Today’s charming Christmas Lantern block is designed by Diane of Cwilt. You’ll find the link to her free pattern on her blog here. Don’t delay. It’s free only until January 15th so download it today.

Tips for Success:

This pattern provides you with templates. I’ve used templates before but if you haven’t I’ve got a couple of tips for you as well as some general tips.

1. I cut strips the needed width and then laid the template over the strip. Using a ruler and rotary cutter, I trimmed the ends.  For example the Lantern frames are all 1″ wide and the windows are 2 1/4″.
   

   Because there are a lot of pieces I pin the pattern piece to the fabric after cutting. I am careful when I move the ruler. Use double sided tape under the pattern piece to hold it in place if you find that you need it to keep it from shifting.

2. I laid the template on the fabric and carefully lined up my ruler’s 1/4″ on the finished line of the pattern (not the seam allowance). Using a rotary cutter, I then cut thus giving me the needed 1/4″ seam allowance.
   

   I line up the 1/4″ marking along the finished pattern edge and cut. This gives me the 1/4″ seam allowance and makes for faster and more accurate cutting. Use double sided tape on the underside of the pattern piece if you find that it shifts for you.

3. The Background top piece is 2 3/4″ X 12.5″. I did not use the template but just cut the piece this size. In fact, I cut this piece a tad larger than these dimensions so that I had some extra fabric for squaring.
4. The Background bottom piece is 1 1/4″ X 12.5″. I did not use the template for this piece either. I also cut this piece a tad larger than these dimensions so that I had some extra fabric for squaring.
5. After looking at my finished block, I could see that adding 1/4″ to the length of each of the two top background pieces that get added to the lantern roof would be helpful as that area came up a tad short.
   

   I suggest adding 1/4″ to the length of these two pieces, noted by the arrows above, so that this section isn’t short.

6. I deciphered the code for the windows!! TL = Top Left, TR = Top Right, ML = Middle Left, MR = Middle Right, BL = Bottom Left, BR = Bottom Right  
7. I made 2 bonus HSTs when I sewed the background top left and right pieces onto the lantern roof piece and you can too! I added them to my scrap stash to be used later. What would you use yours for?
   

   Draw a line from the top right corner of the background piece to the bottom left corner-but only to where the bottom left corner of roof piece is. Then draw another line 1/2″ away from that line (shown as red in pic above).

   

   Sew close to the lines.

   

   Cut apart.

   After sewing on the lines, I cut them apart and press the seams.

Giveaway for completing this block

Post a picture on either Snowy Day’s Quilting party link on her blog or on the I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long Facebook page or tag # #iwishyouamerryqal on Instagram to win some prizes. Remember you have until November 20th at 11.59 PM to link or post your pic to be entered to win.

Thank you to The Warm Co. for offering two packages of Steam-A-Seam 2 and Vanda for offering a choice of patterns from her shop. You can shop her pattern shop here.

Grand Prize Alert

At the end of the QAL there will be a link to download a picture of your finished quilt. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must make a quilt top using all twelve of the QAL blocks by January 16th, 2018. Thank you to all these sponsors for prizes.

Here’s all my blocks so far.

To find info on where to get the patterns, view my blocks, and read some construction tips, click on my links below.

• Block 1 – I am still working on block one. You can find the pattern for block one-snowflake here.
• Block 2 – My block two, tree farm is finished but I haven’t posted about it yet so you will have to be content with the teaser pic. You can find the pattern here.
• Block 3 – Santa’s Belt here
• Block 4 – Christmas Memories (ornaments) here
• Block 5 – Snowman here
• Block 6 – Angel here
• Block 7 – Poinsettia here
• Block 8-Presents here
• Block 9-Reindeer Games here

Meet the rest of the I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long Hosts as they reveal their version of this block

• Pretty Piney
• Sparkle On
• JANDA Bend Quilts
• Snowy Days Quilting
• Cwilt Here’s the creative designer behind this tenth 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.
• The Inquiring Quilter
• Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats You are here. Thanks for stopping by.
• Slice of Pi Quilts
• SandyStar Designs
• Powered by Quilting
• Quilt in Piece

Block Release Schedule

• Block 11 – November 21, 2017
• Block 12 – December 5, 2017
• Setting Instructions – December 5, 2017

What I Learned Today:

1. There are 48 days until Christmas.
2. What happened to October?
3. I’ve been more behind with things than ahead of schedule this year. I’ll get caught up one of these days.

Question: Are you a shop-at-the-last-minute type or shop/make-all-year type? When December rolls around and the turkey is finished, then I kick it into high gear and prepare for Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by and do come again.

Karen, Tu-Na Quilts

Linking to:

Block 10 Linky Party on Cwilt

Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River

Let’s Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilt

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