Cozy Christmas Sew Along - Week One - Block One!

I'm super excited about today because it's week one of my 

Cozy Christmas Sew Along!

If you are just joining us...

CLICK HERE

to read my previous post 

about all of the supplies needed:)

Each week we will do

 one block together...

and so will Cindy from

 Riley Blake Designs

We will be making the Cozy Christmas Quilt

CLICK HERE 

to download the free pattern

Using these Sew Simple Shapes...

CLICK HERE

if you don't have a set of your own:)

And my latest fabric collection:

Cozy Christmas

You can find kits for the sew along 

at your favorite quilt shop:)

Today we are kicking off 

the sew along with Block One!

Here are the prints from 

Cozy Christmas that we

 will be using for the appliqué shapes.

We will be using Sew Simple Shapes

B-18  B-13  B-9  B-6

*NOTE*  

If you have had any problems with the

 interfacing that we used in the 

BLOOM Sew Along 

because it was somewhat fragile for you...

You may want to try my new 

Sew-In Interfacing 

which I developed especially for my 

Sew Simple Shapes.

It's a little thicker because

 it has a super tight

 weave to make it more sturdy.

I love it and I hope you will too!

CLICK HERE

if you want to try it!

From BOTH fabric and interfacing: 

B18 - Cut 1 - 5" square for bell

B13 - Cut 2 - 2" x 3" for bow ties

B9 - Cut 2 - 2" x 2 1/2" for bow

B6 - Cut 1 - 2 1/2" square for ringer

From fabric only:

Cut 1 - 7" square for background

Cut 1 - 1" x 8" to prepare for bias tape maker

(you will have leftover bias strip,

 save it for other blocks)

When you trace the shapes onto your interfacing... 

Don't forget to reverse ONE of the B13 pieces

 like I will be explaining in the video:)

 CLICK HERE

to watch my Cozy Christmas 

Block One Video Tutorial

Okay now onto the next steps after the video:) 

I chose to hand appliqué mine.

You can do the same or 

machine appliqué if you want.

CLICK HERE 

to see my post about 

how I machine appliqué:)

My appliqué is complete 

And now for the embroidery:)

I decided to use all 6 strands of my 

Aurifloss 

and a backstitch:)

I said to use 3 strands in the video

but when I actually did it...

 I thought 6 strands looked best.

CLICK HERE 

to see my embroidery tutorial part 2 

on how to do a back stitch.

It's a four part series on beginning embroidery 

that I did a few years ago 

and in part two...

 I show how to do the backstitch:)

After your embroidery is complete...

PRESS your block from the back.

This protects the appliqué work on the front.

Remember not to use steam of starch... 

I'm saying this because I have found through experience 

that the background fabric will wrinkle up

 around your appliqué pieces.

After you have pressed your block...

use a 6 1/2" square ruler 

and trim your block to 6 1/2" square.

Now it's time to add the 

inner borders around your block.

Cutting and sewing instructions 

for this are in your pattern.

Keep in mind you can add 

the shortest strips to

 either the top and bottom 

or the sides first...

 it doesn't matter.

I chose this way because of the way that

 I cut my little mint and pink bell background fabric.

I wanted my bells to be right side up:)

Your block should measure 

8 1/2" square 

after the bell borders are added:)

Now it's time to add the

 pieced outer borders on your block.

Instructions are in the pattern but here

 I will show you how with close up photos.

Flying Geese 

1. Place a background square onto

 one side of the rectangle with right sides together.

Make sure to line up corner

 and all edges evenly.

Stitch from corner to corner.

Do not guess! 

Either mark your line 

or else you can use my 

Seams Sew Easy

2. Trim off excess about 1/4" away 

from stitching line and press open.

3. Repeat for the other side.

4. Trim and press open:)

Make four flying geese

 for each block.

When you are making 

scrappy flying geese...

this method is super easy!

Half Square Triangles:

You will get 2 half square triangles 

at the same time using this easy method.

That works out great since we will need several for this quilt:)

You just need 1 square each 

of the background and a print to make 2.

(Cutting is in your pattern)

You simply put them Right Sides Together and sew 1/4" on each side of the diagonal center.

I did not mark a line down the center of mine because I used my Seams Sew Easy.

You can see in this 4 step photo above how I sew the first seam by using the left line on my Seams Sew Easy as a guide.

It's simple because the 3 lines are exactly 1/4" apart.

For the other seam I simply do the same thing on the other side.

I now have 2 seams exactly 1/2" apart

 and centered perfectly

 down the center diagonally:)

Easy Peasy!

I cut it apart right down the center...

but don't press them open yet!

I like to square mine up BEFORE I press them open to save time on the trimming step.

Use a 2 1/2" square ruler and place the diagonal linen my stitching line like this.

Then I trim off the excess.

It helps to use a rotating mat 

for this step 

and I like this one by Sue Daley

 and use it often.

After trimming...

 I press it open and I have a

 super cute and super accurate 

2 1/2" half square triangle.

It will finish at 2" square:)

I set the other one aside 

to use later in 

another block in this quilt.

You will need to make 

8 half square triangles 

for the block.

Now stitch your block one together!

It should measure 

12 1/2" square at this point.

Use a 12 1/2" square ruler 

to trim up if needed.

***TIP***

When I am sewing 2 pieces together that have seams that need to line up exactly...

I like to use a fork pin by Clover.

I use it because I can pin on BOTH sides of the seam at the same time and that leaves no room for either side to slip out of place when going under the presser foot.

The Clover brand pins are

 thin enough that 

I can sew over them:)

See?

They line up perfectly.

Easy Peasy!

These pins are traditionally used 

for sewing clothing 

but I have always used them 

for my patchwork.

Neat little trick...right?

After you finish your Cozy Bell Block

 please show it to us on 

Instagram!

It makes the sew along 

so much fun to see everyones 

blocks and the progress 

that they are making.

If you want to make sure 

that we all see it you will need

 to use the same hashtag 

so that it shows up on 

that hashtag page 

when it's clicked on.

For this block use the hashtag: 

#CozyBellBlock

Other hashtags to use

 when posting are: 

#CozyChristmasSewAlong

#CozyChristmasQuilt

#CozyChristmasFabric

#SewSimpleShapes

I'm so completely excited 

about this sew along and 

that we have finally started!

Thank you from the 

bottom of my heart for joining me:)

I can't wait to see your block one.

Let's do this!

xx

Lori