nordic fun.

Crafty Quilter QAL

Week one is an itsy-bitsy patchwork block measuring just 4¾" square when made.

Of course there is red gingham in my version!

I would be lying if I didn’t say that this was a challenging block to make.  It is not the putting together of the patchwork that is tricky but what to do with those seams.   I pressed them to one side, to the other side, open and shut – I pressed them any way I could to get the points as flat as possible. 

I have two tips for you when making this first row.  Firstly don’t use steam to press the seams on such a small block as you will burn yourself.  Use a dry iron or a little quilting iron.  Secondly – don’t go for perfection – it will make the process frustrating.  Expect a little bit of mismatch and remember that the finished product will still look good due to the fabrics you choose and the patterns you make – not the seams that you match!

Three blocks, sewn together with lattice makes a row measuring 14½” x 4¾”.  So how about it?  Are you in?