As August has soared by and September is quickly approaching, we prepare for several upcoming events.  Some of us are preparing to start school. Some of us are getting our children ready with new supplies and clothing. Teachers and staff are assembling classrooms, equipping buildings, and other school-related places are getting their final checks.  If you haven’t already started school, it’s just around the corner I’m sure.

Before we know it, the weather will get cooler, and autumn will arrive.  That time of year for picking apples or even pumpkins (or at least in our part of the world).  That is usually a time when crafters prepare for bizarre, holiday trade shows, or whatever you may know them as.  Again, those are just around the corner.

And before you know it, the Christmas season is upon us just like that! Where did the time go?  Yesterday it seems that Christmas was just around the corner and like that, it is here.  Since these seasons will be upon us sooner than we anticipate, I would like to share some great autumn quilt patterns and some thoughts with you about each one that I chose.

Maple Leaf Basket

As a family, we would rake leaves and of course, we kids would jump in that big pile that we worked so hard to make.  I can hear our giggles now and see my dad throw extra leaves on us to help bury us further in that pile.  Rake again in a pile. Jump in and scatter leaves. Giggle. Repeat.

Awesome Autumn

As a child, my mom would take my sister and me to craft shows.  This pattern reminds me of those shows that were at the local orchards near us.  I can smell those fresh donuts and taste that warm   apple cider now.

Witches’ Night Out!

Halloween was my mom’s favorite holiday.  She loved decorating outside: we had ghosts, headstones, a coffin, and bats that you would see as you approached our house.  She would dress up as a witch every year with her greasy hair wig, a fake pointy nose, and however she would fix her makeup that year and stand next to her cauldron full of Halloween candy.  The older kids always looked forward to coming to our house.  (Please keep in mind that the decorations and costume were all homemade; this was way before Hobby Lobby and JoAnn’s are what we know it to be today.)

For those of us that are ahead of the game, super organized, or whatever you may call yourself (or get called), here are some Christmas gift ideas that I would make for my friends, family, and the special people or co-workers in my life.

Wine Totes

We have those on our lists that enjoy a drink during this season.  Festive material may be used for this personal gift.  To make it more personal for that special someone, pick a fabric print that is a reflection of them: cats, dogs, favorite sports team, tractors, or characters from their favorite movie or show.  Red or white wine is a splendid choice, but sparkling grape juice will also fit in this gift tote.

Ornaments

These are ornaments that I would make for my nieces and nephews.  If I had grandchildren or godchildren, I would include them in this list.  You can even make these into a personalized gift tag that was made with extra love.

And the Stockings Were Hung

These are a great size for stuffing their favorite treats in something that is not a gift bag or box.  Favorite treats may include things like a gift card (which we offer), scratch-off tickets, candies, and sweets, and those who don’t enjoy receiving cash as a gift.

Come and check out our website: Quilterswarehouse.com.  See what inspires you or provokes a memory from your past, which was just around the corner.

The 3 Christmas Stockings Pattern by Bonnie Sullivan of All Through The Night gives you a choice of snowmen, holly, or branches with ornaments.  Better yet, make all three.  Optional hanging “fringe” adds a little pizzazz.

Winter Star Stocking Pattern features a beautiful pieced star with lots of color options as the focal point.  The rest of the stocking is also pieced so this is a great pattern for scraps.  The top section is just a bit larger than the rest of the stocking so you can get that really stuffed look!

The Stockings Were Hung pattern (another by Bonnie Sullivan) has a pieced body, and applique on the cuff.  A little hand embroidery is also part of the pattern.  These old fashioned looking stockings are a bit long – lots of room for goodies.

Snowman Stocking is hanging out at night with his cardinal friend.  This adorable stocking is also available as a kit, with the pattern and all the fabric you’ll need to complete the project.

Make these Stocking Ornaments to hang on the tree, or sew up the window and hang them there. Cute either way!

Like her other patterns, they are AMAZING! Beautiful building scenes dressed in snow and holiday spirits, the designs come to life with all the detail she includes.  The above quilt is all four patterns combined, or you can make each one separate, or two pairs, or ???

The Sleigh Barn features a sleigh, with a comfy quilt for warmth, on the first floor.  The presents are all loaded in a giant sack on the second floor.  A pair of penguins stroll across the bottom of the quilt.

The occupants of the first floor of the Reindeer Shack are checking out the apples (yum!). Three hens on the second floor are chattering away, and the shovel is ready for the falling snow.

The Holiday Ladies Trees & Greens building features a couple of cardinals admiring a beautiful wreath decorating the second floor window, while down below several trees wait for their embellishments, and several poinsettias are blooming for the season. Oh, and look at the bunnies checking it all out!

