Quilt Blocks, Tutorials, Uncategorized

’12 Days of Christmas’ Block 2: Santa Claus

This post is part of the ’12 Days of Christmas’ Sampler Quilt Along series. For tutorials on how to make the other blocks, please see the block schedule here!

Today, I’m so excited to bring you the Santa Block from our ’12 Days of Christmas’ Sampler Quilt Series! This block combines piecing and applique. I made my block with solids, but I can just imagine how awesome it would look with some well-executed prints!

I’m assembling my blocks in the ‘Quilt-As-You-Go’ method. I used this method (with some slight modifications because I am using sashing on my quilt, in addition to one continuous piece of backing). Since I love the look of long arm quilting but want to do it myself on my home machine, this works best for me. Let me know if you have any questions about this block, or about how I quilted it!

Please stop by the ’12 Days of Christmas’ Sampler Quilt Along Flickr Group to post your completed blocks, or any questions you might have along the way!

Printer Friendly Instructions
ALL SEAMS ARE 1/4″.
PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE BEGINNING.
 
 
Block size: 12.5″
 
SUPPLIES
 
– 10″ x 12.5″ piece of red fabric
– 5″ x 12.5″ piece of black fabric
– 5″ x 5″ square of yellow fabric
– 8″ x 12.5″ piece of white fabric
– 5″ x 12.5″ scrap of batting (or you may substitute fusible web or fusible woven interfacing)
– black, yellow, and white thread for applique
– ruler
– rotary cutter and cutting mat
– glue stick
STEP 1 ~ CUT OUT YOUR FABRIC
1a. Print and cut out the paper pattern pieces for the Button, Beard and Buckle. Set aside.
1b. Cut your red fabric in half along the 10″ side, so you will have 2 pieces that are each 5″ x 12.5″.
1c. From the black fabric, cut a strip that is 2.5″ x 12.5″.
1d. Using the Button pattern piece, cut out 2 buttons from your black fabric.
1e. From the white fabric, cut out a strip that is 3.5″ x 12.5″.
1f. Using the Beard pattern piece, cut out 1 beard from your white fabric.
1g. Repeat Step 1g. for the batting. Trim the batting piece approximately 1/8″ on all sides.
1h. Using the Buckle pattern piece, cut out 1 buckle from the yellow fabric (make sure you cut out the center of the buckle…that piece you don’t need). Optional: If your yellow is slightly see-through against your black fabric, you might want to cut an additional Buckle from the yellow fabric (2 layers).
STEP 2 ~ PIECE THE SUIT
 
2a. Take the white strip and sew it to 1 of your red strips along the long edge. Press seam open.

 

2b. Sew the remaining red strip to the other edge of the white strip. Press seam open. This is the background of your block.
STEP 3 ~ APPLIQUE



 

3a. Using the glue stick, glue the white Beard to the batting Beard piece.
3b. Glue the assembled Beard to the top of the block (the white strip should be running vertically). Be sure to match up the top edge and corners.

 

3c. Using a tight zig-zag (I use 3.0mm and 1.0mm on my sewing machine), sew around the curved edges of the beard. Make sure your stitches grab both the Beard and the red fabric, reaching as far into the Beard as possible.

 

3d. Take the black strip Belt and the Buckle piece (if you are using 2 layers of Buckle, it may be helpful to glue the 2 layers together first). Place the black strip, horizontally, 3.5″ from the bottom of your block. Center the Buckle 4″ from the short edge of the black strip. Glue both down with the glue stick. Sew a zig-zag stitch completely around all raw edges of the Belt and the Buckle (you will probably want to sew with yellow thread on the Buckle, then switch to black thread for the Belt).

3e. Take the 2 Button pieces. Glue them down, 1 above the Belt and 1 below the Belt. Sew down using a zig-zag stitch.

And you’re finished! Congratulations! Please visit the instructions for the other blocks in the ’12 Days of Christmas Quilt Sampler’!!

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13 thoughts on “’12 Days of Christmas’ Block 2: Santa Claus

  1. Anonymous says:

    I tried clicking on the printable pattern pieces and it just comes up with signing up for Google Docs. Love the block – Thanks!
    Mel

  2. KLMunoz says:

    What kind of batting do u recommend using?

  3. Chiska says:

    Love the block!

  4. Katy Cameron says:

    Aww, what a cute idea!

  5. Madame Samm says:

    HO HO HO and off I go to plan this in the sew sew future…in the spirit yes I am ..

  6. Mrs.Pickles says:

    oh i love love loooooove this block!! I have a bit of a Santa addition i mean collection and i am going to have to make this for sure. Thanks for sharing!

  7. heidiabc says:

    Is it bad that I am already wanting to watch Christmas shows already? Love this block and can’t wait for more!

  8. KristyLou says:

    This is WAY too cute. I can’t make the whole quilt… but this square might show up a few places around my house as place mats, table runners, etc this Christmas!

  9. sophiesmom34 says:

    I love this block.. THANK YOU FOR POSTING IT.. I’M GOING TO START PRINTING EVERYTHING OUT NOW, WISH ME LUCK.. 🙂

  10. Bonnie Panattoni says:

    If Santa’s beard and suit are block 2, where is block 1 and what is it?

  11. crafty mom says:

    As soon as i saw this, I thought, how cute would this be for Christmas coasters?
    (perfect to use jelly rolls, and honey buns)

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