Have you heard? There’s a new Christmas Quilt-A-Long happening and there’s still time to join.

I’m just getting started myself. I’ve been galavanting all around Minnesota shop hopping and now I’m playing with a bunch of new fabric. I found some Christmas fabric in several of those 66 quilt shops I visited that I can use for this new project, too. I’ll be hosting these designers as they showcase their creative 12.5″ blocks and will be sewing along, too. So grab some fabric and let’s get cutting.

When you’ve finished your block, you might want to join the linky parties going on at the designer’s blogs. If you’re looking for inspiration and want to see what other’s blocks are looking like, check out the I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long Facebook page as well as #iwishyouamerryqal on Instagram.

I’ve heard there are giveaways with prizes. The first two blocks have already been released and are available for free until January 16th, 2018. Find Block One and the tutorial here and Block Two and the tutorial here.

Look for one or two blocks to be released every other Tuesday. Two blocks are on the schedule for today with the fifth block to be released Sept. 12th. The final block is set to post on December 5th giving you just enough time to finish your quilt before Christmas.

I’ll be playing catch-up here so watch for more blocks coming as well as a look at the loot I purchased on the 2017 Quilt MN Shop Hop (on separate posts that is).

Now let’s see what new block awaits us today.

Block 3: Santa’s Belt designed by Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts

Here’s my version. Please see Laura’s site for her free pattern and tutorial so you can make one, too. Thanks, Laura, this is a cute block!

Guess who’s coming to dinner, or to my house, or to your house if you make one of these blocks. Isn’t it amazing how a few strips of fabric placed just so resembles a well-known part of the holidays?

This super cute block sews together very easily. It’s great for a beginner or an advanced quilter who just wants to get a block done quickly. When I sew a block, I like to know which direction to press the seams. So I thought I’d share how I did them.

Press seams in direction of the arrows.

Refer to your pattern found on Laura’s blog. Here’s some pressing hints:

Center Unit: After sewing the gold rectangles to either side of the black square—which will be the center of the buckle, press the seams in towards the black square (as indicated with black arrows in pic above). After sewing the gold rectangles to the top and bottom of that unit, press the seam outwards toward the gold rectangle (as indicated with white arrows in pic above). After sewing the red rectangles to the top and bottom of that unit, press the seam out towards the red rectangles (as indicated with green arrows in pic above). This will help to next the seams when sewing the units together.

Side Units: After sewing the red rectangles on the top and bottom of the black rectangles, press the seams in toward the black rectangles (as indicated with yellow arrows above).

Sewing Units Together: After sewing the units together, press the seams outward (as indicated with purple arrows above).

Your block will now look so pretty from the back but really it will lay flat and your seams will match nicely.

Check out all the designer’s and hosts below to see their version of Santa’s Belt. Will you be joining us and be merrily quilting-a-long?

I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long Hosts:

Block 3 Santa’s Belt designed by Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts

Pretty Piney
Sparkle On
JANDA Bend Quilts
Snowy Days Quilting
Cwilt
The Inquiring Quilter
Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats You are here. Thanks for stopping by.
Kathleen McMusing
Slice of Pi Quilts Here’s the creative designer behind this third block in the I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long. You’ll find the pattern here on her site as well as a full tutorial.
Sandra Healy Designs
SandyStar Designs
Powered by Quilting
Alice Samuel’s Quilt Co.
Quilt in Piece

What I Learned Today:

It’s never too late to get started.
Sometimes the hardest part of a project is starting it.
I must be needing to celebrate Christmas this year; I participated in the 12 Days of Christmas in July Blog Hop in July and now this one.

Question: Does Santa make an appearance at your house? When the kids were young, Santa came and filled their stockings and put presents under the tree. Now, if the grandkids are here on Christmas day, Santa fills a stocking for them—if he remembers. Otherwise, everyone gets presents from Papa and Tu-Na.

Coming soon:

A few words from Tu-Na Helper regarding his side of the 2017 Quilt Minnesota Shop Hop
A look at the loot that I acquired or purchased.

Welcome:

If you are visiting here for the I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long, welcome to my journey doing the things I love: quilt, travel, and eat. You are welcome to follow me by subscribing by email, WordPress, or Bloglovin (check my sidebar for the links).

Thanks for stopping by and do come again.

Karen, Tu-Na Quilts

Linking to:

Wait Loss Wednesday at the Inquiring Quilter

Santa’s Belt Link Up at Slice of Pi Quilts

Let’s Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts

Linky Tuesday at Free Motion by the River

WIPs with Friends at Mama Sparks

WIPs at Silly Mama Quilts

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Finish or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilt

Show Off Saturday at SewCanShe