The Quilts of Christmas Past

I can't believe I haven't blogged in almost three weeks. Well, I guess I can, really.  This has been a crazy-busy December!  I have barely been in my sewing room at all. Since I don't have anything new to share I thought I'd show some of the Christmas quilts I made in the past.  

This one is probably my favorite.  I made it in 2007 from blocks I received in a quilt guild row-robin.  Each person in the group made a row using the Christmas fabric I had provided.  When I got it back I didn't love it.  Naturally, there was only one thing to do - take it apart and put it back together in a different layout.  It took a lot of imagination to come up with this plan, and I had to add the piano key border make it more balanced.  It's about 47" by 57".  I call it "Christmas Hodge-Podge" and it's the perfect snuggle quilt!

In 2004 some friends and I exchanged 5" squares of Christmas fabrics and I used mine to make this 33" by 34" Tumblers quilt.  (There I go again - adding appliquéd holly and stars in the border to make it my own!) 

I love how it looks draped over the chair next to the chair with my snuggle quilt!

I started this one at a retreat in 2001.  I had to spruce up the negative space with some appliquéd and embroidered poinsettias. You know I can't just make a pattern the way someone else says I should!  This quilt is about 44" square.....

..... and makes a great table topper!

When my son was setting up his own home in 2002 I made a tree skirt using a pattern from American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine for him.  

I also made him this little snowman wall-hanging from a McCalls Quilting Magazine pattern.  It was one of the few times I worked with homespuns, and I really like how it turned out. 

The third thing I made for him is this 28"  by 43" wall-hanging called "Cranberry Township" from Quiltmaker Magazine.  Like all the quilts above it's hand-quilted! 

About the time he was turning 5 years old our grandson, Gavin, asked me to make a quilt for his stuffed kitty.  He specifically asked for candy cane fabric.  Lo and behold I had some in my stash!  This little quilt is only 14" square .....

..... and just the right size!

In 2008 when our grandson, Aidan, needed a Christmas stocking, I found the perfect pattern in the 2002 issue of Quilt It For Christmas. I used some lame' fabrics in Christmas colors along with a few cotton prints and appliquéd his name and some gold stars to make it extra special.

I really hope you've enjoyed this Christmas Show and Tell.  I sure had fun putting it together!

And Speaking of Homespuns.....

If you have been following my blog for very long at all, you know I am really into modern patterns, art quilts, bright fabrics, and making things a little interesting and sort of "different."  So is it a surprise that I am not a big fan of homespuns? 

When my friend, Faye, told me she needed some homespun scraps I quickly offered her all that I had in my stash, packed them up and mailed them to her!

You should go over to her blog, Mimi's Passions and check out the cute calendar she is working on!


I guess I should explain why I had homespuns in my stash at all.  In 2002 I made a Christmas wall-hanging for my son and his family.

The pattern was in a McCall's Quilting magazine.  It turned out really cute and very Christmassy!

For some reason after that I was inspired to make an appliqued fall table runner, also using homespuns.

It turned out well, but I never used it, and it stayed in a drawer for years until I finally gave it away.  


Thus ends the history of my experience with homespuns.  I felt guilty having them in my stash and never using them.  All these years I thought I would use them in a charity quilt or something.  I can't tell you how glad I am that Faye has taken them off my hands!