Tutorials

Modern Tree QAL - my twist on the layout

I am partipating in Christa’s Quilts – Modern (Christmas) Trees. I really like her idea but I wanted to add my twist for my wall hanging. And I decided to take few pictures along the way and share them with you so if you want you can use my ideas too.
This is my first tutorial so sorry if something is not clear. Don't hesitate to comment below and ask questions. I will do my best to answer. However don't ask me for fabric requirements: I always make my quilt "scrappy" and I use whatever fabric I have without calculating the total amount... so I will list all the pieces that you need and if you want, you can make the sums ;) I prefer to cut and sew step by step (I am not a fan of assembly line process... I prefer step by step checking every step :) ).
As a final warning: the tree is not very precise and it's not matchy-matchy :) I didn't calculate all the measure before but I collected measures as I go so not precise seam allowances and weird angles didn't allow the full design to be a perfect triangle... but which tree is a perfect triangle anyway?? ;)

So here are the instructions.

1. the Tree body
I decided to go for a scrappy paper piecing version. I create myself the templates. It is super easy: just draw a 6.5'' square on a piece of paper. Draw the two lines from the corners to the center of the top edge. This gives you the triangle for the tree.

Now you can decide to use a single piece of fabric for it... or draw paper piecing pieces like I did. For my tutorial the only important thing is that you fill with fabric only the internal part of the triangles.

2. General layout
Arrange the trees until the general layout pleases your eyes (as in the picture above).
Then add on each side of the top triangle the two greens side triangles.

Then, on the second row, add the green side triangle on the right side of the right triangle. Do the same on the left of the left side triangle.

Then, on the third row, add the green side triangle on the right side of the right triangle. Do the same on the left of the left side triangle.

Complete all the missing triangles using the background color (light blue in my case).

Note: I prefer to lay the blocks down in the final layout every time I add a piece... it's easy to get confused if you just take together all the square at once... or at least I get confused ;)

3. External triangles.
To form the big tree shape, we need to add some rectangles divided diagonally. They will be half green and half of the background color. Create 3 paper templates as shown below, and sew the green half on the background half.

Sew the rectangles on the sides of each rows as shown below.

4. Trunks
(A) Cut 6 brown pieces 2''x3''.
(B) Cut 6 green pieces 3''x6.5
(C) Cut 3 green pieces 3''x5''

Assemble (B) (A) (B) to form the trunk for the first row.
Assemble (B) (A) (C) (A) (B) to form the trunks for the second row.
Assemble (B) (A) (C) (A) (C) (A) (B) to form the trunks for the third row.
Sew each trunk row to their respective tree bodies (sew starting from the center and make your way to the sides. This helps to keep thing aligned and allow you to cut any excess fabric on the sides)

5. Final piecing.
(D) Cut 2 background pieces 9.5'' x 6.5''
(E) Cut 2 background pieces 9.5 x 3.5''

Sew a (D) piece at each side of the first row.
Sew a (E) piece at each side of the second row.
Sew the rows together.

6. Final touches.
I added an extra row below the tree (with gifts ;)) and a row above the tree with the star, because all Christmas trees should have presents below and a star on top ;)