Christmas In July

Five months from today is The Big Day and many quilters are starting their holiday projects now.  If you are one of those organized souls, here are a selection of designs which may inspire you. Above, is The Beauty Of Christmas which can be used on the wall, the table, or under the tree.  You can find that pattern here.

Placemats are a popular gift;  the free instructions for making these are here on my blog.

 Woodland Tree Skirt makes a pretty addition to your Christmas decor.

The pattern may be downloaded by following this link.

A Christmas quilt is so pretty and this one is great to use up leftover bits and bobs of fabrics. It is aptly named "Gift Scrapped". 

The pattern includes directions for a runner...

and placemats. You can download the pattern for "Gift Scrapped" here.

  This Simply Santa© Tablerunner is the epitome of quick and  easy.

 You can download the pattern here:

 Don't forget the matching Santa Sacks to hold your special gifts.

 Santa Baby ornaments were a huge hit last year!  Find the free directions on my blog here.

Of course you need special boxes to wrap everything in as well.  The free instructions are here.

More gift bags:

These are reusable and last for many years. The patterns are on my website in a printed version or available as a download.

Hopefully this will give you lots of motivation to get started.  Only 5 months to go!

The Big Reveal

Did you guess it?  It's  Yuletide Jewel, (Pattern 109) one of my very favourite designs.  Yesterday I showed you the quilting threads I chose.  For the continuous curves around the spikes, I used a matching Sulky rayon.

The centre cross-hatching uses gold metallic thread;  micro-stippling in every other grid section gives great texture.  Circles were quilted in the wide blue band, and then 3 sprays added to each.

These photos were shot in early morning, natural light and the colours are pretty funky (but I confess, I like the effect!). If you are local and would like to see this in person, drop down to Mrs. Pugsley's Emporium. Who says Christmas can't be purple? :)

Purple Asian Peony

Last week I showed you some gorgeous Hoffman "Asian Peony"  fabric I picked up at Mrs. Pugsley's Emporium.

 Sewing my favourite New York Beauty blocks has been so much fun.

 Do you recognise the pattern I am making?

 It only has four blocks so I am almost finished.

The dots of colour on the selvedge help with thread selection for the quilting.  The fabric sparkles so I also chose threads which do.  I am off to quilt;  hopefully tomorrow I can show you the finished project!

Gift Scrapped - The Printed Version

Last year I designed this fun Christmas quilt and offered it via download through Craftsy.  I've since heard from many who would prefer a printed version.  So, here once again is Gift Scrapped, this time in a more traditional format.  You can read my original post on the quilt here. 

The pattern, which includes directions for a lap quilt, table runner and placemats, is available for purchase through my website, or locally at Mrs. Pugsley's Emporium.  And if you are more of a digital devoteé, it's still available on Craftsy as well!

Woodland Tree Skirt

The new pattern for Woodland Tree Skirt is finished and the instructions are ready and waiting to go out to you.  It is super quick and simple, with large pattern pieces and all straight seams.

It began with the notion that I wanted to sew something new for Christmas, something fuss free.  I sketched it out first in blue and silver;  an angled edge on each tree creates a dynamic secondary design where the seams connect.  I love how the silver points look like frost.

When it came time to sew however, I found myself gravitating towards more earthy, traditional tones of green and gold.

You can use it for a table topper as shown in the blue sketch, or easily leave out the top tip of the tree for a centre opening on a tree skirt.

It finishes to 40" across, but is easily made larger by adding an outside border.  Three little snaps hold the skirt closed.  The pattern is being offered for sale in two formats:  a regular printed pattern for $12.95, or as an instant pdf download through Craftsy for $9.00.  If you purchase through Craftsy, that price includes all taxes and delivery is immediate to your computer so you can start stitching right away.  If you have never used Craftsy before, there is no cost to join and it's a very simple process.  Locally the pattern is available at Mrs. Pugsley's Emporium, or directly from my website.

This has put me in the mood for more Christmas projects;  I never tire of sewing Christmas!  

Do You Sew Christmas in July?

I don't, but based on the number of "hits" this pattern has received over the past week I'd say a lot of folks do.  This is Gift Scrapped For Christmas, a pattern I developed to use up my collection of little bits and pieces of Christmas prints.  It's a great scrap-buster, and there's no cutting of small squares (just strips) and no matching of seams. Assembly goes very quickly.

There are several sizes of projects included in the pattern, you can make it as big or small as you like just by adding more squares.  Directions are given for placemats...

 ...and table runners.

You could even make a mug mat.

The pattern is available for $7.00 as an instant download through Craftsy.  You can find a full description http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/home-decor/gift-scrapped-for-christmas/38933

The Journey Of The Magi Has Begun...

...in rich, colourful silks.

I just hope they get to where they are supposed to be by January 6...  :)

Terry's Gift Scrapped

Terry Albers of Hedgehog Quilts sent along this picture of a table runner made using my Gift Scrapped pattern.  Terry writes: "I made all my "gifts" in white and my ribbons in colors. I am putting a little yo-yo on each with a small crystal button in the center, making it look like a little bow.  It was fun to make."

Terry's yo-yo idea is so clever - I love it!  The pattern for Gift Scrapped is available here;  it includes instructions for a placemat, runner, and lap quilt.  Thanks Terry for sharing the picture!

