Happy Thursday and welcome to my stop on the 12 Days of Christmas in July Blog Hop hosted by my friend Sarah of Confessions of a Fabric Addict. It has been a really long time since I've been able to participate in any online events like this one and I'm really happy that this time I did. Thank you so much Sarah for the invite to participate.
Before I show you my project, I want to remind you to make sure you also visit today the other blogger today, Jan Ochterbeck over at The Colorful Fabriholic to see what she is sharing with us.
Since I hosted the Kate Spain Christmas Charm Swap last fall, I certainly had plenty of Christmas fabrics to work with and knew immediately that I would make a quilt for this blog hop.
Since I hosted the Kate Spain Christmas Charm Swap last fall, I certainly had plenty of Christmas fabrics to work with and knew immediately that I would make a quilt for this blog hop.
What I didn't know initially was that I wouldn't end up making the quilt I originally planned to which was a pattern by someone else. I ended up creating something totally new and I'm 100% thrilled with how it turned out. I'm excited to introduce:
Merry Jingle
Merry Jingle
It is hard to believe that what started out as a bunch of simple 9 Patch blocks ...
... became this beautiful quilt that I just adore. The tricky and deceiving thing is that the construction isn't what you'd likely guess it was. It is truly a little bit of slight of hand magic.
This one came right down to the wire (as some of you probably saw on Instagram) and the final stitch in the binding was completed about 5pm. But when I got this idea, I just had to run with it. As soon as I picked up the kids from summer camp, we drove right over to the town park to snap the pictures while there was still daylight. Of course the wind always proves a challenge.
The sun had started making it's decent and although it proved difficult to showcase the actual quilting some of the lighting I was able to capture was simply beautiful.
The backing and binding fabrics that I chose are from Kate's Jingle line. They are just perfect.
I can't do a photo session in the park without taking one with the quilt draped over one of the benches. It does seem odd to be showing off a Christmas quilt among all the green grass.
The blocks for this quilt came about because of a "what if" idea that popped into my head. Luckily I actually had the time and was able to try out my whim to see what resulted. Though I might be a bit biased, I think this particular whim idea works. :)
The slightly shadier area in the park provided the opportunity to get some photos that really show the quilting nicely.
I used the Holly Berries pantograph recommended by my online friend Kathy of Tamarack Shack. It turned out to be just the look I was searching for on this quilt and it stitched out quickly.
Here you can almost see the great texture on the back that the quilting provided. I used So Fine Snow thread for the top and Glide Cardinal for the back. I love that combo together and it works really well in my machine though usually I have the Glide on the top and the So Fine in the bobbin.
Here's the part where I get to reveal my exciting news.
I'm going to develop this into my first pattern for sale so although it will take a little while until it is ready to be released, the ball has already started rolling on all the steps that need to happen for that to become a reality.
Honestly this quilt is a surprise to me. I had no clue when I got my whim of an idea that it would produce such a fantastic pattern. I know that just 3 or 4 blocks would create a great table runner (of course I need to make one of those too), one block with a border could be a pillow cover (yup a couple of those are needed also) and 9 blocks would be the perfect size for a baby quilt.
So stay tuned and hopefully everything will fall into place relatively fast and I'll have a pattern soon for all of you that want to make one of your own.
Thank you for visiting today and enjoy the rest of the blog hop days to come.
Posts
33 Comments:
Love your finish! Can't wait to see more of these blocks!
Beautiful quilt! Good luck with the upcoming pattern release.
Beautiful quilt - well done! Thank you for sharing such a stunner with us on the Hop.
I just love the Christmas fabrics you used-very nice-a definite + for such a beautiful & "merry " quilt!
Very pretty quilt. I participated in your swap and still haven't sewn my charms.
Wow! Well done, Michele. It's a beauty and a super plus that it will be your first pattern published. Can't wait to hear more about it.
Thanks for your part in making this blog hop SEW much fun!! I'll be looking forward to seeing your pattern for this festive quilt.
It is a great quilt, one that is Christmas but doesn't scream it!!
It's beautiful, Michele!! Definitely worth the wait for the reveal. Thanks so much for working "down to the wire" to help make the hop a success!!!
It's a gorgeous quilt and beautiful photos! Good luck with the pattern release :)
Very pretty Christmas quilt and I'm looking forward to seeing your pattern. Love your sunny, colorful photos!
What a great whim that turned out to be!
Would love you to link your quilt up to this month's Ho, Ho, Ho and on We Sew link party which is over at
http://redletterquilts.blogspot.fr/2016/07/modern-trees-rug-herringbone-chenille.html
One lucky linker will win this month's great giveaway prize :)
It's so lovely -- really making me reconsider what I do with my christmas KS charms. I can't wait to give this one a try later on
That turned out beautifully. You will enjoy having that out each year.
LOVE your Quilt!!! Great "Whim"!! You did Awesome job..and am looking forward to the Pattern too!!
This quilt is lovely. I like the pattern and look forward to seeing it in print.
Love, Love, Love it!!!!!! Cant wait to make one of my own!
this is lovely. it will be so wonderful to snuggle in at winter time
SO NEAT! THANKS FOR SHARING!
msstitcher1214@gmail.com
The quilt is just wonderful Michele and so are your photos! What a fun way to use the Kate Spain swap fabrics! Best wishes writing up your pattern!
What a beautiful quilt! Great to see all those gorgeous fabrics become such a gorgeous quilt!
Beautiful, and cheerful too! I love the scrappy, yet controlled look of your pattern:)
very pretty scrappy quilt.... happyness04431@yahoo.com
The potential for this fabulous quilt is endless. Great job, nice finish.
Wonderful quilt, I like what you did with the colors and sashing.
This looks great! I can hardly wait to see how you did it. My mind kept trying to figure it out, but I'm getting nowhere. LOL I look forward to seeing your pattern come out, and congratulations on your first pattern idea! dezertskyquilts.wordpress.com
Love the bright and cheery Christmas colors with the aqua added in the mix. Good luck developing your first pattern.
Very beautiful quilt. Scrappy quilts are so beautiful.
What a great finish, beautiful. Good luck with the pattern.
This is a great quilt to snuggle under while you're watching Christmas movie marathons or reading the Night Before Christmas to the grands. Happy scraps!
This truly is a beautiful quilt and so festive! You certainly chose the perfect backing and binding to finish it off. Congratulations on such a fine finish!
Love scrappy quilts especially when they're an organized scrappy. Looking forward to your pattern release.
Post a Comment