Joyful QAL Christmas Cushion – Week 3

Welcome to Week 3 of the Joyful Quilt Along! For this weeks blocks we are making an appliqué Robin and an EPP Star which will be appliquéd.

To make the Joyful QAL blocks, make sure that you have signed up here to be sent the FREE templates that you need for each of the blocks and if you haven’t already, you can find Part 1 here and Part 2 here. There is also the opportunity to buy an ad-free copy of the pattern (which includes all block instructions and templates) in one handy file here.

Star Block

• Finished Block Size: 4″ x 4″
• Materials Needed;
  • Background: 4 1/2” x 4 1/2“
  • Diamond fabric: Six (6) 1 3/4” x 2 3/4“
  • Diamond Templates (or six (6) 1″ diamond shapes)

Make the EPP Star

• Place templates on fabric, and trim to size leaving a 1/4” seam allowance.
• Baste your diamonds as preferred (stitch or glue).
• Stitch diamonds together using this diagram as a guide. Press.

To Appliqué Star to the background

• Remove the paper templates.
• Fold background fabric in half in each direction (width & height) and finger press to find the centre lines. 
• Place star in the centre of the background fabric, using crease lines as a guide.
• Appliqué in position either by slip-stitching or machine stitching.
• For the star tips, reduce the seam allowance and fold under before stitching.

Robin Block

• Finished Block Size: 6″ x 4″
• Materials Needed;
  • Background: 6 1/2” x 4 1/2“
  • For the Robin: scraps of fabric for the body, head, and wings (max. 2 1/2” square for each piece)
  • Robin Templates
  • [Optional] Bondaweb – you don’t have to use this, but it does make it easier!

Cutting out the Robin

• On the shiny (paper) side of the bondaweb, draw around/trace the templates. 
• Cut the bondaweb roughly to size.
• Place rough side down on the wrong side of fabric. Press.
• Trim the fabric to size, following the template lines – for the Body and Wings, leave a little seam allowance on the body side of the wings and top of the body so that the raw edges can be covered by the Head.

To make the Robin

• Fold the background fabric in half width ways. Finger press to crease.
• Measure 1 1/8” up from the bottom edge and place a pin – this marks the bottom of the Robin’s body (alternatively you could mark with a pencil). 
• Place the Robin outline underneath the fabric, using the dotted line to align with the centre line of the fabric.
  • Note: if you are using a dark background fabric, you can cut around the robin template, place on the background and draw around with a gel pen/fabric marker as needed.
• Remove the backing paper from the wings and using the template as a guide, place these first on the background fabric. Press.
• Repeat this for the Body and then the Head of the Robin.
• Stitch to secure and using the template as a guide, add the eyes, beak and feet
  • Note: this can be done at this stage or when quilting the finished cushion cover.

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Happy Stitching!

S x

Today’s sky::: grey and drizzly!