Quilted Christmas 8-inch Square Patchwork Block Ornament With Photo

Comfortably make in one hour an 8-inch square quilted Christmas patchwork block ornament with a photo in the center. Let your creativity shine this Christmas with this one-of-a-kind quilted Christmas photo project. You’ll find that it can readily become the newest cherished family tradition. You’ll marvel at how easy, quick and pretty it is. Ask me how I know this.

The inspiration for this blog is fond memories of Christmas past – the pre-Christmas family gathering around the tree to decorate it while we consumed large quantities of Nana’s bundt cake, aunty’s cookies, Papa’s eggnog, and Mom’s hot chocolate. All of this is accompanied by a ‘playlist’ of favorite Christmas songs in the background. I was also inspired by fond family memories associated with Christmas ornaments inherited from my elders. Even now, I can clearly remember hugging my grandbaby as we watched Great-Grandma’s tree topper safely take its place of honor on the Christmas tree.

Use your quilting talents this Christmas to start a new family tradition by creating a unique quilt block ornament that includes a signed photo of your family members. Think of this Christmas ornament project as your introduction to making an ‘art quilt’ -- without the complicated thread painting, mixed media paints and layered fabric strips techniques. An art quilt is a mix of something old and something new. In this art quilt project, the traditional quilt block is the something old and the technology needed to print a signed photo on fabric is the something new.

Tip: You can easily personalize this project by having a family member or friend autograph their photo before you print it. A baby’s photo can be signed with their handprint for footprint.

Are you ready to create this quick and easy quilt ornament? Let’s get started!

You will need only three different coordinating Christmas fabrics plus one 4.5-inch square block of white fabric. For this project, I chose red and green fabric for the quilt block top and a candy cane themed fabric for the quilt block backing. An 8-inch square piece of batting completes the basic materials. See the ‘Supplies and Tools’ and ‘Fabrics’ lists for additional details of what you will need for this project.

Please note: You will be printing a photo on fabric and therefore specialized material is recommended. I suggest investing in the purchase of printable fabric. See the “Supplies and Tools” list for details.

Green, Red, Candy Striped Fabric and one 4.5-inch square of white fabric

I’m a fan of prep work. I have never regretted the work I do preparing for a project. Once I start my project I don’t want interruptions!

• White Thread for piecing
• Coordinating Thread for quilting
• Fabric Glue Spray
• Cotton Poplin Inkjet Printable Fabric (I suggest “Threads” Inkjet Printable Fabrics)
• Double sided basting tape
• Your favorite ¼ inch presser foot
• Long Quilting Pins
• Heat Erasable Marking Pens
• Rotary Cutter
• Cutting Mat
• Sewing Snips
• 6 x 24 Inch Quilting Ruler
• Measuring Gauge
• Sewing Stiletto
• Thread Stand
• Wool Pressing Mat (and protective ironing mat)
• Steam Iron
• Fabric Starch
• Quilting Gloves
• Wooden Tailor’s Clapper
• 2.5-inch square quilter’s ruler (must have a diagonal line)
• 8” length of ribbon or rickrack (for the ornament hanging loop)
• One 8-inch square of batting
• Rotating Cutting Mat
• Small scissors
• 4.5-inch Square Block Template
• 2.5-inch Square Block Template

• 1/8 yard of red fabric. This will make one red strip of fabric that is 5.75-inches wide by 14-inches long.
• 1/4 yard of green fabric. This will make two different widths of fabric strips. One green fabric strip that is 2.5-inches wide by 12-inches long and one green fabric strip that is 5.75-inches wide by 14-inches long.
• 1/8 yard of candy striped or holiday themed fabric. This is for the backing fabric which is 8-inches square.
• One 4.5-inch square of white fabric from your fabric scraps. You will use this white fabric to make the center block. Then you will trim your photo printed on fabric to a 4.5-inch square. It will be hand sewn to the 4.5-inch white fabric square. Ok, I know what you are thinking. I snuck in hand applique. My reason is, the photo is the most important part of the ornament and it deserves to be created by the ’hand of the maker’.

