Welcome to Week 9 of the Jingle Bell Pines Block Party! 

We are so grateful that you stopped in! Kate Colleran (of Kate Colleran Designs) and I are compiling tips to help you complete your Jingle Bell Pines Quilt one block at a time! We know you want to get it done for the holidays! We post tips (and more) every Thursday on Instagram and delve a bit deeper on our blogs. 

 We are joined by @alisonsexpressions (on Instagram) – she’s making the quilt right along with us as well, using Thatched and Dotty Thatched from @modafabrics! Loving her take on this project! 

For more information on getting started (it’s not too late!) – visit my blog post here!

The Holiday Lights block glimmers in the waning light – the candles in the window welcome you home! 

The flames in the block are made with rectangle triangles. Let’s look at making these units without specialty rulers…we’ve got a tip for you! 

 The center triangles are cut using the center line of the square per the pattern.

The side triangles are cut from corner to corner of a rectangle. Each rectangle will make to side triangles, but you will need to cut one from top left corner to bottom right corner, and the other will be a mirror image. So you will be able to make 2 tri-recs from a pair of rectangles.

Here are the pieces laid out before sewing:

I put the right side on first (it doesn’t’ matter which side is applied first) – note that the triangle is offset 1/8” lower from the tip of the center triangle. Press to the side triangle.

Repeat on the left side of the unit, again offsetting the side triangle lower than the center.

The result (after trimming) in the lovely flame unit! Tip: When trimming, trim referencing the vertical center of the unit.

Don’t you love to see blocks with different looks? Here we have the Holiday Lights block with a navy (cool evening) background and then we have it with the taupe background – sew nice!

Next week is block 10 – it’s the Finishing Week! 

And we have a surprise in store for you! 

Until next time – have fun sewing your Holiday Lights block! Hugs, Kris