The Ugly Christmas Sweaters Quilt Along 2016

I know. Christmas is over. Christmas 2015, that is!

I have always wanted to make a Christmas quilt. And this year is going to be the year!

Introducing a new Quilt Along - the Ugly Christmas Sweaters QAL2016

Ugly Christmas Sweaters 53" x 53"

This layout shown uses 16 blocks and will finish at approximately 53" square. But I have also included instructions for a few smaller quilts and a layout with one more row of blocks for a longer quilt at 53" x 66". And you could add wider sashing and borders for a bigger quilt.

Today's post is an introduction to the quilt along and provides a list of fabric requirements and cutting instructions. Each Christmas Sweater block finishes at 12" square and within each sweater block is a 6" block. Beginning on February 1st, I will be sharing a tutorials for the 6" blocks. But you can use whatever style of 6" block you want, to make your quilt unique to you!

You can click here to go to the Ugly Christmas Sweaters Quilt Along page for all the details and to see the schedule. On that page you will also see the layouts and sizes for the material requirements listed below. Here you can find the FREE Colouring Page for download to make your plan!

Measurements based on a 42” Width of Fabric, for the minimum required to the nearest ¼ yard, and do not account for miscuts. WOF = Width of Fabric  HST = Half Square Triangle  Press seams open. Press as you go.

Materials:	Single 14” x 14”	Mini 27” x 27”	Medium 53” x 53”	Maxi 53” x 66”
Background	0.25 yard	0.50 yard	1.50 yards	2.00 yards
White	0.25 yard	0.25 yard	1.00 yard	1.25 yards
Dark Blue	0.25 yard	0.25 yard	0.50 yard	0.50 yard
Light Blue	0.25 yard	0.25 yard	0.50 yard	0.50 yard
Yellow	0.25 yard	0.25 yard	0.50 yard	0.50 yard
Orange	0.25 yard	0.25 yard	0.50 yard	0.50 yard
Green	0.25 yard	0.25 yard	0.50 yard	0.50 yard
Pink	0.25 yard	0.25 yard	0.50 yard	0.50 yard
Red	0.25 yard	0.25 yard	0.50 yard	0.50 yard
Binding	0.25 yard	0.25 yard	0.50 yard	0.50 yard
Backing	0.50 yard	1.00 yard	3.50 yards	4.00 yards
Batting to cover	18” x 18”	32” x 32”	60” x 60”	60” x 72”

NOTE: If you use the following cutting instructions, you will not need to cut the BACKGROUND pieces listed in the SWEATER BLOCK ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS. If you are using a directional print, you will want to cut the pieces listed with * in reverse. For example: 1.5” x 8.5” Cut an 8.5” strip and cut into 1.5” widths.

20 Block MAXI 53” x 66” BACKGROUND and Binding Cutting Instructions:

From the Background:

Cut (4) strips at 3.5” x WOF and crosscut into (40) 3.5” squares

Cut (20) strips at 1.5” x WOF and crosscut into *(15) 1.5” x 12.5”, *(40) 1.5” x 8.5” and (40) 1.5” x 4.5”

Cut (11) strips at 1.5” x WOF and use these strips to make (4) 1.5” x 51.5”, (2) 1.5” x 53.5” and *(2) 1.5” x 64.5”

From the Binding Fabric:

Cut (6) 2.5” x WOF strips for binding.  Prepare your binding and set aside for later.

16 Block MEDIUM 53” x 53” BACKGROUND and Binding Cutting Instructions:

From the Background:

Cut (3) strips at 3.5” x WOF and crosscut into (32) 3.5” squares

Cut (16) strips at 1.5” x WOF and crosscut into *(12) 1.5” x 12.5”, *(32) 1.5” x 8.5” and (32) 1.5” x 4.5”

Cut (9) strips at 1.5” x WOF and use these strips to make *(2) 1.5” x 51.5”, (3) 1.5” x 51.5” and (2) 1.5” x 53.5”

From the Binding Fabric:

Cut (6) 2.5” x WOF strips for binding.  Prepare your binding and set aside for later.

4 Block MINI 27” x 27” BACKGROUND and Binding Cutting Instructions:

From the Background:

Cut (1) strip at 3.5” x WOF and crosscut into (8) 3.5” squares

Cut (5) strips at 1.5” x WOF and crosscut into *(2) 1.5” x 12.5”, *(8) 1.5” x 8.5” and (8) 1.5” x 4.5”

Cut (4) strips at 1.5” x WOF and use these strips to make *(2) 1.5” x 25.5”, (1) 1.5” x 25.5” and (2) 1.5” x 27.5”

From the Binding Fabric:

Cut (3) 2.5” x WOF strips for binding.  Prepare your binding and set aside for later.

SINGLE BLOCK SUPER MINI 14” x 14” BACKGROUND and Binding Cutting Instructions:

From the Background:

Cut (1) strip at 3.5” x WOF and crosscut into (2) 3.5” squares

Cut (2) strips at 1.5” x WOF and crosscut into (2) 1.5” x 14.5”, *(2) 1.5” x 12.5”, *(2) 1.5” x 8.5” & (2) 1.5” x 4.5”

From the Binding Fabric:

Cut (2) 2.5” x WOF strips for binding.  Prepare your binding and set aside for later.


For those who prefer a diagram to aid you in cutting when using a directional print for the background, here are the instructions for cutting the background for the MAXI size quilt.

Just want to take a moment to thank a couple of my friends....

I don't work with prints very often. Solids are so much easier to deal with. Most of them have no right side or wrong side. And they can be upside down or downside right. So easy! 

So because I chose a directional print for my background, I was out of my element. I posted a quick question to Instagram showing the directional print between the arms and the body of the sweater going in the sideways direction. And asked, "What's your opinion? I'm using a directional print for the background. Would you cut the strips between the sleeves and the body AND the sashing strips to match the direction or not? These strips finish at one inch."

Thankfully, my friend Christine of 12450miles.com was brave enough to give me the hard answer. The one you don't want to hear. BUT really do NEED to hear. She said, "I probably would..."

And that sweet Cathy of A Quilting Chick gave the right answer, too. Notice how she agrees with Christine, but adds a dollop of icing? Cathy said, "If it's noticeably directional then yes, I would TRY to. But I'm not about to rip if I mess it up. It adds character and this quilt will be full of character. :)"

Thank goodness for quilty friends! I took my half completed block apart and set to making those prints all point in the right direction. And then adjusted the cutting instructions above to reflect how to cut if you are using a directional print. PLEASE do let me know if the instructions are written clearly and easy to understand or not. I do appreciate feedback. Especially constructive criticism. It helps me to learn and grow! 




A quilt along is always more fun than quilting alone.
Want to get in on the fun?
Then grab a button below and share it on your blog!

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If you are interested in quilting along, please add the button to your blog and help to spread the word. Also....  Please feel free to share via social media!  Add the hashtag #uglychristmassweatersqal



It is not necessary to purchase the pattern in order to participate.  But if you would prefer the convenience of using a printable pdf pattern, Ugly Christmas Sweaters is available for purchase and includes complete cutting instructions and a detailed guide to finishing the entire quilt in any of the four different sizes listed.  The pattern is available in my pattern store here.

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