Stacked Pine – Block 8 of the Little Forest BOM

Your Little Forest quilt is growing and about to get a fun new addition with the Stacked Pine Quilt Block!

As your forest grows, so do your quilty skills 😊

So far in the Little Forest Block of the Month Quilt Along featured in Love Patchwork and Quilting Magazine, you’ve learned:

• Needle turn appliqué on the maple trees featured in the Little Forest block
• Half Rectangle Triangles (or HRT) in the pine tree featured in the Twin Peaks block
• Curves and Foundation Paper Piecing in the cherry blossom tree featured in the Cherry Tree block
• Small and strip piecing featured in the Bonsai quilt block.
• Raw edge appliqué as shown in the Maple tree block.
• Working with large foundation paper piecing templates in the Fraser Fir quilt block.
• Strip piecing featured in the Striped Pine quilt block.

And now it’s time to learn the stitch and flip method and flying geese!

*This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission.

INSPIRATION BEHIND THE STACKED PINE QUILT BLOCK

Pine trees have already popped up in your Little Forest Quilt with the Twin Peaks and the Striped Pine quilt blocks, so why another one?

Well, there are lots of different kinds of pine trees, and there are plenty here in Quebec. Since the Little Forest Block of the Month skill builder is meant to explore different techniques, I also wanted to show you how one design idea could be explored in different ways and still be unique.

One of the activities I love to do most with my hubs is to go for drives. We don’t even have to have a destination in mind, we just like being together, listening to podcasts or music, chatting away, and just enjoying the views. Since I’m normally the passenger, I get to spend a lot of our driving time just looking at the passing scenery.

I’ve shared this before, but it’s worth repeating because it happens regularly where I’ll suddenly point out a particularly lovely tree passing by. Trees really do captivate me, and I enjoy looking at the different species and seeing what makes them unique.

The way their branches grow, and the density of their needles are all indicative of the type of tree they are.

The Stacked Pine is based on those towering pine trees with really bushy needles and dense trunks. It makes me think of the one that used to be on the corner of the property, up at the lake, before it came down in a storm.

QUILT TECHNIQUE FEATURED IN THE STACKED PINE QUILT BLOCK

I’ve got another easy-peasy quilt block for you this month! Two easy months in a row! Whaaaa? I know this time of year is busy, so I wanted this to be a quick and fun make for you!

It may be easy but it still packs a one-two quilty punch since I snuck two different quilt techniques into the one block.

First, is learning how to make flying geese. These are super fun to make and couldn’t be easier. The biggest challenge is making sure you don’t lose the central tip of your block. Don’t worry, I’ve built in some trimming wiggle room to help you out 😉

The next quilt technique is the Stitch and Flip method (also referred to as snowballing). This is a great skill to know that comes in handy time and time again. The idea is that you keep your pieces whole and stitch on the diagonal before trimming away leaving a seam allowance and then flip to reveal a lovely diagonal seam. It helps keep shifting and stretching at bay.

TIPS FOR QUILTY SUCCESS

I have full faith you will totally master the Stacked Pine quilt block without any issues.

That said, I have two tips for you!

The first is to start trimming your flying geese from the tip. That’s how I like to approach mine since that’s the key spot to make sure everything stays on track. So, line up the ¼” mark right at the very tip of your flying geese and trim any excess from there. Then trim the rest.

Next up is to keep an eye out for that ‘x’ created by your intersecting seams at the very tip of your flying geese block. You want your stitches to go right through the middle of the ‘x’. That will give you perfect points every time!

MATERIALS AND FABRICS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE THE STACKED PINE QUILT BLOCK

Here’s an overview of everything I’m using to make my Stacked Pine quilt block:

• Stacked Pine Pattern – Available exclusively in Love Patchwork and Quilting Magazine Issue 118*
• Ruby and Bee Solids in the colours:
  • Pumpkin*
  • Perfect Pink*
  • Claret*
  • Mushroom*
• Linen White for the background, although this* Ruby and Bee solid would work perfectly too!
• Sewing machine*
• Sewing machine needles*
• 50wt thread for piecing*
• Square ruler*
• Rotary cutter*
• Cutting mat*
• Iron*
• Pressing table or wool pressing mat*
• Pins*
• Pincushion
• Small snips*
• Design wall – tutorial to make your own here

MONTHLY GIVEAWAY

You’ve been working so hard and with the holidays juuuuust around the corner, I thought you needed a little splurge! Lisa from Sew Curated has generously offered you the chance to win a $50 CAD gift card to spend in her yummy shop! From gorgeous fabrics to essential notions, Sew Curated has you covered!

Participating in the monthly Little Forest BOM giveaway is super easy!

All you need to do is:

• Follow @sewcurated, @shannonfraserdesigns @lovequiltingmag
• Post your finished block on Instagram by December 21, 2022, at 11:59 pm EST tagging @sewcurated, @shannonfraserdesigns and @lovequiltingmag
• Include the hashtag #LittleForestBOM
• Instagram account must be public

The giveaway is open internationally. The winner will be selected at random on December 22, 2022.

The Stacked Pine quilt block pattern is exclusively available in Love Patchwork and Quilting Magazine Issue 118* available on newsstands in the UK and heading internationally in the coming weeks. If you’re like me and based outside of Europe, the quickest way to get your hands on the monthly quilt blocks is to get a digital subscription here*.

Can’t wait to see your blocks pop up on Instagram under the #LittleForestBOM hashtag!

Happy quilting!

xo

Shannon

PS did you notice the cute Bonsai and Little Forest stickers in the shop?!

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