Just Around the Corner

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.

What says Christmas like a beautiful personally made stocking stuffed with goodies?!  Here’s a few of the stocking patterns available.

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!

Sue Pritt of Sweet Season Quilts released her Holiday Ladies earlier this year.

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.

Just 31 days until Christmas!  While some people may want to celebrate Thanksgiving before they think about Christmas, if you are going to make something (or lots of somethings!) for Christmas you need to start now (or last month!).   Our Christmas quilt kits will give you a running start.  With the pattern AND the fabric you’ll be ready to start right away.

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!

Debbie Mumm did it again!  She created another colorful, fun collection – this one is all about Santa.

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.

Have you seen all the new patterns that are showing up?  So many!  Here’s a few of the latest . . .

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!