I Wish You a Merry QAL - Block 4

Monday, August 28, 2017

For this fortnight of the I Wish You a Merry Quilt Along, blocks 3 AND 4 are being released!


Block 4 Christmas ornament block for the Christmas QAL

Block 4, named Christmas Memories, was designed by Jennifer Fulton of The Inquiring Quilter. The pattern and tutorial are on Jennifer's blog (tutorial here).

I Wish You a Merry Quilt Along

The block features four appliqued Christmas ornaments, and I knew my Kona fabric color palette would create a vintage ornament look! I'm using Kona Breakers, Lipstick, and Cactus (with accents of Black and Chocolate in some blocks). I am also using a silver lamé fabric as an accent too. (It requires a much lower heat setting than the cotton fabric. Ask me how I know!) My background fabric is Moda Bella 98 White.

Kona fabrics for the I Wish You a Merry Quilt Along

For my block, I used Heat-N-Bond Lite for fusing the pieces. I fused the ornaments onto the background fabric one piece at a time. (Using very low heat for the silver lamé fabric!)

Block 4 Christmas ornament block for the Christmas QAL
Block 4 Christmas ornament block for the Christmas QAL
Block 4 Christmas ornament block for the Christmas QAL
Block 4 Christmas ornament block for the Christmas QAL
Block 4 Christmas ornament block for the Christmas QAL
Block 4 Christmas ornament block for the Christmas QAL


After fusing all the pieces, I realized that the far right ornament appeared in front of all the others at the top of the block, but was tucked under the third ornament at the bottom. This happened because of the order I pressed my ornaments. A small detail, but once I saw it, I couldn't stop seeing it! I pressed just that small portion again so the heat would release the adhesive. I lifted the edge of the ornaments and brought the corner of ornament 4 to the front. (Notice the "before" and "after" in the photos below.)

Block 4 Christmas ornament block for the Christmas QAL

Block 4 Christmas ornament block for the Christmas QAL


For stitching down the pieces, I used Aurifil 50wt thread in colors that match my fabrics: Dove #2600 on the silver fabric, Shining Green #5017 on the Kona Cactus, Red #2250 on Kona Lipstick, and Light Jade #1148 on Kona Breakers.

Block 4 Christmas ornament block for the Christmas QAL

To applique on the pieces, I just straight stitched about an 1/8" inside the raw edge of each piece.

Block 4 Christmas ornament block for the Christmas QAL
Block 4 Christmas ornament block for the Christmas QAL

Block 4 Christmas ornament block for the Christmas QAL


I have a 12 1/2" square Omnigrid acrylic ruler that I used to trim the background fabric when done. It is really helpful for ensuring designs are centered before trimming.

Block 4 Christmas ornament block for the Christmas QAL

A peek behind the seams!

Block 4 Christmas ornament block for the Christmas QAL

I really love how this one turned out! It has a bit of a vintage ornament vibe - and a bit of a Grinch Christmas vibe too.


Block 4 Christmas ornament block for the Christmas QAL

And I'm even more in love with how all of the first four blocks look together!

First four blocks of the Christmas QAL

Have you seen the other hosts' versions of this block? They are all so different!

Abbie at Sparkle On
April at JANDA Bend Quilts
Becca at Pretty Piney


Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts <-----That's me!
Sandy at Sandy Star Designs
Sherry at Powered by Quilting
Vanda at Quilt in Piece



Remember, you can jump into the QAL at any time! You can always go back and make the previous blocks or just make the blocks that you like! Make a whole quilt using just a single block or make Christmas pillows for the whole family! There will be an amazing grand prize giveaway for those that complete a quilt top using all twelve blocks by January 16th!

Grand prize sponsors for the I Wish You a Merry Quilt Along


Be sure to share a picture of your finished Christmas Memories block before September 12th to be entered to win prizes! You can post a picture in the Facebook group, on Instagram using #iwishyouamerryqal, or link up to the linky party at the bottom of Jennifer's tutorial post.


The prizes for Block 4 are packages of Steam-A-Seam from The Warm Co. AND a pattern of your choice from Jennifer Fulton of The Inquiring Quilter! All prizes during the QAL will be open to participants worldwide!



As a BONUS, Jennifer is offering 20% off all her patterns through September 30th at midnight EST! Just enter the code MERRYQAL20 at checkout. The discount applies to printed and pdf patterns. See all her patterns here.



Prizes for block 4 of the I Wish You a Merry Quilt Along

Join the fun! Let's all quilt along!

First four blocks of the Christmas QAL

Linking up with Main Crush Monday at Cooking Up Quilts, Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River, Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts, Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter, and Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation.


This post contains affiliate links.

8 comments:

  1. is there instructions and pattern for the individual pieces for the block

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    1. Yes! The tutorial and pattern are on Jennifer's blog here: https://www.inquiringquilter.com/questions/2017/8/27/i-wish-you-a-merry-qal-block-4.

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  2. Laura, your colors are so wonderful! I love how the four blocks look together. Thanks so much for noticing the placement of ornament four. Sometimes it takes a village to edit a pattern. In my block, I'm loving how your colors come together. Yum!

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  3. It does have a vintage look! I love it, your quilt blocks are coming together beautifully Laura.

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  4. Super cute and love the colors. Nostalgia at work.

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  5. Hi Laura,
    Such fun fabrics you are using for this QAL. I am enjoying it as well - this is only my second QAL. ~smile~ Roseanne

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  6. This is really turning out so great. Love your fabric choices and seeing your blocks together. I do rather like th Grinchy feel.

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