Use your favorite way to start a project. Or you might like to review my detailed Getting Ready To Sew or Quilt Checklist. I use it for every project no matter how big or small. It makes the whole process stress-free, easier and more fun.

You will go through the following steps when making the quilt top for this patchwork ornament:

1. Make the strip sets
2. Cut twelve blocks using fabric strips
3. Make 2.5-inch square triangles
4. Print a photo on paper backed fabric
5. Sew the pieced borders

Let’s start by cutting the white center block. Cut one 4.5-inch square block from your white fabric. Label it “4.5-inch square white block”. Place the block nearby on your work area.

You will make a quilt top made of 13 blocks. But with my method you won’t cut and piece 13 individual blocks. With the magic of strip sets you will take full advantage of the easiest way to make multiple individual blocks.

Tip: Use your favorite method to cut fabric strips sets or follow my 4-step method in the “How To Make A Scrappy Mug Rug” blog.

Caption: Close-up of 5.75-inch wide by 14-inch long red fabric strip on a cutting mat

Take your red fabric and cut one fabric strip that is 5.75-inches wide by 14-inches long.

Close-up of 2.5-inch wide by 12-inch long green fabric strip on a cutting mat.

Take your green fabric and cut one 2.5-inch wide by 12-inch long fabric strip.

Close-up of green fabric strip cut 5.75-inches wide by 14-inches long on a cutting mat.

Take the remainder of your green fabric and cut one fabric strip that is 5.75-inches wide by 14-inches long.

Using fabric strips is so efficient and easy – once you know how. I’ll show you how to make six blocks with only three cuts of the fabric. Here’s how:

Close-up of the quilting ruler positioned on stacked red and green fabric strips.

First, align your stacked 5.75-inch by 14-inch long red and green fabric strips on your cutting mat.

Then use your 6 x 24 inch quilting ruler to make one cut at the 5.75-inch measurement. This will make two 5.75-inch square blocks. (Label them “two 5.75-inch squares” and store them on your work area with your 4.5-inch square white fabric block).

Close-up of the 2.5-inch quilt square template positioned on top of a green fabric strip.

Next, fold in half your 2.5-inch wide by 12-inch long green fabric strip. Align the cut edges to your left on the cutting mat. You will cut two layers of green fabric at one time. Use your 2.5-inch quilt square template to make two cuts. This will make four 2.5-inch square blocks. (Label them “four 2.5-inch squares” and store them with the 5.75-inch squares).

Congratulations! You have cut six squares in three steps.

Use your favorite way to make eight 2.5-inch half square triangles. Or try my tried and true method.

Close-up of 5.75-inch square red and green blocks

Grab one 5.75-inch square red fabric block and one 5.75-inch square green fabric block.

Take your 5.75-inch square red fabric block and flip it over so that the wrong side is facing you.

Red 5.75-inch square block with one diagonal line drawn from corner to corner

Take your heat erasable marking pen and draw a diagonal line from corner to corner.

Red 5.75-inch square block with two diagonal lines drawn from corner to corner

Continue marking the red block. Move to the unmarked corner and draw another diagonal line from corner to corner.

Grab the green 5.75-inch square block and place it on your work area with the right side facing you.

With the pen markings facing you, carefully place the red 5.75-inch square block on top of the green 5.75-inch square block. (Check to make sure the blocks are perfectly aligned. Use pins to avoid any shifting of the blocks.)

Use your favorite ¼-inch piecing presser foot to sew an accurate ¼-inch straight stitch. (Use a scrap of fabric to test the accuracy of the ¼-inch seam.)

Now pick a diagonal line mark and sew a ¼-inch to the left of the diagonal line.

5.75-inch square block with a line of sewn stitches on each side of the diagonal line

Turn your work so that you can sew the other side of the diagonal line. Sew a ¼-inch to the left of the diagonal line. When you’re finished you will see the diagonal markings in the middle with sewn stitches ¼-inch on the left and ¼-inch on the right.

Repeat steps 7 and 8 to sew stitches next to the other diagonal line.