The Milk & Cookies are ready for Santa.  All the decorations are up, the snow is falling, the cake is ready ….. time for celebrating!

Simple piecing and fusible applique make these patterns suitable for quilters from beginners to advanced.  These will be treasured holiday decorations for years to come.  If you can bring yourself to part with one after you’ve made it, any one of them would make a wonderful gift, too.

Warm woolen mittens and adorable stockings work well as ornaments, as present decorations, or as mini-gift holders.   The Christmas Woolens Complete Kit includes wool felt, embroidery floss and gold string, plus patterns and instrucions.  Easy to make, fun to use, even more fun to give.

Santa and Rudolph will make a great addition to your entryway, welcoming holiday visitors.  The Santa Complete Kit includes EVERYTHING . . . fabric (for the top, back, and binding), batting, buttons, bell, and complete instructions.  All you supply is the thread and the “work”.  Finished wallhanging is 13″ x 15″.

Celebrate The Season is a sampler style quilt that measures 54.5″ x 46.5″.  Piecing, applique, and paper piecing are all part of the process.  The kit includes all the patterns and all the fabric for the quilt top and for the binding.  It’s wintry enough that you can leave it up all season, not just for Christmas.

Skating Party is another Christmas-y quilt that is suitable for the entire winter season.  Starting with a panel from the “Snow Day” fabric line in a blue/sage green/cream color scheme, it will go together quickly.  Simple blocks set on point finish the look.   The kit includes pattern and all the fabric needed for the top and binding.

Browse the rest of the Christmas Quilt Kits.  The kits themselves make great gifts, especially for new quilters.  Or enjoy the construction yourself, and you can gift the finished project . . . if you can part with it!

Santa is doing lots of Christmas chores in the panel fabric.  Each image has its own border - either a diagonal stripe or holly leaves with red dots - making it easy to create projects quickly.  You will need to do less piecing and yet will still achieve an interesting look.

Other fabrics in the collection include tone on tone mini dots in red and in green . . . .

. . . . more tone on tone fabrics, this time in black and a lighter green with festive scrolls . . . .

. . . an Ivory background with snowflakes of different sizes . . . . a diagonal stripe in red, green, black, white and ivory . .

. . . . and “Tossed Santas” – he and reindeer and presents are scattered across a scrolly Ivory background.

Now, this fabric is so fun and cheery that you are sure to have something in mind for it, but if you are drawing a blank, or just can’t decide how to use it, there’s a kit available: the Rooftop Santa Quilt Kit.  Using the panel fabric, some green, some red, plus the striped fabric, this lap quilt finishes at 51″ x 64″ and it’s sure to quickly become a family favorite.

Make your coffee break special with the Remember Beverage Pad.   Number eleven in a series of twelve, these make great gifts.

Christmas in Connecticut is a beautiful Christmas sampler.  As with most sampler type quilts, individual blocks will make great mini-quilts.  Hang the entire quilt in the living room, then scatter mini-quilts around the house.  The poinsettia block would look good as a table runner and so would the candle block.

It’s okay to let these bees in the house!  What’s the Buzz will eat up your yellow and green scraps.  Contrast stitching shows the path of the bees as they travel from hive to flower.

Hearts Around The Table topper is appropriate year-round . . . . love is always in style, right?   A simple pattern, you can make a few and play with fabric combinations.  It’d would make a great hostess gift, or for Christmas.

Ava On The Go is a very roomy tote.  Pleats in the bag add space and details.  The scallops at the top are paper pieced.  The inside has large pockets.  Great for a day trip or an overnight at Grandma’s.

Be sure to subscribe to our QuiltersWarehouse e-mail newsletter and you’ll know all about new patterns as they come in!  Don’t miss a thing!

O’ Christmas Tree is a applique pattern with a simple tree silhouette.  Ornaments, garland, and a star tree topper make it festive.  Measuring 23″ x 31″, this wall hanging will fit most anywhere.

Easy fusible web and fusible bias tape create this Christmas Tree stained glass pattern.

Gather ‘Round The Tree finishes at 60″ x 60″.  It’s simple enough to piece – just squares, square-in-squares, and half square triangles – that you’ll have time to embellish the tree with ornaments and add some colorful gifts under the tree.

Oh Christmas Tree reminds me of the short, squat Scotch Pine.   Grab your greens and reds and you’ll be finished in no time at all.

Light Up Your Christmas is just loaded with lights and ornaments and decorations…. so festive!  Fusible web helps create this fully decorated Christmas tree.

Flannel chinelle makes this Holiday Christmas Tree really stand out in a 3D way.  Let your imagination take you where it will as you embellish with beads, buttons, anything!

