Cordelia

For those of you following along with my Christmas Mystery Quilt, here is a recap:

Step 1. Four (4) 12.5" (with seam allowance) 9-patch squares sewn together.

One 24.5" x 24.5" center block with seam allowance.

See Page 6 for Clue 1.

Cordelia

Step 2: Log Cabin:

See Page 7.

Make 8.

Cordelia

Step 3: 9 Patch Stars:

Make 4 5"x5" and 4 3" x 3" blocks.



Step 4: Christmas Trees:

Make 12 blocks.

See above for pictures and foundation piece templates.

Cordelia

Step 2: Log Cabin:

See Page 7.

Make 8.

Cordelia

I forgot in my recap the 5" x 5" log cabins.

You needed four of them. The link is on page 7.

Step 5. (Sorry, more log cabins, this time the mirror image.)

Make 8.

This is the MIRROR IMAGE log cabin. You need to use this template.

The fabric shows that it's up in the upper left hand corner, but since you're sewing on the back of the page, when you're done, it will be on the lower left hand corner.


Mirror Image template link: http://www.box.net/shared/gzccqvt0qt

Cordelia

All right. I've recapped now.

Everyone should have:

1 Large center square measuring 24.5" made up of four 12" 9 patch blocks.



[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...CenterBloc.jpg[/img]

or

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...enterBlock.jpg[/img]

Then you needed FOUR log cabin squares using the 5" x 5" (5.5" x 5.5" w/seam allowance) template.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...CabinBlock.jpg[/img]

or

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...erLogCabin.jpg[/img]

************ Remember, using this image as a guide, since you're sewing on the backside of the template, your dark colors will come out on the lower right hand corner. ****************


Everyone should have EIGHT log cabin blocks using the 5" h x 6" w (5.5" h x 6.5" w w/seam allowance) template.

Same colors as 5" x 5" blocks.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...CabinBlock.jpg[/img]

or

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...erLogCabin.jpg[/img]

Next, everyone should have EIGHT MIRROR IMAGE blocks using the 5" h x 6" w template. (5.5" h x 6.5" w w/seam allowance)

********** I posted a separate template for this block so that the colors will show on the upper left hand corner, but since you're sewing on the back of the template, they'll be on the lower left-hand corner. **********

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...inBlock5x6.jpg[/img]

or

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...binBlock5x.jpg[/img]

Everyone should have FOUR 3" x 3" friendship star/9 patch blocks. (3.5" x 3.5" w/seam allowance.)

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...tional9Pat.jpg[/img]

or

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...r9PatchSta.jpg[/img]

Everyone should also have FOUR 5" x 5" friendship star/9 patch blocks also. (5.5" x 5.5" w/seam allowance.)

So, a total of EIGHT friendship star blocks, FOUR 3x3 and FOUR 5x5.

Everyone should have TWELVE 5" h x 6" w Christmas tree blocks. (you know, half inch bigger with seam allowance.)

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...tionalTree.jpg[/img]

or

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ltWinter-1.jpg[/img]

With the exception of the final border, this is the FINAL clue.

The last TWELVE 5" h x 6" w log cabins. (you know with your seam allowances, half inch bigger.)

Mix and match at random your light winter/traditional colors from the other log cabins. No one block need be the same. The more variation of tones and textures, the more interesting the final appearance. Just DON'T use any of the darks from the other log cabins in these.

You can use the same 5" h x 6" w template, mirror or regular, either one, for these final blocks. Just mix all your light tones at random. Don't worry about what colors go in upper or lower corners.

Cordelia

Now, does anyone want me to start showing it put together?

Let me know. I'll post the pics.

Cordelia

Well, I haven't heard from anyone, so I'll start putting it together. But, I haven't had a chance to sew it together, so I can only show the EQ version.

I hope to be able to work on this in November, close to the holidays.

As you've all probably guessed, you arrange your log cabins as a border strip.

Arrange all the blocks around the center block. You're going to do a little fudging. I always do when I sew blocks together for border strips.

I sew the sides first. Sewing the 5.5" x 6.5" blocks together as shown in the diagram and then sew them to the left and right sides of the center block. The center block measures 24.5" at the moment.

You'll have extra seam allowance on the blocks that are the end of the border strip that you'll be trimming off.

The 5.5" x 5.5" log cabin blocks are your cornerstone blocks. I usually sew them on the top and bottom border strips.

You'll sew your other 5.5" x 6.5" blocks together as shown in the diagram and sew the cornerstone blocks on each end.

Cordelia

Step 2 is to put a small border/sash around the block. Use the fabric for the final border, that fabric you needed the most of.

The border/sash should measure 1 inch, so cut 1.5" strips.

Cordelia

Step 3: Arrange the other log cabins, the plain ones, the ones without all the dark contrasts for the sides. You will be sewing them as a strip for the left and right sides of the block now.

It doesn't matter how you arrange the blocks. They're all 5.5" h x 6.5" w and there's no right or wrong way to put them together.

Your center block was 24.5".

You added the log cabin border on it and it measures 34.5" now.

You added a 1 inch border/sash. It now measures 36.5" now.


Step 4: Arrange the Christmas tree blocks for the top and bottom border strip. They're 5.5" h x 6.5" w blocks. Six on top, six on the bottom. They get the 5.5" friendship star patch for cornerstones.

You've added this new border and it now measures 46.5".

See diagram.