Christmas Ribbons

'Tis the season to be Jolly, Fa la la la la la la la la. Hi, I am Quiltjane from Want it, Need it, Quilt and I am very excited to be back with a festive recipe - Christmas Ribbons. It is winter in Australia and the perfect time to make Christmas projects and snuggle up near a toasty fire.

Today, I bring you a quilt made with French General's Fa La La La La collection. I have combined piecing and applique to create a ribbon effect that twines its way throughout the blocks.

1 x Fa la la la Layer Cake

• 1/2 yd 13586-16
• 1/2 yd 13587-14
• 1/2 yd 13582-11 (Binding)
• 1 1/4 yds 13583-14
• 1/2 yd 13529-70
• 3 1/2 yards backing fabric

• Heat n Bond Light
• Template plastic

Cutting
From the light coloured yardage and layer cake squares cut:

• 36 x 7" squares, cut on the diagonal to yield 72 triangles

• 18 x 4 1/4"" dark squares and 18 x 4 1/4" light squares

• 72 x 3 1/4" squares

• 144 x 2 1/2" x 6 1/4" rectangles

Sashing blocks 144 - 2.5" x 6.25"

Ribbon pinwheels 72 - 3 1/4" squares

Pinwheel Blocks 18 dark and 18 light  - 4 1/4" blocks
Makes 12 pinwheels and 12 half pinwheels

These are the four blocks we will be making.

From top left: Sashing block, Pinwheel
Ribbon Pinwheel, and Ribbon block

Pinwheels - Make 12 Full, 12 Half

To make the pinwheels:

• Place a light coloured 4 1/4" square right sides together with a dark coloured 4 1/4" square.

• Sew 1/4" inch all the way around the border of the squares.

• Cut once across the diagonal and then without separating the block, cut on the opposite diagonal. Press open the seams.

This technique yields 4 half square triangle ( HST's )

• Trim back evenly to make an unfinished 2 1/2" square (or sew together first and then trim back to 4 1/2" unfinished block)

• Sew four HST's together to make one pinwheel. Make 12 in total.

• Sew two HST's together to make half pinwheels. Make 12 in total.

Sashing Blocks - Make 30

• Make 30 sashing blocks by sewing 2 - 6 1/4" x 2 1/2" strips together. Keep the remaining 24 single strips for outer sashing.

Ribbon Blocks - Make 36

• Cut the 7" light coloured blocks once on the diagonal to yield 72 triangles.

• Trace the large ribbon template onto the fusible web ( Heat n Bond light ). Template can be found in 'Printer Friendly' version at the bottom of this post.

• Cut around trace line leaving 1/8" around curve line. ( Stops the fabric fraying when bonded and cut ).

• Don't forget to leave 1/4" seam allowance as indicated on the template.

• Press to back of fabric and cut on trace line.

• Peel off the backing paper and press ribbon appliqué onto a large triangle piece. Make sure to centre the ribbon.

• With right sides together, sew the two pieces together along the longest side of the triangle. Press seam to one side.

Trim finished block to 6 1/4" square. Remember to leave 1/4" at each tip of the ribbon appliqué when cutting.

• Using matching thread machine appliqué your ribbon along the curve.

Ribbon Pinwheel Blocks - Make 13 Full, 8 half, 4 single
These are made the same way as the larger ribbon blocks.

• Cut the 3 1/4" squares on the diagonal to yield 72 triangles.

• Trace the small ribbon template onto the fusible web (Heat n Bond Light). Don't cut on the trace line. Leave 1/8" allowance.

• Fuse to dark fabric per manufactures instructions. Cut on trace line for arc but leave a 1/4" seam allowance beyond the template. Make 72.

Leave a 1/4" seam allowance.

• Peel the backing off the fusible web and iron on one triangle, making sure to centre the ribbon appliqué.

• Place another triangle right sides together and sew along the long side. Trim back to 2 1/2" squares.

• Remember to trim the blocks evenly, leaving 1/4" at each tip of the ribbon.

• Make 13 blocks as illustrated below

• Make 8 half blocks and keep 4 single blocks.

• Using matching thread, machine appliqué the curves of each ribbon

Putting the quilt top together

The quilt is sewn in 13 rows as illustrated below.

• Layout your rows on the floor or design wall to ensure everything is facing the correct way, then sew the blocks together to make a row and then sew the rows together.

This pattern has a slight variation. The ribbons in the pinwheels are facing upward.

Finishing the Quilt

• Layer backing, wadding and quilt top together and quilt as desired. I used an all over feathery pattern with fine matching thread.

Back of Quilt

• Cut 6 2 1/4" strips across the width of the binding fabric and piece the strips together at a 45 degree angle. Attach binding and stand back and admire your festive masterpiece.

Yield
One festive quilt 58.5" x 58.5"

Garnishes
Spice it up with tiny yo-yos (suffolk pokes) or Christmas buttons in the centres of the pinwheels and ribbon pinwheels.

I hope you have enjoyed today's Christmas recipe. Please upload a photo to my Flickr gallery if you make any of my MBS projects. I would love to see them.

Jane Davidson
{Want It, Need It, Quilt!}