This Christmas quilt with ornaments for your home decor spells Fun and Joy all in one piece! Make it in a weekend, hang it up, or snuggle under it as its size makes it a flexible accessory for the Holidays.
[Giveaway now closed.]
“Family Traditions” measures 54″ x 56″ and the blocks finish at 12″. When I designed it I was inspired by memories of decorating the Christmas tree with my young sons, and their joy in carefully handling the exquisite ornaments, many of which we had purchased together.
The quilt features fabrics from the Glad Tidings collection by Maywood Studio. This fabric line, with its traditional Christmas colors and golden lines, as well as its many textures, perfectly portrays the decorations in my home at Christmas. Of course, Family Traditions would look great in any colorway, and the ornaments offer you an opportunity to coordinate the fabrics with your Christmas tree colors.
The plaid narrow borders give it a cabin-cozy flair. I alternated two quilt block designs and the colors of the background and ribbons. The latter are stitched with simple paper piecing, at times attached to the ornament within the block, at times to the ornament through the sashing, to achieve the up and down movement.
If you always wanted to try paper piecing, this is an easy project for you. Here is a quick tutorial to see how the technique works.
These blocks would look fantastic with modern or novelty fabrics, too, as the pieces that make them up are large enough to show off your selections. Ah, but if you have lots of scraps (an unlikely event!), here is a cool way to use them! Make sure to include a variety of textures and print sizes to add interest.
As you can see, I chose simple quilt blocks, those we may have used time and again in our projects. This was done on purpose: we repeat rituals, even if only yearly, and that is how they become traditions. It is what I like to do when I design a quilt, tying together fabric, block, the geometry of blocks, or the organic lines of applique, for instance, to form a cohesive story. Even my quilt samplers or Block of the Month quilts have a unifying thread running through the blocks.
The “Family Traditions” moniker works as a reminder to use shapes, colors, and prints that have meaning to you, or as an opportunity to explore what colorways might become part of the traditions your new family would like to begin.
However, as you saw in my previous post about the Tree of Joy pattern, you may also use this project to try new color combinations in an effort to update your Holiday decorations or as you begin a new phase in your family life.
In the US, holly, berries, poinsettias are clear announcements that the Holiday Season is near as I show in this Christmas quilt with ornaments. What are the symbols that begin to appear as the year ends where you live? Are there colors associated with them, as there are here in the US (red and green, traditionally)? If you have changed colors for the season as your life unfolded, what did you change from and into?
Life unfolding… As my own does, I seem to always add new things to it. I am back in school pursuing a 4-year program which will add new ‘colors’ and energy to myself and those around me. My 20-year-old, upon hearing the course would last that long, asked ‘Do you even have 4 years?’ My husband and I laugh so much at his reaction! When he realized he may have sounded a little rude (not his intention), he wished me lots of success…
In a sense, I hope my desire to continually learn new things be passed on to them through my example. Now, THAT would be a family tradition to honor and celebrate!
You can find the Family Traditions quilt pattern in the November issue of the American Quilter magazine, published by the American Quilter Society. Look at the quilt on the cover!!! I am always happy with the projects I find inside when my copy of the magazine arrives, and my list of new quilts to make and fresh techniques to try keeps growing!
As you can see, a Christmas quilt with ornaments affords us many opportunities to play around with fabrics and colors. As you spend time sewing, are you working on Christmas gifts or are you making quilts for your home? Let me know in the comments section, for a chance to win a copy of the November issue of American Quilter, regardless of where you are in the world! There will be other goodies included in the package.
This giveaway ends on October 31st (fun treat, right?) and the winner will be announced on Monday, November 1st. Let me hear from you! In the meantime, I hope your day is an enjoyable one…
Interested in the pattern with Xmas trees and stars. How do I obtain the pattern? Thanks!
Thank you! You can download it from my Etsy store, PiecedBrain. Here is the link:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/867678909/beginner-quilt-pattern-christmas-home?ref=shop_home_active_34
Thanks!
Denise
Not working on any quilting gifts. Magazine looks interesting.
I hope you are enjoying whatever crafts you are working on right now!
love to win the magizine, thanks
If you do, you will see amazing projects in it! Fingers crossed!
