It’s fun to have a Christmas tree in a couple different rooms.  Fun, but not practical.  So make a tree wall hanging.  It’s the next best thing.  It’ll last forever with no dry needles falling on the floor!

O’ Christmas Tree is a applique pattern with a simple tree silhouette.  Ornaments, garland, and a star tree topper make it festive.  Measuring 23″ x 31″, this wall hanging will fit most anywhere.

Easy fusible web and fusible bias tape create this Christmas Tree stained glass pattern.

Gather ‘Round The Tree finishes at 60″ x 60″.  It’s simple enough to piece – just squares, square-in-squares, and half square triangles – that you’ll have time to embellish the tree with ornaments and add some colorful gifts under the tree.

Oh Christmas Tree reminds me of the short, squat Scotch Pine.   Grab your greens and reds and you’ll be finished in no time at all.

Light Up Your Christmas is just loaded with lights and ornaments and decorations…. so festive!  Fusible web helps create this fully decorated Christmas tree.

Flannel chinelle makes this Holiday Christmas Tree really stand out in a 3D way.  Let your imagination take you where it will as you embellish with beads, buttons, anything!

It’s early, we know, but remember how Christmas creeps up on you every year?   Beat the rush this time and start some Christmas projects now.

Happy sewing!

Susan Knapp and Mary Jane Mattingly of The Quilt Branch have written a series of books titled “Six Halves Make A Whole”.  Each book has several projects each of which can be made with six half yard cuts of fabric.   Fabric Bundles are bundles of fabric from a fabric collection - you can choose 1/4 yard cuts, whole yard cuts, or half yard cuts – perfect for pairing with “Six Halves” books!

Six Halves Make A Whole Christmas has patterns for Christmas Stockings, a tree skirt, pillow shams, and lap quilts.  The Holiday Medley fabric bundle would pair with this book nicely.

The first book, simply Six Halves Make A Whole.  Try the Farmland fabric bundle with this book.  The Farmland Bundle has 7 fabrics.  Make your quilt with 6 of them and use the 7th for the binding. Or, for your resident sports fan, use the Sports Xtreme Patch fabric bundle.

Six Halves Make A Whole Lot More has patterns for five quilts and a set of placemats.   Pair this book with the Petite Odile fabric bundle.  The 7 fabrics of Petite Odile feature greys and muted reds reminiscient of 19th century France.  Enough fabric for your quilt and for your binding.  Or use that extra piece as part of your backing.

Two more books in the series are Six Halves Make A Whole Sampler

and Six Halves Make A Whole Starburst.

What fabric bundle would you use for these two books?

Are you one of those organized  people that starts sewing for Christmas in July?  I’ve heard that some people start in January!  If you’re ready to start now, here are a few ideas.

To get yourself off to a quick start try these quick finish projects.  Three for the price of one!  Simply….Ho! Ho! Ho! includes instructions for a table topper, a table runner, and a gift bag. 

If you like us on Facebook, or follow us on Pinterest, you may have noticed these Vintage Ornaments show up on our pages. They are all pre-printed and pre-colored.  All you do is embroider and embellish.  Great take along projects and great gifts, too.

 Is your tree skirt in need of replacement?   We have several Christmas tree skirt patterns with all different looks, from traditional to modern.  This Winterberry Star has a bit of an art deco look to it.  It’s a beautiful piece that can also be made as a wall hanging.  Why not make both?  After all, if you are starting now, you have time!

Do you have any new family members that need a Christmas stocking? Or maybe the stockings you have are getting a little threadbare.  The Stockings Were Hung pattern shows some whimsy along with the Folk Art look.  Personalize these your favorite way.

 The advantage to starting this early is that you have plenty of time for a larger project.   Christmas Windows finishes at 51″ x 63″ and will certainly set the holiday mood hanging on your living room wall.  Twelve applique wreaths that are as different as snowflakes will  hold any viewers interest; a beautiful piece of art for you to admire as you sip your eggnog and catch your breath after a long day of holiday activities. 

That’s enough window shopping for now.  End the procrastination before it starts and get sewing!

Hopefully you have been enjoying the holidays!  

