Welcome back for the second block of the 2024 Little Forest BOM. This month you’ll be stitching up the Stacked Pine Tree quilt block!
And bravo on piecing your Bonsai quilt blocks. They look fantastic and I love seeing all your different fabric combinations 😊
So far in this modern skill builder, you’ve learned:
- The importance of tracking your progress through the Little Forest BOM Journal.
- Small piecing in the Bonsai Quilt Block, which will set the foundation of your quilting skills.
This month, you’ll expand on those quilting skills by diving into two new quilting techniques. Read on to find out which ones!
The Little Forest BOM Quilt Pattern is available for instant download!
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.
Story Behind the Stacked Pine Quilt Block
Evergreens are super prevalent here in Canada. I’m based in Quebec, which is known for the plethora of evergreens dotting our landscape. Take a drive on any of our highways outside of city centers and you’ll be surrounded by walls of trees on either side of the autoroute.
This is a good thing too as our winters would be particularly grey and dull without those glorious pops of greens.
Quilting Technique Featured
The Stacked Pine Tree quilt block packs a 1-2 punch on the quilting technique front.
I like sneaking in a couple of techniques into the piecing of one quilt block.
Why?
Well, I think it helps keep the quilty boredom at bay and helps challenge you to keep your mind active and paying attention – ha!
Plus, it means I’m able to introduce you to more quilting techniques throughout the block of the month quilt along.
So, what are those techniques?
Flying Geese
First up is flying geese. Well, really flying goose as there’s only one to make.
Snowballing/Stitch and Flip
The second technique is snowballing, or some like to call it stitch and flip. However you want to refer to the technique, it’s a genius approach to get angled piecing without having to piece on the bias.
Why does that matter?
Piecing on the bias (which you will tackle in a future Little Forest Quilt block 😉) challenges your accuracy as things tend to stretch on the bias.
The good news is there are several pieces that I left a little longer to give you some trimming wiggle room. Specifically, I’m speaking about Pieces G and H.
Materials & Notions
Here’s what you’ll need to have on hand to stitch up the Stacked Pine quilt block:
- Stacked Pine quilt block pattern – part of the Little Forest BOM pattern
- Fabrics in colours:
- Piecing thread
- Sewing machine
- Cutting mat
- Rotary cutter with these blades
- Ruler – long
- Ruler – short
- Small scissors
- Pin cushion
- Pins
- Iron
- Wool pressing mat – Receive 10% off your entire order on thefeltstore.ca or thefeltstore.com, when using code SHANNONFRASER10 (valid through April 30, 2024).
- Fine mist spray bottle (I use this to create steam instead of filling my iron with water)
- Erasable marking tool
To make the same version as me you can find the exact kit featuring the same AGF Signature Pure Solids in this quilt kit from Sew Curated.
Top Tips
My top tip for you this month is to set your seams before finger pressing to the side, and then placing your iron on top to set that seam.
Why does this matter?
Pressing is a key component to your quilty success. This is even more important if you’re working with a fabric substrate that has a looser weave, such as linen and gauze. If you iron your fabric (the back-and-forth motion we typically associate with ironing clothes), you have a greater chance of pulling and distorting your block. So, instead of ending with a nice rectangle on either side of your canopies, you’ll end up with bits of fabric that are stretched out.
This will create a greater challenge for you when you go to piece your canopies together, as you’ll no longer have nice and straight lines to join.
And that’s how things can get wonky quick!
Marking Tools
My next tip is to make sure you have the right marking tool on hand.
Depending on the colour and fabric substrate you’re working with, you might need to have a specific notion on hand.
For example, I’m working with a dark background fabric so my usual black pen isn’t going to properly show up. Enter my handy ceramic lead pencil that shows up like a champ on the dark cotton.
Caution
Too much steam can be a bad thing
Using steam from your iron can help you achieve nice flat seams, just be mindful that the steam isn’t over-relaxing your fabric, as this can lead to fabric distorting and unintended stretching.
Starch or a starch alternative can help if you’re finding it tough to keep your pieces on the straight and narrow!
Beware of erasable marking tools that don’t erase
Normally, I work with a Frixion pen. These are amazing if you’re using them in a place that will not be visible in the finished quilt.
Why?
Because they can bleach your fabric – whaaaaa!
Yup, it’s happened to me and I wrote the cautionary tale so it wouldn’t happen to you.
February Little Forest BOM Giveaway
Scraps, they’re unavoidable! And you’ll end up with lots of them after piecing your Little Forest Quilt. This is why I reached out to Emily of Quilty Love. She has the cutest Quilty Trees quilt pattern, and I thought it would be fun for you to have a pattern in your back pocket to turn to when you’re done piecing your Little Forest BOM.
To up the scrappy fun, Emily’s offering one lucky winner the chance to get The Scrappy Bundle which includes Quilty Trees, Scrappy Hearts, and Quilty Star, so that you’ve got plenty of options!
To enter the giveaway, you must:
- Be following @emily_dennis_ and @shannonfraserdesigns on Instagram.
- Post a photo on Instagram of your Stacked Pine Block between February 15, 2024, and March 14, 2024, at 11:59 pm Eastern.
- Instagram account must be public.
- Tag @emily_dennis_ and @shannonfraserdesigns
- Include the hashtags #LittleForestBOM #LittleForestQuilt
This month’s giveaway is open internationally.
The winner is to be announced in the March 15, 2024, Little Forest BOM Newsletter!
Have fun piecing your Stacked Pine Tree quilt block. I look forward to seeing them pop up on the ‘gram or in our Facebook group.
Be sure to check in with your journal. It will feel good to track how you feel and you’ll love being able to look back and see how you felt along the way.
If you haven’t already, be sure to get your Little Forest BOM Quilt Pattern and sign up for the Little Forest BOM Newsletter so you don’t miss any of the quilt-along details 😊
Happy stitching!
xo
Shannon
PS Don’t forget to share your Stacked Pine Tree quilt block on the ‘gram to be entered into the giveaway!
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