I have not considered Christmas gifts yet, but maybe down the road. I do have a few made already and set aside that I could possibly use for a gift. I am mostly trying to get some home items completed. Thank you.
Ah, I do this a lot. I work on different projects throughout the year and, come December, I look at what is ready and mark some as Christmas gifts. Sometimes, I am surprised as how ahead of the game I am!
I have been working on Christmas gifts for my grandchildren. Need to finish quilting them.
Cool! I will send some quilts to my own grandchildren, too!
I love it. I think constantly learning is wonderful just as long as there are no more tests. I just finished an Astronomy class online. I’m pretty old so this was fun for me. My husband and I are retired research scientists so we are used to classes all the time. Love the ornament quilt. I don’t get the magazine anymore so thanks for the chance to win a copy.
You and your husband have the right idea. I can’t stop learning, regardless of how different the new courses are from my core interests. The Astronomy class sounds fantastic! Now, about your being old… I do not believe it for a minute!!!
Great quilt! I am working on the Moda Stitch Pink quilt right now. But, as soon as I am done, I will be in full Christmas gift making mode.
Thanks! ‘Full Christmas gift making mode’ sounds super intense, but that is what I get into, too!!!
I finished a Christmas quilt earlier this year and have been working on placemats. I also am making a t-shirt quilt on commission for a present. I always have plenty of other ideas and projects that get added to the list.
Ohh, I have yet to make a T-shirt quilt! I bet it will look awesome!
This would be an awesome magazine to have. I love the pattern. I am in the middle of a kitchen reno, so my sewing has been very limited lately. This would do wonders to help bring my quilting mojo back. Thanks!!
Yikes! I hope your kitchen will be ready soon – renovations are intense!!!
I am working on a Christmas quilt for my granddaughter, who just moved into an apartment. Everyone should have Christmas decor, and a Christmas quilt will help. I have decided that I love paper piecing, and your quilt is gorgeous.
Thank you, Nancy! I love paper piecing – it is so soothing to my soul! This one is pretty simple and comes together fast. I am sure your granddaughter will love her quilt.
Right now I am working on a flannel rag quilt for my niece to replace one that I had made for her several Christmases ago. It was ruined when her basement flooded. And also making masks – lots of masks. Thanks!
Flannel rag quilt – it sounds so cozy! I have not made one yet and will add it to my list. Mask-making gave me a super sense of helping others. I loved it!
Delaine,
You won the giveaway! Please send me your contact info so I can mail you the package!
Working on a couple of crochet blankets right now for gifting. My little sewing Christmas gifts will be pin cushions this year, which I will be starting soon. I love your Christmas ornaments wall hanging! Thank you, Susan
Susan, crochet is one of my passions! Right now I am knitting my third baby blanket this year – found a pattern that was easy to knit while listening to a book. How relaxing!
Right now I am still excited about sewing fall things and sending them to friends. Soon though it will be time to sew Christmas things!
Oh… I love making projects with Fall colors!
That is a beautiful quilt. Love the colors and the design. And I do enjoy paper piecing. I am making some Christmas ornaments and had just finished making bed size Christmas quilts for my kids this year. I had more time this year staying home.
I need to make a bed-size quilt for my oldest son as his (hand quilted) was stolen… Then, I will make one each for my other two sons. I had not thought of making Christmas quilts for their beds, and now you added 3 items to my list! 🙂
I just finished a Storm at Sea quilt top and am trying to decide how to hand quilt a double Irish chain I finished a while back. The only Christmas themed quilt I’ve done so far is a wall hanging done with the attic window pattern where I used a pretty panel of Santa around the Christmas tree. I may keep all of these for myself!
I love hand quilting… and I am yet to make an attic window quilt. It is a great design to showcase pretty panels and large prints.
You do such amazing work. I have two quilts being quilted and want to make mug rugs and pillows for family. Would love to have the magazine and goodies!
I’m just trying to finish some ufos right now. I work in spurts. So while I feel like finishing some of theses
I’m going to keep at it. I do feel an urge to start a new project though! I will fight it off for now! LOL!
I don’t make quilts for Christmas gifts but the ornament quilt would be perfect for someone I know that gets giddy over all things Christmas!
Cute quilt! I am working on a baby quilt right now. I need to start thinking about Christmas gifts. Thanks for the chance to win the magazine.