I Wish You a Merry QAL - A Finished Quilt!

This quilt has been months in the making! Clear back in June, April of JANDA Bend Quilts asked if any participants from this year's New Quilt Bloggers group would want to host a quilt along. The QAL started in August, and twelve quilt blocks later, my quilt is finished! I'm so excited to share my version of the quilt with you!

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If you're new here, hello! I'm Laura! I design quilt patterns, and I'm a self-proclaimed deal hunter! Be sure to join the popular Quilting & Sewing Deals Facebook group where I post sales, deals, and coupon codes from all around the web!

The "I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long" has been such a great experience! This was the first time I'd ever participated in a QAL! It was definitely a great opportunity to try new things and a way to challenge myself to make things outside of my usual style.

All eleven designers each had different styles and used different techniques in their patterns. I decided to use a limited color palette in order to tie all the blocks together. I primarily used Kona Lipstick, Kona Breakers, Kona Cactus, and Moda Bella 98 White. I also used a bit of Kona Black, Kona Chocolate, and silver lame fabric.

I used 50wt Aurifil thread for all the piecing and applique. For most of the piecing, I used Aurifil #2324 Stone - it's a great neutral for any color of fabric. For applique, I used #2250 Red, #5017 Shining Green, #1148 Light Jade, #2024 White, and #2692 Black.

You can get more details on each version of my blocks on their individual posts (I link to each of the patterns on those posts too).

Block 1 - Snowflake

Block 2 - Tree Farm

Block 3 - Santa Belt

Block 4 - Ornaments

Block 5 - Snowman

Block 6 - Angel

Block 7 - Poinsettia

Block 8 - Presents

Block 9 - Reindeer

Block 10 - Lantern

Block 11 - North Star

Block 12 - Christmas Lights

Once all twelve blocks were completed, I used graph paper to test out different arrangements of the blocks. I decided I wanted to arrange them around a center focal block. The graph paper allowed me to decide on sashing size and a border too.

The center block would need to be 22 1/2" square (unfinished), then I would frame it with a 2" border to make it 26 1/2" total.

For sashing, I would need to cut the following from 1 yard of Kona Cactus fabric:

(8) 2 1/2" x 12 1/2" pieces

(2) 2 1/2" x 26 1/2" pieces

(4) 2 1/2" x 54 1/2" pieces (made from 40" + 15" pieces)

(2) 2 1/2" x 58 1/2" pieces (made from 40" + 19" pieces)

For the inner border around the center block and the outer border, I would need to cut the following from 1 1/4 yard of Kona Lipstick fabric:
(2) 2 1/2" x 22 1/2" pieces
(2) 2 1/2" x 26 1/2" pieces

(2) 4 1/2" x 58 1/2" pieces (made from 40" + 19" pieces)

(2) 4 1/2" x 66 1/2" pieces (made from 40" + 27" pieces)

For my center block, I wanted to paper piece "I wish you a Merry Christmas" as a nod to the name of the QAL. I could have appliqued the letters (which would likely have been much faster too!), but I like to paper piece, so decided to go that route.

If you like the layout of the large center block, you could get the same look by using a pre-printed Christmas panel (cut to 22 1/2" square if using a 2" border around it, or 26 1/2" square without adding the border) or creating a unique focal block (like an appliqued nativity scene).

For my paper pieced block, I started with the letter pattern found here (I've used this pattern several times!). However, I resized and stretched the letters so they would fit in the 22 1/2" center square a little better. The "I wish you a" letters finished at 4 1/2" tall, and the "Merry Christmas" letters finished at 6" tall.

The stretching of the letters did create a few snafus. This is especially noticeable on the "S" letters. I decided I could live with it though, so I left them. Just proof that it's homemade!

I was quite indecisive about how to quilt it (imagine!). I was at my mom's for Thanksgiving, and she has a Gammill longarm, so I wanted to take advantage of that! I decided to do something "easy" and quilt straight horizontal lines 1/2" apart using white thread.

That "easy" design did have a few hiccups (boy am I glad I follow a few longarmers on Instagram!). I learned why longarmers will sometimes add batting scraps as they roll the quilt (to help keep the quilt straight if it rolls a little wonky), and I learned a few tricks for easing fabric in as you quilt to keep things straight too.

I am really happy with how the quilt turned out! The straight line quilting was a great decision. It fits very well with the "modern" vibe of the quilt, but also doesn't take away from any of the block designs.

I chose a red 108" wide backing fabric called "Bungle Jungle" by Moda from one of my mom's local quilt shops. I thought the design looked a bit like tangled Christmas light cords!

Once quilted, I used 2 1/4" double fold binding to bind the quilt (machine stitched, like always). I cut the strips straight of grain from a 1/2 yard of Kona Breakers.

My quilt is even Santa approved! (Huge shout out to my husband who is usually "behind" every quilt I make and for putting up with my photo shenanigans!)

I thoroughly enjoyed the "I Wish You a Merry QAL!" If you have too (or want to try one out!), there's going to be a fall-themed quilt along in 2018 too! Be sure to join the current Facebook group so you'll be the first to know the details!

Be sure to hop over to all the other hosts' blogs to see their quilts! They are all so unique!

Abbie at Sparkle On

April at JANDA Bend Quilts
Becca at Pretty Piney

Bobbi at Snowy Days Quilting

Jennifer at The Inquiring Quilter

Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts <---- That's me!
Sandy at Sandy Star Designs

Sherry at Powered by Quilting

Vanda at Quilt in Piece

It's not too late to join the QAL! Complete a quilt top using all twelve blocks by January 16th and be entered to win an amazing grand prize! You can always go back and make the previous blocks or just make the blocks that you like, too. Make a whole quilt using just a single block or make Christmas pillows for the whole family! (All of the quilt block patterns will be free through the end of the QAL. Be sure to download them before January 16th. Several of the patterns will switch to a paid format after that.)

The grand prize includes: a six-month subscription to Make Modern magazine, a fat quarter bundle of Hopscotch fabrics from RJR Fabrics, a 10" stack of River's Edge fabrics from Island Batik, two pdf patterns of your choice from Yvonne Fuchs of Quilting JETgirl, a Warm 100 queen-sized batting from The Warm Co., a Merry Merry thread box by Kate Spain from Aurifil threads, and a pair of Warm Crochet scissors!

Be sure to share a picture of your "I Wish You a Merry QAL" Christmas quilt top before 11:59pm on January 15th to be entered to win the grand prize! You can post a picture in the Facebook group, on Instagram using #iwishyouamerryqal, or link up to the linky party at the bottom of this post! Remember, all prizes for the QAL are open to participants worldwide!

Join the fun! Let's quilt along!

An InLinkz Link-up

Linking up with Main Crush Monday at Cooking Up Quilts, Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt, Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River, Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts, Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter, Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication, Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation, Finish It Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts, Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts, Can I Get a Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, and TGIFF at Devoted Quilter.

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