Hive 1 November Tutorial: Wonky Christmas Tree Block

Hi Hive-mates,

My name is Rita, I live in Dublin, Ireland. This is my first year participating in StashBee and I’m having so much fun, that I want to join again next year, if the Bee is continuing.

So, this is my first time as Queen Bee (Hive 1), I’m all excited. For the last 10 months I was agonising what I want to request from you. I’ve now settled on requesting a ‘Christmassy’ block. So far I don’t have a Christmas Quilt in the house, so, that’s what I want to do.

Personally I always struggle with matching points and sewing accurately – probably, because I have to be so particular in my job, that I’m a bit rebellious with my quilting.... (Thanks to sewing for you guys this year, I’ve gotten better, though.)

Therefore I’ve designed a little block, that doesn’t need point-matching at all!
Also, I love ‘wonky’, that’s why I’m asking you to do a ‘Wonky Christmas Tree’ block for me.

A note in beforehand:
I’ve tested the block a few times and think it should come out at about 12.5” square – However, if your block turns out smaller/bigger, please do not stress!!! 
As I said, I love wonky, and will use the blocks as I get them! Promised! – If it goes "wrong", blame my tutorial! J

Here is what I have in mind for this block:

Fabric pull:

I would like you to use at least two different green fabrics for the Trees, mid- to dark-green, a mid- to dark-brown for the tree trunk and cream/beige(y) off white background (please no whites/white-on-white).

Anything goes, really. Go as simple or scrappy as you like. If you want to get rid of some scraps, please do so! Below is a picture of my fabric pull. Note that this is all my mid- to dark-green and all my browns (no idea, why I haven’t more...).
Don’t match my fabric pull! Just in the contrary! If you have something I don’t have – brilliant! Christmassy fabrics and Novelties are welcome!

You will need:

Green (please at least 2 different green, which makes at least 3x each):

Total:                        6x           4” x 6”
Brown:                     2x           2.5” x 1.5”
Background:           8x           4” x 3”
                                 2x           4” x 4.5”
                                 2x           4” x 5”
                                 2x           2.5” x 3”
                                 1x           2.5” x 5.5”

Here is a quick overview of where the different pieces are needed. Shuffle around the same colour fabrics as you like!

For the whole block I am assuming a ¼” seam allowance, but don’t worry about it too much – I won’t! 

We’re starting with Row 1

Use two Green 4”x6” pieces and two Background 4”x4.5” pieces. Lay all pieces Right Side up on the Cutting Mat. Overlap one of the Background pieces with one Green piece on the 4” sides by 3.5” on the Right of the Green piece and the other ones on the Left of the Green piece as shown in the picture below.

Now make a cut anywhere within the overlap, the top of the cut leaning towards the middle of the Green piece. See picture below for guidance.

Take the resulting matching pieces and line up the just cut edges for a ¼” seam allowance (Right Sides together). I found lining them up on the cutting mat, using a ¼” line as guidance helpful. No perfection needed!! See picture below.

Sew. Press seams open or to the darker fabric as you please. I tend to press open, but do what works best for you!

Take those Green/Background pieces, lay them Right Side up and overlap the two Background 4”x5” pieces on the straight 4” edge of the Green pieces by 3.5”. See picture below for guidance.

Now make a cut anywhere within the overlap, the top of the cut leaning towards the middle of the Green piece. See picture below for guidance.

Take the resulting matching pieces and line up the just cut edges for a ¼” seam allowance (Right Sides together). Sew. Press seams open or to the darker fabric as you please.

Now lay out Rows 1 to 3 on your cutting mat, all fabrics Right Side up. Line up the Green 4”x6” pieces of Rows 2 and 3 about middle of Row 1 and overlap the Background 4”x3” pieces to either side of the Row 2 and 3 Green pieces by 2”. See picture below for guidance.

Now make a cut anywhere within all the overlaps, the top of the cuts leaning towards the middle of the Green pieces. See picture below for guidance.

Take the resulting matching pieces and line up the just cut edges for a ¼” seam allowance (Right Sides together). Sew. Press seams open or to the darker fabric as you please.

Straighten up the bottom side of the Row 1 pieces, the top and bottom sides of the Row 2 pieces and the top side of the Row 3 pieces, in preparation for sewing those rows together. No need to have them parallel.

Sew the Row pieces together. Press seams open (I think this is best at this stage...).

Straighten the right side of the left Row 1-2-3 piece and straighten the left side of the right Row 1-2-3 piece.

Sew together. Press seams open. Straighten the bottom side of the finished Row 1-2-3 piece.

Sew the Row 4 pieces together in the following order from left to right on their 2.5” edges (Right Sides together):

Background 2.5”x3”, Brown 2.5”x1.5”, Background 2.5”x5.5”, Brown 2.5”x1.5”, Background 2.5”x3”. 

Press seams open or to the darker fabric as you please.

Sew Row 4 to the bottom of the finished Row 1-2-3 piece.

Press seams open.

Finished!

No need to trim to size. You can straighten the edges, if you absolutely want to. As I said, the block should now be roughly (!) 12.5” x 12.5”.

I hope you enjoy sewing this block and won’t stress about my haphazard tutorial.

 

If you have any questions, please contact me via my yahoo email address or as a comment on this post.

Please note that my postal address on the address list has changed since beginning of the year.

 

Thank you all already, I’m looking forward to see what you come up with.

 

Happy Sewing,

Rita.