Hi friends!
It’s time for the Jingle Bell Pines Block Party to get started!; let’s start with Block 1 Santa’s Hat!
If you want to know more about what this Block Party is all about, click here for the Intro post!
Block 1 Santa’s Hat
The first block in the pattern is Santa’s Hat. Just a fun, cute and really easy hat block!
For each block, we are also showing what it would look like with a navy background or a khaki colored background.
Here is the navy blue block:
And here is the khaki block:
What techniques do you need to know to make this block? Just stitch ‘n flip!!!
Stitch ‘n Flip – what is it?
In quilting there are so many different ways to make the same unit. Stitch ‘n flip is a great technique to add a triangle in the corner of a square or rectangle.
To do stitch ‘n flip, you draw a diagonal line corner to corner on the wrong side of the small square.
Position the square in the proper corner of the second piece and line up along the raw edges.
Sew on the line; trim the seam allowance to ¼” and press the top triangle to the corner.
And ta-done!
Easy!
We used this technique in various spots in this block. So how about we cover tips and tools for stitch ‘n flip?
Here’s the big question: Do you trim both layers of fabric or just the middle one?
As you can see from the picture above. Kris and I trim both; I don’t want the extra fabric in the quilt. But really, there is no wrong answer, only personal preference!
Stitch ‘n Flip – tips for Block 1 Santa’s Hat
One reason quilters may struggle with this technique is because when they flip the small triangle, it is not big enough to cover the area it should.
First, to check that your triangle will cover the area, fold the triangle to the corner BEFORE trimming to see if you can see any of the wrong side of the triangle fabric. If you can, you need to adjust.
Turn the piece over to see if the top triangle extends out past the edges of the lower fabric; it shouldn’t.
If everything lines up, great! Trim the seam allowance and press. You are good to go!
The fix: if when you folded the triangle back you could see the wrong side of the triangle fabric on the top of the block, the piece is too small. To fix this, sew just OUTSDE the drawn line, not ON the drawn line. Towards the corner. This allows room for the fold of the fabric.
Of course, if now the piece is too big, and you can see it on the backside, you sewed too far away from the corner line. All you need to do is find the sweet spot! The thickness of your fabric and the thickness of your thread all take up space so it is not exactly a one size fits all situation!
Want more information on Stitch ‘n Flip? Check out my Exploring the Basics blog post on it here!
Stitch ‘n Flip- my favorite drawing tools
Everyone has their favorite drawing tools and if you have tools you love, then you are good to go! But if you are still searching for ones that work for you, here are my favorites.
A sand board
Why use a sand board? The fabric sticks to the sand board so it doesn’t move around when you draw your lines.
You can purchase a sand board (see above one that is black) or you can easily make one using a cardboard box cut to the size of a piece of sandpaper and then just glue them together.
Easy and inexpensive.
Maybe not pretty but practical!
Pencils
My favorite marking pencils are the Sew Line pencils. I have the white one, the pink one, and the regular charcoal one.
Why do I like these? Because the pencil draws a very slim line. A slim line means I am less likely to sew too far in one direction and then it’s less likely for things not to match up.
Ruler
You can use any straight ruler to draw your lines. But, I usually use the Quilter’s Magic Wand for drawing lines. If I just need a diagonal line, it is a long, thin ruler and easy to maneuver.
If I am using it for other things and need to draw a ¼” line, it is a nice scant ¼”.
Do you have a favorite tool for drawing lines?
Don’t forget to go to Kris’ blog and see what her favorite tools are!!
Have fun making Block 1 Santa’s Hat – you only need to make 1 block this week – and next week we will move onto Block 2!!
happy quilting!
Kate
Please note: we are not sharing any cutting information or sizes; you must have the pattern to make the block.
Interested in purchasing the pattern? Click here to go to Kris’ website!
Can’t wait to use the Judt Dandy strips in a project.