Holiday lights are going up and snow is coming down! It's definitely winter here in Minnesota, and we are winding down to the last few blocks that are left in the QAL. Block 10 is revealed today! Diane Lomax of Cwilt designed this beautiful lantern block! It uses templates rather than paper piecing.
My fabric choices include Moda Grunge and a red accent fabric to have contrast for the bow. You will definitely want to check the test block on the template printouts before cutting all of your pieces. However, I will give tips below on which pieces to enlarge if you accidentally didn't check.
Using my lightbox, I traced all of the fusible applique at once. Make sure to label near the edges for the directional pieces. Also remember to cut out the centers of the pieces to make them more pliable.
Iron the fusible on the back of the fabric and cut out the pieces on the traced lines. I made 3 extra small circles for the berries (the pattern used buttons). Set these pieces aside.
Using the templates, very carefully cut out each of the pattern pieces. I never have good luck using a glue stick (the paper never comes off clean), so I cut using a ruler and very carefully aligned the fabric and paper together. Tip: Align your 1/4" line on your ruler with your seam line rather than cutting at the edge of the template. This will help you maintain your 1/4" seams in case printing varies or the template rips.
Lay out the different pieces on your design board to keep everything straight.
If you didn't measure your test block, you can measure the Background Bottom piece; it should be 6.25" long to be 12.5" total. Mine wasn't quite the correct size. (Oops!) So I adjusted all of the background pieces to be longer than the edge so I could trim it down.
Then I added the top and bottom strips to finish out the base block.
Take your fusible pieces and place them on your lantern. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on fusing the pieces on your block. I used a blanket stitch around each of the fusible pieces. Tip: If your tension is set correctly (meaning none of the bobbin thread shows on the top), you only need to change the top thread as you change colors for applique.
Don’t forget to submit your completed block on Diane's linky party, the Facebook Group Page, and/or on Instagram with #iwishyouamerryqal to be entered into each block’s prizes! One lucky person will win 2 "Steam a Seam 2" sheet packages from The Warm Co. and a PDF pattern of their choice from Vanda Chittenden of Quilt in Piece.
The prize entry window goes from 12AM Eastern on November 7, 2017 until 11:59PM Eastern on November 20, 2017.
If you are just now joining us in the QAL, I have a quick links page to catch up on the blocks in this QAL and my associated blog posts. You can also get to that page at any time by clicking the I Wish You a Merry QAL button on the right sidebar.
The sponsors for the grand prize have also been announced. In order to be eligible for the grand prize, you must make a quilt top using all twelve of the QAL blocks by January 16th, 2018. Please note that all patterns are only free until the end of the QAL.
Happy Sewing! I can’t wait to see your blocks!
Be sure to check out all the other hosts!
Abbie @Sparkle On
April @JANDA Bend Quilts
Becca @Pretty Piney
Bobbi @Snowy Days Quilting
Diane @Cwilt
Jennifer @Inquiring Quilter
Karen @Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Laura @Slice of Pi Quilts
Sandy @SandyStar Designs
Sherry @Powered by Quilting (This is Me!)
Vanda @Quilt in Piece
Join me again on Friday for Friday Foto Fun! Link up and share your progress on your own projects!
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