It’s early, we know, but remember how Christmas creeps up on you every year?   Beat the rush this time and start some Christmas projects now.

Happy sewing!

]]> https://www.quiltersshowcase.com/oh-christmas-tree-quilt-patterns/feed/ 0 https://www.quiltersshowcase.com/six-halves-books-and-fabric-bundles-a-great-match/ https://www.quiltersshowcase.com/six-halves-books-and-fabric-bundles-a-great-match/#comments Sun, 09 Sep 2012 02:29:20 +0000 http://www.quiltersshowcase.com/?p=3346 Susan Knapp and Mary Jane Mattingly of The Quilt Branch have written a series of books titled “Six Halves Make A Whole”.  Each book has several projects each of which can be made with six half yard cuts of fabric.   Fabric Bundles are bundles of fabric from a fabric collection - you can choose 1/4 yard cuts, whole yard cuts, or half yard cuts – perfect for pairing with “Six Halves” books!

Six Halves Make A Whole Christmas has patterns for Christmas Stockings, a tree skirt, pillow shams, and lap quilts.  The Holiday Medley fabric bundle would pair with this book nicely.

The first book, simply Six Halves Make A Whole.  Try the Farmland fabric bundle with this book.  The Farmland Bundle has 7 fabrics.  Make your quilt with 6 of them and use the 7th for the binding. Or, for your resident sports fan, use the Sports Xtreme Patch fabric bundle.

Six Halves Make A Whole Lot More has patterns for five quilts and a set of placemats.   Pair this book with the Petite Odile fabric bundle.  The 7 fabrics of Petite Odile feature greys and muted reds reminiscient of 19th century France.  Enough fabric for your quilt and for your binding.  Or use that extra piece as part of your backing.

Two more books in the series are Six Halves Make A Whole Sampler

and Six Halves Make A Whole Starburst.

What fabric bundle would you use for these two books?

To get yourself off to a quick start try these quick finish projects.  Three for the price of one!  Simply….Ho! Ho! Ho! includes instructions for a table topper, a table runner, and a gift bag. 

If you like us on Facebook, or follow us on Pinterest, you may have noticed these Vintage Ornaments show up on our pages. They are all pre-printed and pre-colored.  All you do is embroider and embellish.  Great take along projects and great gifts, too.

 Is your tree skirt in need of replacement?   We have several Christmas tree skirt patterns with all different looks, from traditional to modern.  This Winterberry Star has a bit of an art deco look to it.  It’s a beautiful piece that can also be made as a wall hanging.  Why not make both?  After all, if you are starting now, you have time!

Do you have any new family members that need a Christmas stocking? Or maybe the stockings you have are getting a little threadbare.  The Stockings Were Hung pattern shows some whimsy along with the Folk Art look.  Personalize these your favorite way.

 The advantage to starting this early is that you have plenty of time for a larger project.   Christmas Windows finishes at 51″ x 63″ and will certainly set the holiday mood hanging on your living room wall.  Twelve applique wreaths that are as different as snowflakes will  hold any viewers interest; a beautiful piece of art for you to admire as you sip your eggnog and catch your breath after a long day of holiday activities. 

That’s enough window shopping for now.  End the procrastination before it starts and get sewing!

Before you take down and store all your Christmas decorations, have a look around.  Is there anything missing?  Is there anything that really has seen better days and perhaps should be replaced or updated?  Don’t wait until next year when you pull out the decorations again to take note of what you need.  By then you’ll be pressed for time and have to make something in a rush, or rush out and buy something.   Take a few minutes now.   You don’t have to purchase fabric yet, just buy the patterns and then throughout the year, when you are in the mood, or have a lull, you can look for fabric and get started.  Even if you wait until fall, at least you’ll know what needs to be done without relying on your memory. (I don’t know about you, but my memory gets worse every year!) Get ready now and make next Christmas less stressful.

How are the stockings?  Are they getting worn?  Are there new family members that need one.  Have there been any announcements of impending births?  (screeee!!!!)  The new baby will definitely need a new stocking.  Choose a stocking pattern now and write a note right on the pattern to remind you who needs it. 

Do you have an empty spot on a wall that’s just begging for a cute wall hanging?   We have well over a hundred Christmas Wall Hangings; you’re sure to find something that will add to your decor.

Now would be the perfect time to start a Christmas Block of the Month quilt.  Come December of next year, you’ll be glad you did!

Don’t forget tree skirts, ornaments, dolls, table toppers…. better yet, check out our entire Christmas pattern section.  Browse, plan, and enjoy the good feeling of being prepared!