Carefully cut apart your block by using the pen marked diagonal line as your cutting line. (Cut one diagonal line at a time.) When you are finished you will have four pairs of blocks.

Tip: A rotating cutting mat makes this step so much easier. Instead of moving your work as you make cuts to the block, just rotate the mat!

5.75-inch square with quilter’s ruler positioned horizontally and vertically

Use your rotating cutting mat and quilter’s ruler to cut the 5.75-inch square down the middle horizontally and vertically.

Eight 2.5-inch half square triangle blocks

Separate the four pairs of blocks. You have just made eight 2.5-inch half square triangle blocks.

Open each block and finger press the seams open to set the seam.

Close-up of wooden tailor’s clapper and 2.5-inch half square triangle block

Use your wool pressing mat, wooden tailor’s clapper and steam iron to carefully press each 2.5-inch half square block without stretching it. The wooden tailor’s clapper helps to make the block super flat. Press it down on the block after each time you use the steam iron. (Please place your wool pressing mat on an ironing mat to avoid moisture damage to your work surface.)

Close-up of a 2.5-inch square ruler with diagonal line positioned on the half square triangle block seam

Get ready to square and trim your 2.5-inch square blocks. Use a 2.5-inch square quilter’s ruler with a diagonal line to trim and square each half square triangle block. The half square triangle is properly centered when the ruler’s diagonal line and the diagonal seam align. (Please be careful not to cut off your triangle points while trimming.)

Thirteen blocks displayed on a work surface

Great Work! You have created all 13 of your quilt top blocks!

This is the low tech way to print photos on cotton fabric for a high tech look. Warning, once you try this method you will love it! And your family will wonder how you did it. Ask me how I know this!

• One sheet of Threads Inkjet printable fabrics (Cotton Poplin 8.5-inches wide by 11-inches deep).
• Access to a color inkjet printer
• One Sheet of printer paper

Select a physical photo that can be easily cropped to 4.5-inches square. Mark the corners of your 4.5-inch square as reference points to help you trim the photo.

Follow the directions of your color inkjet printer manual to determine if your printer paper feeds face down or face up.

Tip: Try this method if you are unsure of whether your printer paper feed orientation is face down or face up.

Use an unused sheet of printer paper to test your printer paper feed orientation. Test the feed orientation by marking the printer paper with an “X”. This is where the image will print. Feed the paper into your printer. Did the photo print on the same side as the X? If not, double check the paper feed orientation and try again. Once you have determined the orientation, note it for future use.

Follow your color inkjet printer manual instructions on how to make a color copy of a photo.

Follow the Threads Inkjet Printable Fabrics directions on how to use a color inkjet printer to print a photo on paper backed fabric. In short, the fabric side must match your printer paper feed orientation.

After the photo has printed, remove it from the printer and let it rest for at least half an hour. This will allow the ink to dry.

Do not remove the paper backing from the photo. Locate the corner marks that you made earlier on the photo and use them to position the 4.5-inch square block template. Use a heat erasable marking pen to mark the trim lines on the photo for a 4.5-inch square.

Use paper scissors to cut the photo along the trim lines.

Fold under all 4 sides of the photo by ¼-inch.

Close-up of the back of the photo showing the white basting tape

Peel off one side of the double-sided basting tape and position it on the back of the photo on the folded edge with the sticky side down. When you are finished you will have basting tape affixed to all four sides of your photo. And facing you will be the other sticky side of the basting tape covered by white paper. (Do not remove this paper until you are ready to affix the photo to the white center square of the quilt top.)

Grab the 13 blocks. There should be one 4.5-inch square white block; four 2.5-inch square green blocks and eight 2.5-inch half square triangle blocks. Designate an area near you as your workspace design area.

The 4.5-inch square white fabric block is the center block of your quilt top. Place it in the center position on the workspace design area near you.

Quilt Top Layout

Keep a printout of the Quilt Top Layout within your line of sight for easy visual reference. This layout will help you orient the half square triangles correctly as you’re piecing them.

