For weeks now, I've had an underlying desire to make something Christmassy. Each year when I get out my decorations, my quilted things greet me like old friends. Even the ones that I've looked at for so many years that you'd think I'd be sick of them, warm my heart with the memories of Christmases past, friends, and days spent quilting together. Surprisingly to me, they even bring oohs and ahhs from visitors who are seeing them for the first time.
I raw-edge appliqued the fussy-cut squares and center rectangle, straight-stitching around them about 1/8th of an inch in from the edge. Rather than have to bind the odd shape, I sewed most of the way around the entire thing, inside out, and "birthed the quilt" the way that Eleanor Burns used to do.
So, today, since the weather was warm, and I could enter my closed-off sewing room without fear of frostbite, I started pulling some fabrics, and seeing what I had. Sadly, I sold off my tub full of Christmas fabrics and blocks when I moved, but the truth is that those fabrics were pretty dated, (yet not dated enough to be 'collectible'). This afternoon, I put together a wall banner of sorts, and the funny thing is that it features two fabrics that I won in a dirty santa game at one of our Outlaw quilters' Christmas parties in the past. I had stuck them away and forgotten them.
I finished the edges with some scraps from one of JoAnn's backs, and even threw in a little Robin Pandolph fabric that she must have given me along the way. Scrounging for a backing fabric, I ran across a much overlooked Hoffman fabric that I had a one-yard piece of, and it had a slight gold sheen to it, just as do the featured fabrics on front.
I raw-edge appliqued the fussy-cut squares and center rectangle, straight-stitching around them about 1/8th of an inch in from the edge. Rather than have to bind the odd shape, I sewed most of the way around the entire thing, inside out, and "birthed the quilt" the way that Eleanor Burns used to do. Tomorrow, I think I'll get out my White sewing machine, and zig-zag around each applique, as they are starting to fray quite a bit more than I like. I'll try to get a good photo of the finished banner, then.
I don't think this project has totally satisfied my desire for Christmas piecing, though, but I find that I REALLY need to fabric shop before I try again. Still, this has been a fun way to spend a quiet Monday before Christmas.
How did you spend yours?
i spent mine unfortunately going shopping to get a few last things for my kids and family. i wish i could say i am done but this gift thing is kicking my you know what. i give up....but tomorrow is going to be a home day...a baking and a sewing day.
ReplyDeleteI spent mine grocery shopping and stopping at two thrift shops. Wheee, what fun! My favorite find yesterday was books. I'll post pictures when my pc is compatible to my wishes...or rather, when I learn how to use my son's laptop!
ReplyDeleteWarmest wishes for a Blessed and Cozy Christmas. Your quilting is perfectly lovely!