Quilty Zest: Christmas quilts

Thursday, December 16, 2021

Strippy Improv Holiday Sew Along Part 8

If you're looking longingly at the Strippy Improv Holiday blocks but thinking that there's no way you have time to sew a wall hanging or table runner before Christmas, this post is for you!

If you're just joining in, this is a very loose sew along--see the schedule at the bottom of this post--I'm making four different blocks and then talking about assembly.

Totally do-able before Christmas! Especially after you read today's post!

Need the pattern? Find it here.

I've got two wall hangings to quilt. I finished this top earlier this week--still with a week to go before Christmas!

The question I'm most commonly asked about quilting is what color thread to use, particularly for an allover design. Which can be tricky with a variety of colors, like in the block below. My best advice? Audition your thread colors by stretching them across the quilt. You might just be surprised what colors work.

I tried light grey (better than white because it's not so bright), red, teal, and medium gray. Even on the white, I actually like the teal alot! Like I said, you might be surprised!

I tried light gray on this candy cane block--blends in with both the dark gray background and the candy cane itself.

Of course, you can always quilt the different sections separately. I think I will do that with this wall hanging rather than trying to choose a single thread color.

I took a pic of the back of my finished runner, so you could see the quilting. I opened not to quilt the ornaments themselves, but instead quilted the block background, the block frames, and the sashing/borders. Lots of options!

How will you quilt your project?

These blocks stitch up so quickly - you still have time to make something before the holidays! The pattern comes with templates for five different blocks (ornament, snowman, tree, star and candy cane), as well as two layout options--a four-patch style wall hanging and a table runner.

Purchase the pattern here.

See you back here Thursday for some finishing tips - including the most frequently asked question--what thread color should I use for quilting?

Strippy Improv Holiday Sew Along Schedule:
Thursday, November 18th - Intro and Fabric Selection

Tuesday, November 23rd - Make a block

Tuesday, November 30th - Make a block

Thursday, December 2nd - Make a block

Tuesday, December 7th - Make a block

Thursday, December 9th - Assembly

Tuesday, December 14th - Alternate options

Thursday, December 16th - Finishing

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Monday, December 14, 2020

Holiday Quilt Round-Up!

I don't know about you, but this is the time of the year that I start having Christmas quilt envy. And also the time of the year that it's too late to make a quilt for this year. So good timing. :)

That being said, I'm sharing the various Christmas/holiday quilts that I've designed--you can always get a head start on next year!

It's the holiday season, and there are so many tempting quilt patterns available, and only so many days to make them (on top of the cookie making, gift wrapping, carol singing, etc.). I've had a a lot of fun designing holiday quilt patterns this year--I haven't sewn them all (yet!), but it's wonderful to get a chance to "play" in all these festive fabrics, even if it's sometimes only digitally.

Here's a rundown of the quilts I've designed and where to find them (some are free patterns to download; some can be purchased).

Twirled Squares

featuring Camp Joy by Benartex