Snowfall Free Pattern

         Snowfall

        49” x 49”

Designed and made by Heidi Pridemore

This month we are exploring how flannel works for the project with Accuquilt Dies. For the rest of the country, the snow will be flying very soon. Here in the desert we never see the white stuff, so we have to create our own snowfall. To do that, I created the softest, warmest snowfall in a quilt featuring Henry Glass Fabric’s Woodland Retreat. This project was so quick and easy to make with the 7” Snowflakes die and the half-square triangle die from our 12” Qube die set, that you can make several of these sweet quilts to keep everyone warm this winter.

Since I was working with flannel, started thinking about winter and designed a project around around snowflakes. For the background I used the half-square triangles for the background blocks. I kept the fabric selection simple using only four fabrics. After last month’s scrappy quilt, I wanted to keep this month’s project simple.

First I cut all the fabrics into squares as listed on our pattern. The pattern for both die-cutting and traditional cutting is free from The Whimsical Workshop. You can download the free pattern at www.TheWhimsicalWorkshop.com along with our past free patterns.

Before cutting the snowflakes, we needed to add fusible web to the wrong side of the cream squares. I cut the fusible web, 1/8” smaller than the fabric squares, then pressed it to the back of the fabric following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Once we have the squares prepped with fusible web, we are ready to die-cut the snowflakes. Using the 7” Snowflakes die, I was able to lay out all three snowflakes at once and die cut them I am happy to say that the die-cutter and dies did a beautiful job cutting through both the flannel and fusible web with multiple layers. I cut five squares at once with no problem.

Before die-cutting the half-square triangle units, I layered up the green flannel with the red flannel, right sides together. Then I stacked up 3 sets of squares (6 layers) on the die and ran them through the cutter. Again the die cutter and dies did a great job cutting through the thicker fabrics. If you layer up the fabrics in this order, once the shapes are cut, they are already layered and ready to sew.

So now it was time to start assembling the blocks, Sew together the triangles to create the half-square triangle units. Press the fabrics to the darker color. Now lay out four half-square triangle  units into each block. Once you sew the units together to make one block, I recommend pressing the seams open. This will help keep the blocks flat and be very helpful when we add the applique snowflakes to the top and stitch around them. To make this task easier, I used a notion called The Strip Stick from Babb Enterprises, www.thestripstick.com to help me press the seams open. To use this notion, you lay the blocks right side down on the curved side of the tool. Then you press the seam open, gravity does the work with the curve to make the seam pop open as you iron it.

Once the blocks are assembled. It is time to add the snowflakes to center of each block.

Once the snowflakes are pressed in place, it is time to finish the raw edges with a decorative stitch. I used a matching thread and a blanket stitch to finish the edges.

Once the blocks are finished it is time to put the quilt top together. I decided to use the same cream from the snowflakes as the inner border to help contrast with the dark background. I finished the quilt with the very sweet birdhouse print from the collection for the outer borders.

This month Monica had a very easy job on how to finish the quilt. She quilted snowflakes allover the quilt top to keep it simple and elegant. As always please send along your projects to us at info@thewhimsicalworkshop.com and we can add you to our bragging rights page on our website.

Make sure to visit my blog each month where I will share with you some tips and tricks on cutting and assembling of the project of the month along with posting the free pattern on our website The Whimsical Workshop You can also see our pattern and post at www.accuquilt.com

Until next time…..

Heidi