Seriously..I think it needs stitches.: How to Make an Ugly Christmas Sweater

When I saw that there was actually a National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, the wheels in my brain started spinning to figure out how I could make an 8" ugly Christmas sweater to fit into my National Days scrap quilt! Without stepping on anyone else's pattern because there are some adorable Christmas sweater patterns out there. Some bigger blocks, some paper pieced. But I just wanted a traditionally pieced small block that used up little strips of scraps. So here's what I came up with. It really is only suitable for scraps, and uses quite a few little one inch strips which aren't my favorite to piece with, but it's nice to use them up!

So here's how it goes together.

Fabric A (background):

(1) 1 1/2 x 2 1/2" (**)

(2) 2 x 2 1/2"

(2) 2 x 3 1/2"

(1) 2 x 8 1/2"

(4) 2 1/2" sq.

Fabric B (darker green):

(2) 1 x 4"

(2) 1 1/2 x 4 1/2"

Fabric C (lighter green):

(1) 1 x 2 1/2" (>>)

(2) 1 x 4"

(1) 1 1/2 x 4 1/2"

Fabric D (red stripe):

(2) 1 x 4 1/2" (>>>>)

(1) 1 1/2 x 4"

Fabric E (red dot):

(2) 1 x 4 1/2" (>>>>)

(1) 1 1/2 x 4"

There are only a couple of clip & flips for this block but I first had to sew the "sleeve" strips together as shown below, into two strip sets.

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Left Lower/Right Upper Double

1. Place a square at the left end or lower left corner of a rectangle or larger square, right sides together.
2. Stitch from left upper corner to right lower corner.
3. Clip, flip & press.
4. Place a square at the right end or upper right corner of a rectangle or larger square, right sides together.
5. Stitch from left upper corner to right lower corner.
6. Clip, flip & press.

~For the left sleeve, use your preferred strip set, and long edge at the top, using (2) 2 1/2" sq. of Fabric A and the above method, make one left lower/right upper clip & flip unit. This will be the left sleeve.

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Left Upper/Right Lower Double

1. Place a square at the left end or upper left corner of a rectangle or larger square, right sides together.
2. Stitch from right upper corner to left lower corner.
3. Clip, flip & press.
4. Place a square at the right end or lower right corner of a rectangle or larger square, right sides together.
5. Stitch from right upper corner to left lower corner.
6. Clip, flip & press.

~For the right sleeve, use your preferred strip set, and long edge at the top, using (2) 2 1/2" sq. of Fabric A and the above method, make one left upper/right lower clip & flip unit. This will be the right sleeve.

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Assemble block as shown below. (scant quarter inch seam) You'll have a scrappy, strippy, 8 1/2" (8" finished) ugly Christmas sweater block.

I feel like my sweater would stand out more if I used a lighter background, like in my original drawing. Live and learn! Plus.. scraps. 🤷 I couldn't find enough of a light scrap fabric. I do kind of love it, though! It was fun to stitch up. Even with the small strips.

I'll be back very soon with another very random National Day scrap block! I will link this block over on the National Days page, where I'm keeping all of these blocks/tutorials organized.

Hint for the next one: 💡

See you soon! Thanks for reading! Hope your holiday season is running along smoothly.

xoxo

2 comments...:

Kathy E. said...

Oh, this is adorable! I'm thinking these would make an awesome set of coasters for my house, or gift-giving! If I find an hour or two to sew before Christmas, I'll be making some of these! Thanks for the tutorial, Kelli!

December 20, 2019 at 7:13 AM