Sign-up for updates & get 20% off + a Free Pattern!

Crimson Christmas Quilt Along: Week 4 - Adding the 8 1/2" Split Triangles

Welcome to Week 4 of the Crimson Christmas Quilt Along! 

👉🏽 Here are links to the content for each week of the quilt along:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 5
Week 6

In Week 4, we'll make the 8 ½" split triangles for the last round of petals on our blooms. This week, I’ll be sharing videos and info on:

  • Cutting the background fabric
  • Sewing strip sets
  • Pressing and preventing ripples along long seams
  • Paying close attention to cutting instructions
  • Arranging and matching mirror-image units

Happy Quilting!
💜Cristy 


Fabrics & Supplies:

This week, we'll be cutting our fabrics with a couple of different rulers.
Here's a list of fabrics & supplies you'll need for Week 4:

Fabrics:
  • All 3 ¼" strips from bloom fabrics
  • 1 ½ yds Background fabric
Supplies:
Note: I'll share optional supplies throughout the quilt along

If you need  to order anything for the quilt along, I put all of the supplies from my shop in a handy Quilt Along category to make them easy to find, plus you can get 20% off with the code: CCQAL2025


Crimson Christmas Quilt Along: Week 4

This week, we'll cover steps 7-11, 13, 15, and 17 in the pattern.

Cutting Instructions:

From the Background fabric, cut:
🔲 (4) 8 ½" WOF Strips 
     🔘 Subcut (3) of the strips into (20) 6" x 8 ½" rectangles
                *DO NOT cut the 4th strip into rectangles. You'll need it for Step 29 in Week 5.

Important note: The pattern assumes that fabric is 44" wide, which will give you (7) 6" x 8 ½" rectangles from each strip, minus the selvages. If your fabric is 42" wide, you might need an extra ¼ yard of background fabric to have enough for your quilt. You could use a different fabric for the binding if you aren't able to get more of the same background fabric.

🔲 (6) 2 ½" WOF Strips for the Binding - set aside 




Pattern - Step 7: Making the Bloom Strip Sets

Grab your Crimson Christmas pattern and flip to Step 7 on page 7.

You're going to use all of the 3 ¼" strips that you cut from your bloom fabrics to make the strip sets for the next round of petals. You should have 3 ¼" strips in two shades of red, mauve, and white (or two shades of the colors you're using for your own version). 

Here's a checklist for you:
Red 3 ¼" Strips: (TWO of each shade)

🔲 R5 - first dark red
🔲 R6 - second dark red

Mauve 3 ¼" Strips: (ONE of each shade)

🔲 M5 - first dark mauve
🔲 M6 - second dark mauve

White 3 ¼" Strips: (TWO of each shade)

🔲 W2 - creamy white
🔲 W4 - second grayish white

Next, you'll sew strips sets with two shades of each bloom color in each set:
Red Strip Sets: Make (2) R5+R6 strip sets 
Mauve Strip Sets: Make (1) M5+M6 strip sets
White Strip Sets: Make (2) W2+W4 strip sets

Sew each strip set along the long edge of the fabric. You can glue baste, pin baste, or no baste your seams. I glue basted mine with small dots along the outside edge of the seam.

Next, press each seam open (release glue if you glue basted). This is a very long seam and can easily end up with ripples after it's pressed open. These unsightly ripples can be avoided by setting the seam with your iron before pressing it open. Not sure setting seams would really make much of a difference? Do a little experiment: Press the seam of one strip set open after setting the seam and press another without setting the seam to see which one gives you the results you like best.


After pressing all of the seams open, you'll cut the strip sets into two-tone 6" x 8 ½" rectangles. 

Here's the total of each two-tone rectangles to cut:

🔲 (6) Red 
🔲 (4) Mauve
🔲 (6) White

Using a ruler that's at least 6" x 8 ½" will be a huge help as you cut the two-tone rectangles. I used a 6" x 12 ½" ruler, but a square ruler can be used too. You can cut the selvage off first, or make the first 8 ½" cut beyond the selvage then trim the selvage off.

To cut each two-tone rectangle, align the 3" mark on the ruler right on top of your seam line - this will keep the seam of your two-tone rectangles parallel to the top and bottom edges. Aligning the seam with the 3" mark will put top edge of the strip at the outside edge of the ruler, and the bottom edge of the strip will be at the 6" mark. Double check these to be sure that you're making a nice, straight cut. 

In the video below, I walk you through cutting the red two-tone strip sets into rectangles and arranging them with the rectangles of background fabric (which is also part of Step 8).


Pattern - Step 8: Making the Two-Tone + Background Strip Sets

Next, you'll arrange and sew the 6" x 8 ½" rectangles of background fabric and the two-tone rectangles together to make strips sets. I walk you through arranging the red strip sets in the video above. 

