The Wreath Block…this has been the most requested tutorial since I started my Vintage Christmas Sampler…and it is the one block I have been avoiding like the plague. I first found this block at Popular Patch Work – it is a gorgeous block and I immediately fell in love with it. The only problem I had was that it was designed as a 6 inch block and I needed a 12 inch block for my quilt. Needless to say…some fancy quilt math ensued.
Let me also start out with an apology…I did not take very many pictures while making this block – I was so focused on seeing whether I had done the math and the cutting right. (side note: this is also the first time I ever did quarter square triangles…) If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask – I will be more than happy to re-do the block and take more pictures if need be!
Get the tute after the jump!You will need:
You will need three different shades of green – Light, Medium and Dark. Cut 4 squares from each green measuring 4.25 inches each.
You will need a background fabric as well – Cut 4 squares measuring 4.25 inches, cut 2 squares measuring 4 1/8 inches, cut 4 squares measuring 3.5 inches.
NOTE: All seams are 1/4″
Next you will need to make your Quarter Square Triangles (QSTs):
Pair up 2 light green squares with 2 dark green squares and make a total of 4 Half Square Triangles.
Next you need to cut your Half Square Triangles in half again – making 2 Quarter Square Triangles. (you will have a total of 8 QSTs after cutting the HSTs apart)
Now you need to create the rest of your Quarter Square Triangle pairs:
Using the 2 Medium Green and 2 White 4.25 inch squares create 2 HSTs, cut these in half – creating 8 QSTs.
Pair up 1 Medium Green and 1 Light Green 4.25 inch squares – make 1 HST, cut in half and create 2 QSTs.
Pair up 1 Dark Green and 1 Medium Green 4.25 inch squares – make 1 HST, cut in half and create 2 QSTs.
Pair up 1 Dark Green and 1 White 4.25 inch squares – make 1 HST, cut in half and create 2 QSTs.
Pair up 1 Light Green and 1 White 4.25 inch squares – make 1 HST, cut in half and create 2 QSTs.
Next Cut the 2 White 4 1/8 squares in half – corner to corner – creating 4 HSTs
Now you need to sew your QSTs into squares – follow this diagram:
After you have constructed your 16 individual squares – layout your block (the 4 white 3.5 inch squares go in the corners!)
Sew your rows together and you have completed your wreath – and conquered Quarter Square Triangles!
Again, I apologize, as this is not my usual caliber of tutorial – I hope you are able to follow it well enough to construct the block, and please let me know if you have any questions!
If you haven’t already – make sure you enter my awesome giveaway from Fat Quarter Shop!
Love this block, very nice!
Beautiful block and great tutorial! I really want to make one of these, thank so much for sharing Melissa!
Quilting by the River
Love it!!! This will be the first sampler block I make after I finish my Advent calendars. 🙂
Wow, that’s a very impressive block. I love those QSTs, gonna have to use them in something soon! Well done, great tute!
Great job and great block.
Looks beautiful! Thanks for linking up with us and hope you join us again this Wednesday! Happy Thanksgiving!
Marie
mylilpinkpocket.blogspot.com
Dear Melissa,
I just stumbled across this and Nothing brings a greater sense of old fashioned warmth and nostalgia into Christmas at the family home than a great display of vintage Christmas decorations. When we are children the imagery of Christmas at home is something which forms strong memories of attachment to family and times long past. By bringing these kinds of old fashioned Christmas decorations back it’s possible to recapture and rekindle the memories from childhood.
Thx.