Monday, August 29, 2016

Cozy Christmas Sew Along - Week Three - Block Three!!


Welcome to week #3 in our sew along!
If you are just getting started...



to download my free pattern:
Cozy Christmas



to get your 
Cozy Christmas
Sew Simple Shapes



And check your favorite quilt shop to purchase the kit:) 

I'm having so much fun playing with my
 Cozy Christmas fabric and I hope you are too!  


This week is Block Three...
#CozyTreeBlock


In this block we will be using
for the garland and a red 
 on the top of the tree:)



if you need to download the 
handy dandy cutting guide 
from last weeks tutorial...



And cut your appliqué pieces 
and interfacing according to the guide.



I'm going to show you an easy peasy way
 to add the ric-rac garland onto your trees:

Cut two pieces of ric-rac 4" long and 
two pieces 5" long.
This is how wide your fabric pieces are cut as well.

On the top piece measure 1 1/2" in from the
 top and the bottom and mark a thin line with a mechanical pencil.

On the bottom piece measure in 3/4" from 
the top and bottom and mark lines as well.

The lines on each piece 
should measure 1" apart.


Now topstitch the ric-rac into place like this.
I always use an open toe foot on my machine
 so that I can see EXACTLY
 where the needle goes into my fabric
 ...and for this step especially it helps a lot!


After you have all of 
your ric-rac top stitched...


Trace your sewing lines onto the interfacing pieces. 
Make sure to place each shape
 for the tree 
right in the center of
 the interfacing when tracing
 so that the ric-rac will
 be straight when you 
sew it to the fabric:)

You can use the lines on your 
cutting mat to help with this.



Now sew the interfacing and your 
matching fabric pieces together
 just like always...
and at the same time...
 all of the ric-rac is sewn
 into the seam allowance.
YaY!


Trim about 1/4" past 
your sewing lines like this.


Cut an "X" for turning
 in the center of your interfacing.


Turn...shape...and press.
If you need to brush up on this process:
to view my video tutorial from week one:)


Place your tree onto your
 background square 
and either glue baste or
 pin baste into place.

Measure 3/4" from the top and also
 the bottom edge when placing your pieces.


Machine or hand appliqué 
your Cozy Tree into place:)


I used 6 strands of my red 
to sew the button onto the top...


and also to do the traditional decorative stitch over the ric-rac!


This is the way my grandma taught me to stitch on ric-rac when making aprons...


And I love how my Cozy Tree has
 a cute candy cane striped garland!


I realized that I forgot to
 trim my block to 6 1/2" square 
BEFORE I sewed the button on:)

So I quickly snipped it off
 and trimmed it up...


then sewed my flying geese 
and half square triangles.
for week one instructions
 if you are just starting!


I added my little bells border and 
then sewed the button back on:)


I'm in love my 
#CozyTreeBlock
and it's cute little 
candy cane striped garland.
So vintagey cute:)

I keep thinking how much my grandma
 would have loved these blocks.
They would have gone so well with her 
pink tinsel tree and vintage ornaments!

WoW.

We have already finished
 3 blocks in our sew along...
thanks to all of you cute people 
for sewing with me!
xx
Lori





Monday, August 22, 2016

Cozy Christmas Sew Along - Week Two - Block Two!!


YaY!
It's time for another episode of the 


I'm super excited that 
we have started making my
Cozy Christmas Quilt
If you want to join us...
to down load the FREE pattern:)


to purchase the 
Cozy Christmas 
Sew Simple Shapes


We are using 
Cozy Christmas Fabric
Check with your favorite quilt shop to purchase the fabric kit:)


Today we are making 
Block Two
#CozyGingerbreadHouseBlock


Here are this weeks fabric choices for the appliques.
The kraft paper brown solid is called 
Nutmeg by Riley Blake Designs



for this block we will use 
B-1  B-2  B-4  B-15


I thought it would come in handy 
for you to have the 
fabric and interfacing 
cutting measurements for 
each appliqué piece all on one sheet.
to download the 
Cozy Christmas 
Sew Simple Shapes 
"Cutting Guide" 
and keep it with your pattern 
for easy reference every week:)


Cut all of your pieces 
using the new handy dandy 
chart as your guide!

Remember to cut a 7" square 
for your background:)
You will also need to cut a 
1" x 8" strip 
from the green gingham 
to use for the
window box in this weeks block.


All appliqué pieces are prepared
 the exact same way that 
I showed you in
my week one video 
unless otherwise shown. 
 if you want to 
refresh your memory 
before beginning:) 

Prepare Appliques
1. Trace all of the shapes onto 
your Sew-In Interfacing pieces.
2. Pair up with chosen fabric and stitch on your marked lines.
Trim an approximate 1/4" around stitching.
3. Press on the fabric side to set your stitches.
Cut an "X" in the back of each piece 
*EXCEPT*
 cut an inch off the bottom 
of your chimney piece.
It doesn't need to be that long:)
4. Turn all pieces right side out
 and press from the front.
*Turn chimney piece right side out 
from the bottom open edge:)


First piece that you will
 glue or pin baste is 
the bottom of the house.

Measure 3/4" up from the bottom 
and center it
 onto the background square.

Cut a 6" piece of the 
and mark a line on your appliqué piece
 1/8" down from the top edge.
This is the line that 
you will sew your ric-rac on to.
I used a mechanical pencil 
for a thin line because 
the ric-rac is so cute and tiny!


First appliqué the bottom of the house down.
You can do this by
 hand or machine of course:)


Now fold under the edge of ric-rac 
and stitch down
 across your marked line 
like this.
Use matching thread:)


When you get to the other end...
trim off the excess ric-rac 
and fold under before finishing.


Baste the roof leaving the
 bottom edge of the ric-rac showing.
Now you have frosting 
on your cute 
little gingerbread house!

Tuck the chimney piece 
under the roof about 
1/4" from the
 top right corner of roof top.
The chimney should finish 
at about 5/8" tall:)



Now prepare your bias strip 
using the 1/2" bias tape maker.
Cut a 2 1/2" piece off 
to use for this block
 and save the other piece
 for the snowman scarf
 that we will be doing another week:)


Finish glue basting or 
pinning all appliqué pieces
 so that you can stitch them down.

Press under one end of the 
window box like this 
and pin it into place.


When you get to this part of the appliqué...
(either by machine or by hand)
use your needle or a tailors awl to 
tuck the turned edge inside before stitching...


like this:)


Continue until you get to the other end.
Trim off the excess and turn under 1/4"...


Pin it into place and continue stitching:)


Appliqué is all finished!!! 
Now to plant the
 "Cute Little Button" 
flowers and embroider the
swirly chimney smoke:)


Choose 6 of the 
tiniest buttons in the jar
 for the flowers...
and a red one that is
 a size up for the doorknob:)
I'm sewing my buttons on now 
so that you can sew 
where they are placed...
I'll probably leave them there
 during quilting because they are
 so small but you can decide
 to do yours now or after quilting:)


For the embroidery 
I used 6 strands of my
and a backstitch.
Easy Peasy!


 I also sewed my 
cute little buttons on with
 6 strands of my Aurifloss 
in matching colors...YaY!



Notice that I used either a 
cross stitch or a long stitch 
when sewing on my buttons for extra cuteness:)


Now add the borders using the little christmas bells print:)


And add your flying geese
 and half square triangles!

I really really love how this 
cute little gingerbread house 
block turned out.

I heart the added touches of 
just a few buttons 
and a little embroidery!


#CozyGingerbreadHouseBlock

Next week is block three...
see you then!
xx
Lori