Larch Tree – Block 9 of the Little Forest BOM

Welcome back to the Little Forest BOM! You’re making amazing progress with your quilt blocks, with less than 5 blocks to go. This month it’s all about the Larch Tree quilt block!

Before diving in to all the quilty goodness the Larch Tree offers, let’s take a quick stroll through your quilty forest and see what you’ve learned so far in the Little Forest Block of the Month Quilt Along featured in Love Patchwork and Quilting Magazine:

• 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.
• Flying geese and the stitch and flip method in the Stacked Pine quilt block.

This month you’re revisiting a technique you’ve already mastered – foundation paper piecing. This technique will help you get the best points on your Larch tree quilt blocks.

*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 LARCH TREE QUILT BLOCK

Larch trees like the cold!

They’re native to the northern hemisphere and are amongst the most common tree in the boreal forests of Canada and Siberia (read more about them here).

When I was designing the Little Forest quilt tree blocks, this little guy was initially drafted as brown to represent the dropped leaves in the wintertime but since that read a little stark on it’s own, we ended up adding colour. Works out better, as Larches tend to be more branchy and sparce than fluffy and dense and they don’t lose their needles either, making for a more accurate representation 😉.

This one has become one of my favourites of the Little Forest Quilt block designs. I love that we share a love for the cold, and I love the clean modern design of the block. Perfect for colour play!

I hope you love this one as much as I do!

QUILT TECHNIQUE FEATURED IN THE LARCH TREE QUILT BLOCK

You’re back to working with large foundation paper piecing templates in the Larch Tree quilt pattern. You nailed this technique when you stitched up your Fraser Fir quilt block.

This one is like that but feels different since you’re stitching larger sections making them less tricky!

You’ll see what I mean when you start piecing your block 😉

If you need an FPP refresher, check out:

• Ultimate FPP Tutorial
• Paper piecing – a quilting technique

Here’s a quick video on How to glue foundation paper piecing templates

TIPS FOR QUILTY SUCCESS

As always, whenever you’re diving into a new pattern, take it one step at a time.

It’s always when I get ahead of myself or assume a step that I seem to land myself in quilty hot water.

I also took my time and laid the patterns out on the floor of my studio to keep myself organized and worked systematically through each section.

Just follow the pattern and you’ll be golden!

MATERIALS AND FABRICS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE THE LARCH TREE QUILT BLOCK

Here’s an overview of everything I’ve used to make my Larch Tree quilt block:

• Larch Tree Quilt Block Pattern – Available exclusively in Love Patchwork and Quilting Magazine Issue 119*
• Ruby and Bee Solids in the colours:
  • Avocado*
  • Evergreen*
  • Kelp*
  • Pasture
  • 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*
• Glue (optional)*
• Cardstock (optional)
• Cutting mat*
• Iron*
• Pressing table or wool pressing mat*
• Pins*
• Pincushion
• Small snips*
• Design wall – tutorial to make your own here

MONTHLY GIVEAWAY

To keep up the foundation piecing fun, I thought you might want to give the Guiding Lights quilt block pattern a go! The design options with this one are super fun, I can share some ideas with you if you win!

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

All you need to do is:

• Follow @shannonfraserdesigns @lovequiltingmag
• Post your finished block on Instagram by January 18, 2023, at 11:59 pm EST tagging @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 January 19, 2023.

The Larch Tree quilt block pattern is exclusively available in Love Patchwork and Quilting Magazine Issue 119* 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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