Quilt Top Border Piecing Sequence

Follow the pieced quilt top border numerical sequence to create the borders. Twelve blocks will be pieced to create a border around the 4.5-inch square center block.

Pieced top border sewn to the top of the 4.5-inch square center block

Sew block 1 to block 2. Press the seams to the right. Then sew this two-block set to the top of the 4.5-inch square center block. Now place this back on your quilt top design area. The top border is pieced!

Close-up of the triangle point

Tip: Avoid losing the point of your triangle in your seam! Sew with the seams facing you. Sew the seam and then view the right side of the quilt top to make sure the triangle point is visible. If you have lost the point, then carefully rip out the seam and try again.

Pieced bottom border sewn to 4.5-inch square center block

Sew block 3 to block 4. Press the seams to the right.

Sew block 5 to block 4. Press the seams to the left.

Sew block 6 to block 5. Press the seams to the left. Now place this series of blocks on your quilt top layout on the right of the 4.5-inch square center block. (It should nicely align with the top and bottom of the 4.5-inch square center block.) Then sew the four block set to the right border of the 4.5-inch square center block. The right border is pieced!

Tip: Remember to nest your seams to get the best seam alignment. Use your favorite method or for a quick review see Madam Sew blog “How To Make A Quick & Easy Halloween Mini Quilt”

Sew block 9 to block 10. Press the seams to the left.

Sew block 11 to block 10. Press the seams to the right.

Sew block 12 to block 11. Press the seams to the right. Now place this series of four blocks on your quilt top layout on the left of the 4.5-inch square center block. Then sew this four block set to the left border of the center block. The left border is pieced!

Finished Quilt Top

Well done! Your quilt top is pieced!

You are four steps away from finishing your ornament project.

Use your favorite method to make the quilt sandwich, turn the project right side out for a no binding way to finish it, and sew the perimeter of the project. Or see my How To Make A Scrappy Mug Rug Blog for detailed instructions.

Tip: Don’t forget to sew into your perimeter seam the ribbon/rickrack loop for hanging the ornament. It should be centered at the top edge of the ornament. Baste it in position with the raw edge within your perimeter seam allowance.

Use your favorite quilting pattern. I used a large meandering pattern for my project.

• First, grab the fabric photo and audition its positioning on the center block. You want to avoid covering the points of the half square triangles. It is ok to see a bit of the white center block around the perimeter of the fabric photo, this will help to highlight the photo.

Next, peel the white paper off the sticky side of the basting tape. Position the fabric photo on the center block based on your positioning audition.

Then, grab your needle and thread. Hand applique the fabric photo to the center block. Use your favorite method or see the Madam Sew tutorial video A Sewing Essential – Invisible Stitches to achieve perfect invisible stitches.

Please don’t forget the quilt label. The best addition to this project is a quilt label that captures the artist’s name, date the project was made and location. The label bears witness to your story as a quilt artist. A label with a special holiday message would be great too.

Finished Quilted Christmas Patchwork Block Ornament with Photo

Take a big bow, your quilted Christmas patchwork block ornament featuring a photo is completed. You accomplished so much in this ornament project.

• Recycled scrap fabric to make the 4.5-inch square white block
• Efficiently used fabric strip sets to make multiple quilt blocks
• Applied the amazing technique of making eight half square triangle blocks from two squares
• Learned a method to transfer a photo image onto fabric
• Hand appliqued your photo to your ornament

That’s pretty impressive! But this is just the beginning of your Christmas project fun. See:

• Christmas Gifts Round Up, a Madam Sew How-To Blog featuring seven projects
• DIY Christmas Gift Ideas: 10 Free Tutorials Madam Sew How-To Blog

May your quilting always bring you joy!

Ernie Grant
Guest Blogger For Madam Sew

Ernestine “Ernie” Grant is an avid quilter with over 17 years experience and is the owner of the custom baby quilt business www.kalibabyquilts.com. As an African American living in Harlem, NY her view of quilting is shaped by her heritage and the elders who taught her–Quilting is not just thread, fabric and stitches. It is art, it is love, it is community.