With the 8 ½" sides touching, arrange the strip sets for each bloom color by alternating the background rectangles and the two-tone rectangles. ALL of the two-tone rectangles need to be oriented with the darkest shade on the left side in every strip set (see image on pg 7). This is super important, otherwise the colors of the petals won't repeat in the right order.

The strip sets for each bloom color use a different amount of background rectangles and/or two-tone rectangles. Here's a list and an image to help you out:

Red Strip Sets: MAKE 2
Here's the total what you'll need for EACH red strip set:

🔲 (4) Background rectangles 
🔲 (3) Red two-tone rectangles

Red Strip Set Arrangement: MAKE 2
BG + R6/R5 + BG + R6/R5 + BG + R6/R5 + BG

Mauve Strip Sets: MAKE 2
Here's the total what you'll need for EACH mauve strip set:
🔲 (3) Background rectangles 
🔲 (2) Mauve two-tone rectangles

Mauve Strip Set Arrangement: MAKE 2
BG + M6/M5 + BG + M6/M5 + BG

White Strip Sets:
Here's the total what you'll need for EACH rwhite strip set:
🔲 (3) Background rectangles 
🔲 (3) White two-tone rectangles

White Strip Set Arrangement: MAKE 2
BG + W4/W2 + BG + W4/W2 + BG + W4/W2



Next, we're going to sew these rectangles together along the 8 ½" sides. I like to glue baste and chain piece these like I did for the split triangles in step 4. I'll walk you through those steps in the next video. 


Press all of the seams open. Repeat to make TWO strips for each bloom color according to the arrangements above and on page 7. Each strip set should be 8 ½" wide.


Pattern - Step 9: Cutting the 8 ½" Split Triangles (part 1)

Let's cut these strip sets up! Refer to the images on page 8 in the pattern.

Please read before you cut: 
‼️ The two strip sets for each bloom color ARE NOT cut the same way. You'll start cutting one strip set with the large 60º Diamond Ruler aligned at the BOTTOM of the strip (with the point up) in Step 9. And the second will be cut with the ruler aligned at the TOP of the strip (with the point down) in Step 10. Cutting the strips this way gives us pairs of 8 ½" triangles that are mirror images of one another.

Let's prevent cutting all of the strip sets the same way by separating them into two groups: one for aligning the ruler at the bottom, and one for aligning at the top. Set one group to the side to cut in Step 10.

First, take your first red 8 ½" strip set and align the 60º Diamond Ruler with the dashed 8 ½" line along the BOTTOM of the strip. As you align your ruler and strip set, these should also align for your first cut:
  1. The solid center black line will lay right on top of the seam between the background fabric and the red fabric. 
  2. The large hang hole points away from you.
  3. The flat tip aligns at the top of the strip.

Next, cut along both sides of the ruler and clip off the tips on the bottom corners.

IMPORTANT: Set aside the scrap cut of background fabric to use in Steps 31 & 32.

Turn the ruler upside down and realign the dashed 8 ½" line along the TOP of the strip. Realign the center black line on the center seam and the flat tip at the bottom of the strip. The large hang hole will point to your belly.

Next, cut along both sides of the ruler and clip off the tips on the top corners. 

You just cut two unique 8 ½" split triangles - yay! Both have the background fabric on the left. One will have R6 next to the background and the other will have R5 next to the background.

Repeat each step, cutting to the end of this strip, to give you (3) each of these 8 ½" red split triangles.

Repeat each step with one mauve 8 ½" strip set to give you (2) of each 8 ½" split triangles (4 total).

And repeat again with one white 8 ½" strip set to give you (3) 8 ½" split triangles with W4 touching the background fabric, and (2) with W2 touching the background fabric (5 total).



Pattern - Step 10: Cutting the 8 ½" Split Triangles (part 2) 

Refer to the images on the bottom of page 8 in the pattern.

Take your second red 8 ½" strip set and align the 60º Diamond Ruler with the dashed 8 ½" line along the TOP of the strip. As you align your ruler and strip set, these should also align for your first cut:
  1. The solid center black line will lay right on top of the seam between the background fabric and the red fabric. 
  2. The large hang hole points toward your belly.
  3. The flat tip aligns at the bottom of the strip.

Next, cut along both sides of the ruler and clip off the tips on the bottom corners.

IMPORTANT: Set aside the scrap cut of background fabric to use in Steps 31 & 32.

Turn the ruler upside down and realign the dashed 8 ½" line along the BOTTOM of the strip. Realign the center black line on the center seam and the flat tip at the top of the strip. The large hang hole will point away from you.

Next, cut along both sides of the ruler and clip off the tips on the top corners. 

