12 Days of Christmas in July Blog Hop - Day 4! And ANOTHER Giveaway!!

Hi, all!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  My favorite time of the year, made even better when I get a head start on creating beautiful handmade things!  Today our list of bloggers begins with Sharon of Vrooman's Quilts.  Sharon has my undying envy - she has the greatest street address ever, living on Quilt Lane.  She's also a prolific scrap quilter, and does some beautiful piecing.  She'll be teaching some new-to-me techniques, as is our second blogger, Mary of Made by Marney.  I think Mary's project may get me off the dime on paper piecing...

And here's a heads-up - there's a giveaway (or two) among today's bloggers - so stop by their blogs and throw your hat in the ring!

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Thought I'd share another pretty picture just to keep your eye on the prize... I hope you're enjoying the trip so far!  Don't worry if you're falling behind - because we're starting so early, even if life happens and you don't get finished with your top by the 25th, this quilt is simple and you can easily catch up.  So let's get on to the next step!

Let's finish up our A Blocks today!  

The first thing we need to do is press what we did yesterday.  Lay your webbed block on the ironing board with the sewn columns running vertically.  Press the seams on the right column in towards the center square of the column.  Press the seams on the center column out away from the center square of the column.  Finally, press the seams on the left column in towards towards the center square of the column.  Repeat with the remaining eleven webbed blocks.

Now, nesting the seams and pinning at the intersections, stitch the two remaining seams on each block.  

Grab your little friend Jack the (seam) Ripper, and break the little threads that webbed the blocks together for the next step.

And now, for the final pressing, I would suggest that you watch this video - it's short, and it will easily show you how to spin your seams if you don't already know how.  

Spinning those seams will make the final assembly of your quilt so much easier, and will reduce the bulk when quilting.  

That's it for today!  Tomorrow we'll start assembling our B Blocks. Put your A blocks up on your design wall and enjoy the colors!!

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Be sure to stop by and check out today's bloggers if you haven't done it already, and throw your name in the hat for the giveaways.  See you tomorrow with lots more Christmas-y inspiration!!

Hugs!

Sarah

Saturday, July 14th

Joy @ Days Filled With Joy

Selina @ Selina Quilts

Sunday, July 15th

Joanne @ Everyone Deserves a Quilt

Jan @ The Colorful Fabriholic

Monday, July 16th

Carole @ From My Carolina Home

Jamie @ L'Fair Quilts

Karen @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels & Eats

Tuesday, July 17th

Sharon @ Vrooman's Quilts

Mary @ Made by Marney

Wednesday, July 18th

Karrin @ Karrin's Crazy World

Marian @ Seams To Be Sew

Thursday, July 19th

Christina @ Christina's Handicrafts

Sherry @ Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc.

Danice @ Homespun Hannah

Friday, July 20th

Kristi @ Confessions of A Fabric Addict

Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts

Saturday, July 21st

Cindy @ Stitchin' At Home

Meloney @ Mel's Quilting Blog

Sunday, July 22nd

Anja @ Anja Quilts

Moira @ Quilted Snail

Monday, July 23rd

Brenda @ Songbird Designs

Amy @ Sea of Estrogen

Bonnie @ In Stitches With Bonnie

Tuesday, July 24th

Kathy @ Kathy's Kwilts and More

Summer @ Summer Lee Quilts

Wednesday, July 25th

Susan @ Quilt Fabrication

Brandy @ Pampered Pettit

Jean @ All Points of the Compass