Woodland Cardinals

 

Happy May!  It's my birthday month! (yes, I do celebrate all month long) to celebrate early I ordered a couple of new birdfeeders online. Happy birthday to me! Now onto this month's block which features a couple of feathered friends. I have cardinals visit my birdfeeders year round so it seemed fitting to include them on the Woodland Holiday BOM. The cardinals visit my feeders usually in pairs and I enjoy watching them thru my kitchen windows. 

Woodland Cardinals is a fun design to applique, the PDF pattern is available on the website. Remember the PDF pattern is free for the month that it is out. As soon as a monthly pattern is available, the older patterns will be available at a cost of $2.50 each. The skunk pattern from last month is no longer available for free. So go on over the the website and download your pattern. This month we will only be working on the cardinal design. So if you bought the quilt kit, we will only be using the cream primo plaid and the fat quarters. Let's get started...

From the cream primo plaid, cut a 10 1/2" x 10 1/2" square for the cardinal block.

Trace all of the design shapes onto the paper side of your fusible web.

Roughly cut out the shapes and pair with the fabrics that you have chosen for the design. Following the manufacturers directions, iron onto the back/wrong side of your fabric.

Then cut all of the shapes out. I like to use my Olfa applique scissors for this. 

Following the placement design page from the pattern, peel the paper off the back of the applique shapes and layer them in place of the cream background square. Iron in place following the manufacturer's directions.

I am using a white thread to machine stitch the raw edges of the snow. I'm using brown thread to stitch around everything else.

When we first started this quilt back in January, I mentioned that you keep track of what stitch you are using to stitch around the raw edges. I keep referring back to this picture which shows what buttonhole stitch I am using along with the stitch width and length. It's so easy just to snap a picture with you phone so that you have it for reference.

Using a #12 black pearl cotton thread, I embroider the cardinals eyes using French knots.

~ Woodland Cardinals ~

I hope that you enjoy making this month's block! Don't forget to feed the birds and take some time to watch them. I enjoy listening to them sing in the mornings as I sip on my coffee. 

I hope that you join me in this years BOM. It's an adorable quilt when it is done. Remember it's a mystery. You will get a new block each month and in December 2021 we will assemble the quilt together. The finished size of the quilt is 65" x 80". Each month the pattern is a free PDF instant download after that it will be available for $2.50 on my website and also in my Etsy shop. I have a limited number of Woodland Holiday fabric kits in my Etsy and on the website. It's not too late to order one!

 There's also a Facebook Group, please join and post your progress! It's also fun to see everyone else progress too! I post links and sneak peeks throughout the month so you are to be sure not to miss anything. I hope that you have a wonderful relaxing weekend and find some time to quilt.

Happy quilting,

Cindy and Belvedere