Gift _ _rapped

Drum roll...The Christmas quilt is sewn, tested, and photographed.  It's ready to roll.  I am dying to tell you the name as it makes me chuckle whenever I think of it.  As mentioned in a previous post, this project is designed for scraps.  I've also mentioned on previous posts how heavily into puns and word play we are in this household.  I was casting about for a good name (thinking along the lines of a play on presents/presence...) and casually asked my son Patrick if he had suggestions.  I told him the design used scraps pieced to look like wrapped presents.  He shot back with, "oh...you mean it's Gift Scrapped!"  I love it!!

Here's Gift Scrapped...about the easiest, quickest quilt you can imagine.  It's all straight sewing, rotary cut, no templates, and no seam matching.  You can twist and turn the gifts different ways to add a bit of variety in the layout.  The pattern includes directions for a lap quilt, table runner, and placemat.  I pieced the blocks for the lap quilt easily one afternoon.

Here's the table runner:

...and the placemat.  (By the way, those gorgeous bee-embossed goblets from France were a gift from the very talented - and sweet! - Monika Kinner-Whalen of My Sweet Prairie. Awesome, Monika!)

The testers who proofed the pattern were equally enthusiastic about the ease of the project.  Here's a placemat made by tester Darlene Gerber of I Quilt Scarlet & Grey.  Darlene previously tested my Roundabout Again pattern;  she does great work.

Grace Blanchard from Wisconsin was no time making her placemat. She is one fast quilter!  I love the black candy cane fabric she chose for the sashing;  it really sets the blocks off nicely.

Debbie Grifka of Esch House Quilts in Michigan turned her blocks into a runner. I like the white ribbon she chose for her gifts.

Tester Sandra Hulsey pointed out that this is a perfect pattern to use Fat Quarters and Fat Eights rather than scraps.  Wouldn't this be pretty done in a coordinated collection? 

My friend Cheryl suggested the Craftsy site as a great way to make this pattern available. Hers are very hot sellers there. I have used Craftsy in the past, when my fingers were more cooperative, to download some of Cheryl's sock patterns.  The site is very easy to use, and free to join.  You choose a user name and password and use your credit card to download the patterns directly to your computer.  The digital patterns are less expensive than printed versions, and you receive them immediately.  The pattern for Gift Scrapped is $7.00, and you can find it at this link.
My sincerest thanks to the testers who undertook a challenge this close to Christmas, to Beth Munroe who obligingly moved the furniture  - including a lit Christmas tree! - around Mrs. Pugsley's Emporium for the photo, and to Cheryl for her always good advice.  It's a fun pattern and pure joy to sew, and - as Beth says - it's happy and bright and all things Christmas should be. I'm also happy my son came up with this name!

Ribbon Candy

The new Christmas design is zipping along like gangbusters. (What *is* a gangbuster?)  I took the pieced top down to dayle's and tried it out on a bunch of different reds.  Even though it's a bit fussier to work with a stripe in the border, this print from Benartex's Festive Holiday collection was perfect.  I trimmed each strip so the gold will run up the centre of the outer border (that's what I meant by fussy...)

 Then it was time to layer and baste the quilt.  It is by far not my favourite thing, especially with two kitty helpers.  They went outside for a run and the task was quickly completed.  The next step was to decide what to quilt.  There is sashing between each of the "presents" and I wanted it quilted down so the boxes would pop up.  I also wanted something appropriate to the quilt, and "ribbon candy" seemed perfect. I had never quilted this shape before, but certainly am familiar with the treat from my childhood Christmases.  Robertson's Candy, made in Truro, N.S., is a Maritime staple for Christmas treats:  barley candy, humbugs, chicken bones, satin mix and ribbon candy.  You can see that the shape of the ribbon is perfect for a long, narrow sashing. 

I didn't do too badly, although a phone call broke my rhythm and for a bit my candy was more figure 8's than ribbon. (I probably wouldn't last a day at Robertson's...) 

It certainly had the desired effect as the presents are popped up like pillows.  I will add some detail to the red ribbon next and then on the border.  Almost there!

Two testers have already reported in with positive results, so once I hear back from the others the pattern will be available for purchase.  

Misandry In Quilting?

I took a break from serious quilting to get some gifts sewn.  All I found when I opened my bulging box of Christmas fabric was scraps.  Hmm...  I put the box away, not having enough of any single fabric to make my intended project work.  When I got up in the morning, I couldn't get to the sewing room fast enough to sew the block I saw in my head.  I am having a great time, sewing this oh sew simple block.   I had only intended to make placemats and runners, but yesterday afternoon I pieced enough blocks for a lap quilt. They're a bit addictive and such a terrific use of my leftovers.

I spread the blocks on the floor to check the layout and for the first time ever, Maddie expressed an interest in quilting.  He may look aloof and sophisticated wearing that black tuxedo and white shirt, but trust me...he can rumble!

Not having enough for sashing, I made a quick trip to dayle's where I got a lovely soft green print with small stars .  Imagine my surprise to read this on the selvedge: 

Really - too many men?!  I Googled the collection and see that Ms. Paton is, of course, referring to snowmen!  I am amused to think where this selvedge strip will end up in a future project.