These are the mirror images of the first group of 8 ½" split triangles, so the background fabric will be on the right. One will also have R6 next to the background and the other will have R5 next to the background.

Repeat each step, cutting to the end of this strip, to give you (3) each of these 8 ½" red split triangles.

Repeat each step with one mauve 8 ½" strip set to give you (2) of each 8 ½" split triangles (4 total).

And repeat again with one white 8 ½" strip set to give you (3) 8 ½" split triangles with W4 touching the background fabric, and (2) with W2 touching the background fabric (5 total).


Pattern - Step 11: Sorting the 8 ½" Split Triangles

Sort your 8 ½" split triangles into mirror image sets/pairs:
Red:
🔲 (3) with R6 next to the background
🔲 (3) with R5 next to the background

Mauve:
🔲 (2) with M6 next to the background
🔲 (2) with M5 next to the background

White:
🔲 (3) with W4 next to the background
🔲 (2) with W2 next to the background


Pattern - Step 13: Joining the 8 ½" Split Triangles + the Diamond Units

Use your Red Color Placement Guide and/or the exploded assembly image on page 18 in your pattern to arrange your 8 ½" split triangles with the pieced diamond units to create your red bloom. Place the diamond units to alternate the 2 ½" triangles in the middle of the bloom. A design wall, a large table, or space on the floor will be really helpful. 

You'll add one 8 ½" split triangle to either side of the top end of each pieced diamond unit. Stay mindful that the shade of red on the left side of a diamond unit matches the shade of red on the right side of the diamond unit that's next door. 

Do yourself a huge favor and take the time to lay out all of the units before sewing them together to help prevent accidentally mismatching the 8 ½" split triangles, and to alternate the 2 ½" triangles in the center.  

Red Poinsettia Color Placement Guide
(click an image to open in a new tab & download)

Sewing the Red Petal Units together:

First, join the bottom of the 8 ½" split triangle to the top-right hand side of one of the pieced diamond units. This seam will be straight grain (bottom of  8 ½" split triangle) to bias grain (top-right side of diamond unit). Follow these steps to sew this seam:

  1. Align the clipped tips of the 8 ½" split triangle to the edges of the pieced diamond unit.
  2. Check that the intersecting seams in the middle criss-cross.
  3. Glue or pin baste to keep the edges and seam intersection aligned.
  4. Sew the seam from end-to-end.
  5. Press the seam open (release glue if necessary)

Next, join the 8 ½" split triangle that goes on the top-left hand side of this unit. This seam will be straight grain to straight grain. Repeat each of the steps above to align and sew the seam.

Repeat for the other (5) red petal units, making sure to follow the color placement chart to keep the correct shades of red on the correct sides of the pieced diamond units.

Sewing the full Mauve Petal Units together:

Repeat the previous steps and add the mauve split triangles to make (3) full mauve petal units. You'll use two pieced diamond units with a 2 ½" triangle of M2 at the end, and one with M1 at the end. Refer to the Mauve Color Placement Guide and/or page 18 in the pattern.


The rest of your mauve 8 ½" split triangles will be grouped with the parts and pieces that we'll use to assemble the left-hand side of the quilt in steps 35 & 36.

Sewing the full White Petal Units together:

Repeat each step to make (3) full white petal units. You'll use two pieced diamond units with a 2 ½" triangle of W2 at the end, and one with W1 at the end. Refer to the White Color Placement Guide and/or page 18 in the pattern.

The rest of your white 8 ½" split triangles will be used in steps 15/17, and grouped with the parts and pieces that we'll use to assemble the top and bottom partial white blooms.


Pattern - Steps 15 & 17: Making the partial White Petal Units

Refer to the videos above to make sure that you're adding the correct split triangle to the correct side for each of your units.

Use your White Color Placement Guide and/or the exploded assembly image on page 18 in your pattern to arrange the rest of your white 8 ½" split triangles with the pieced partial diamond units to create your partial top and bottom white blooms. 

Step 15: Add one white 8 ½" split triangle (with background on the right + W4 next to the background) to the top-left side of the left-facing partial diamond unit. Align, baste, sew, and press the seam. This unit will become part of the partial white bloom at the bottom of the quilt.

Step 17: Add one white 8 ½" split triangle (with background on the right + W4 next to the background) to the top-right side of the two right-facing partial diamond units. Align, baste, sew, and press the seams. 

The unit with a 2 ½" triangle of W1 at the end goes with the partial white bloom at the top, and the one with a 2 ½" triangle of W2 at the end goes with the partial white bloom at the bottom of the quilt.

You'll have one white 8 ½" split triangle left which will be grouped with the parts and pieces that we'll use to assemble the left-hand side of the quilt in steps 35 & 36.