Seriously..I think it needs stitches.: I Needed a Fabric Gingerbread House

The National Days keep coming, and while I wasn't really in the mood to sew, I knew that my scrap quilt NEEDED a gingerbread house to represent National Gingerbread House Day! Which is today! 🏠 So this is what I came up with. It was kind of challenging trying to make it within an 8" square and still have it look ornate, while trying to keep the pieces at least 1 1/2" sq. There are a couple that are 1" strips but I tried to keep it to a minimum because I just find it easier to piece with pieces that are 1 1/2" or bigger. Straight seams and easy piecing are my jam. 💓

I wish I could say that this little scrap house was a breeze. But it's quite a few pieces to stitch. Especially if your sew-jo is struggling, like mine is at the moment. ha! My hub's been out of town for a couple of days at his dad's, and there's just been a lot going on. But I managed to MAKE myself sit down and stitch up this little fabric house. Not my best work.. my seam allowances got a bit wander-y in a couple of places, but I did it! My quilt will have a little scrappy gingerbread house! 🙌

Here's how I did it (be sure to use a SCANT 1/4" seam):

Fabric A (background):

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

(8) 1 1/2" sq. (*)

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

Fabric B (house):

(2) 1 x 4 1/2"

(4) 1 1/2" sq. (*)

(2) 1 1/2 x 2" (#)

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

(1) 1 1/2 x 3 1/2" (***)

(1) 1 1/2 x 4"

(2) 2 x 2 1/2"

Fabric C (red solid):

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

(4) 1 1/2" sq. (*)

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

(1) 1 1/2 x 3 1/2" (***)

(1) 2 x 3 1/2"

Fabric D (red stripes):

(5) 1 1/2" sq. (*)

Fabric E (green):

(3) 1 1/2" sq. (*)

(2) 1 1/2 x 2" (#)

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

(1) 2 x 2 1/2"

Right Upper Clip & Flip

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

~Using the above method, a 1 1/2" sq. of Fabric A, and a 1 1/2 x 2" rect. of Fabric C-short edge at the top, make one right upper corner clip & flip unit. Repeat for total of two of these units.

~Repeat using a 1 1/2" sq. of Fabric A and a 1 1/2 x 2" rect. of Fabric E.

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Left Upper Clip & Flip

1. Place square at upper end or left upper corner of rectangle or larger square, right sides together.

2. Stitch from right upper to left lower corner.

3. Clip, flip & press.

~Using the above method, a 1 1/2" sq. of Fabric A, and a 1 1/2 x 2" rect. of Fabric C-short edge at the top, make one left upper corner clip & flip unit. Repeat for total of two of these units.

~Repeat using a 1 1/2" sq. of Fabric A and a 1 1/2 x 2" rect. of Fabric E.

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Double Upper Corners

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

~Using above method, (2) 1 1/2" sq. of Fabric D, and a 1 1/2 x 2 1/2" rect. of Fabric E-long edge at the top, make one double upper corner clip & flip unit.

~Repeat using (2) 1 1/2" sq. of Fabric B and 2 x 2 1/2" rect. of Fabric E-long edge at the top.

~Repeat using (2) 1 1/2" sq. of Fabric B and 1 1/2 x 3 1/2" rect. of Fabric C-long edge at the top.

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Assemble block as shown below and you will have an 8 1/2" (8" finished) gingerbread house block.

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I used mismatched scraps for the background and a different green for the bush under the window and managed to make it with only scraps that were on my cutting table. Like I said earlier, I'm not super in love with my stitching on this, but like my friend Beth says, perfection is overrated. ha! Finished is better than perfect sometimes, and this is the case for me today! I'm just excited that in the midst of all that is going on, with holiday planning and other busy things, I got a little gingerbread house scrap block done for my quilt!

(that little wooden rolling pin is from my childhood!)

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I'm ten blocks into this project now and so many more to go for a king size scrap quilt! But it's been fun so far, and challenging, which I like! If you'd like to see the other blocks so far, or stitch any of them up, you can find the links to their blog posts, and tutorials *HERE*. I'll be back soon, I'm sure with another National Day scrap block.

Thanks for popping in! Hope your week is going well and that you have a great weekend! Tomorrow is Friday! Yay!

Happy Stitching!

xoxo