I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long: Reindeer Games
Welcome back to I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long. If you're playing catch up, be sure to take a look at my quilt along page. That has all of the information and links you need for the quilt along.
I'm incredibly excited that I get to share my very own design this week! When I was a kid, one of the best parts of Christmas was watching the old claymation Rudolph movie. With that in mind, I really wanted to design a Rudolph quilt block for our quilt along. I hope you love him as much as I do!
I have named the block Reindeer Games. The old song says that Rudolph never got to play any reindeer games, but he certainly gets to be a part of our quilt!
Are you ready to get sewing? Click the download button below for the pdf pattern. Remember, all patterns for this quilt along are free until January 16, 2018.
Tips for Success
The best tip I can give you for this block is to be extra careful with your seam allowance. The first part of the pattern walks you through a seam test so you can make sure your seam allowance is just right. You'll likely be much happier if you take the time for this step before diving into the block.
Don't let all of the piecing in this block scare you off. You can do it! Each of the individual pieces are pretty simple. If you can get them to all come out the right size, your block will go together like a dream. The pattern includes measurements for each and every step so you know right away if a certain seam needs to be adjusted.
Don't worry if you get to the end and your block isn't just the right size. On December 5, all of the hosts will be sharing our setting ideas for the quilt. At that time, I will post a tutorial for a setting that is quite forgiving if there's a little bit of variation in your block sizes.
My other tip is to follow the pressing directions included in the pattern. I'm a big fan of nesting seams, and I've shown you how to press everything for optimal nesting.
I hope you have fun with this block! I can't wait to see everyone's different takes on it. If you have a blog, please be sure to join the linkup at the bottom of the post. If you post on Instagram, I would absolutely love it if you used the hashtag #reindeergamesquilt in addition to the normal #iwishyouamerryqal.
My Lovely Comrades
There are 10 other ladies hosting this quilt along with me. I hope you'll take the time to check out their posts! They have each made their own version of the Reindeer Games block, and they share some helpful tips for success. If you like what you see, don't hesitate to say so. Nothing makes a blogger's day as much as an encouraging comment from a fellow quilter.
Abbie at Sparkle On
April at JANDA Bend Quilts
Becca at Pretty Piney
Bobbi at Snowy Days Quilting <---- That's me!
Diane at Cwilt
Jennifer at The Inquiring Quilter
Karen at Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts
Sandy at SandyStar Designs
Sherry at Powered by Quilting
Vanda at Quilt in Piece
Sharing is Caring
The very best part of the quilt along is seeing all of the different blocks made by quilters around the world. If you make a Reindeer Games block, we want to see it! Please use the Instagram hashtags #reindeergamesquilt and #iwishyouamerryqal so we call all see what you've made. Feel free to tag me @snowydaysquilting when you post your block and I'll be sure to leave you a comment.
You can also share your pictures in our super duper encouraging facebook group. If you have a blog, please add your post to the linkup at the bottom of the page. The linkup will be open until 11:59 pm Eastern on Monday, November 6.
If you share your block before the next block is released, you'll be entered to win this week's fabulous prizes! Just post in any of the places mentioned above by 11:59 pm Eastern on Monday, November 6 in order to be eligible. The giveaway is open to participants worldwide.
Our prizes this week are a fat quarter bundle from the Hopscotch collection by Jamie Fingal for RJR Fabrics, and a PDF pattern of your choice from Beth Sellers of Cooking Up Quilts.
We also have a fabulous grand prize package. Here's a look at the wonderful sponsors we have lined up for that. To be eligible to win the grand prize, post a completed quilt top that includes all 12 blocks by 11:59pm Eastern Time on January 15, 2018. The final block will be released on December 5, so you'll have plenty of time. It doesn't even have to be quilted!
Link-Up
If you blog about your Reindeer Games block, we would love to see it! Link up your blog post here so we can all check it out. Remember to visit a few of the other blogs while you're at it. We all love comments from our fellow quilters.