Before you take down and store all your Christmas decorations, have a look around.  Is there anything missing?  Is there anything that really has seen better days and perhaps should be replaced or updated?  Don’t wait until next year when you pull out the decorations again to take note of what you need.  By then you’ll be pressed for time and have to make something in a rush, or rush out and buy something.   Take a few minutes now.   You don’t have to purchase fabric yet, just buy the patterns and then throughout the year, when you are in the mood, or have a lull, you can look for fabric and get started.  Even if you wait until fall, at least you’ll know what needs to be done without relying on your memory. (I don’t know about you, but my memory gets worse every year!) Get ready now and make next Christmas less stressful.

How are the stockings?  Are they getting worn?  Are there new family members that need one.  Have there been any announcements of impending births?  (screeee!!!!)  The new baby will definitely need a new stocking.  Choose a stocking pattern now and write a note right on the pattern to remind you who needs it. 

Do you have an empty spot on a wall that’s just begging for a cute wall hanging?   We have well over a hundred Christmas Wall Hangings; you’re sure to find something that will add to your decor.

Now would be the perfect time to start a Christmas Block of the Month quilt.  Come December of next year, you’ll be glad you did!

Don’t forget tree skirts, ornaments, dolls, table toppers…. better yet, check out our entire Christmas pattern section.  Browse, plan, and enjoy the good feeling of being prepared!

Do you need a new Christmas Tree Skirt this year?  Here’s several suggestions…

Christmas Celebrations Tree Skirt will put presents under the tree before you even do any shopping!  Measuring 54″ x 54″, appliqued lights and candy canes with holly leaves are scattered among the presents.

You get lots of choices with the Tablecloth/Tree Skirt pattern from the Quilters Patch.  The 12″ squares can be pieced blocks, embroidered, appliqued or fussy cut a holiday print/scene.  Make a tree skirt or a tablecloth (or both!). Scallop the edges… or not! Your choice!

Kathleen Colleran designed this art deco looking elegant tree skirt.  It would make a terrific wall hanging as well.  Winterberry Star would work with other fabrics and could be a year-round wall hanging.

Poinsettia & Holly decorate this tree skirt.  The points look tricky but they are really easy to do with detailed instructions and lots of illustrations.  Two sizes, 52″ and 66″, so you can pick which would work best for your tree. 

Got a soft spot for Scotties? Let them parade around your tree is this Scottie Tree Skirt.  Look, they are all dressed up for the occassion!  This American Jane pattern, designed by Sandy Clop, measures 50″ x 50″ and will be certain to be the envy of many of your dog loving friends.

Holly, Berries & Pine from Prairiegrove Peddler offers instructions for a 42″ tree skirt, a 16″ pillow, and a 17″ x 34″ table runner, all on a light background.  You could make the background a shade darker, and use brighter greens and reds for the holy and Berries.

There’s more! Check out the rest of the tree skirt patterns and pick a favorite.

Did you do any “Christmas in July” sewing this year?   Every December I swear that I’m going to start first thing in January to sew for Christmas.  I plan to do a little each month so that come the next Christmas I don’t have to deal with the frantic rush to finish or with the sad reality that there was so much more I wanted to sew in time for the holidays and just didn’t have time.  January slides by without a stitch.  Then February is gone.  I rationalize that I’ll start in July.  Yes.  That’s the ticket!  Did it happen this year?  Um, no.  But there’s still lots of time left so I started browsing and planning today.  Here are some patterns I found….

A church and 22 houses surround the Christmas tree in this village.  Every house is a pocket and the roof is a flap.   The grandkids will love this Advent Calendar!  I’ll love being able to use my scraps to make the village as colorful as I want.

This All Tangled Up reindeer looks just how I feel when I get out the Christmas lights.  Thankfully the tree is pre-strung and I just have to deal with the lights that surround the windows.  I know a few people that could relate to this image…. it would make a great gift for them. 

Having a nativity scene is difficult with little grandchildren who think the pieces are toys.  Northwoods Nativity is a great alternative.  The nativity is visible so the little ones can see the wonder of Christmas but they can’t dismantle it!

Chick-A-Dee Hollow has an entire line of Vintage Ornaments.  The design is preprinted and precolored.    The embroidery and embellishment (you know, the fun part!) is all that’s left to do.   This looks like a great take-along project and would make a great little gift.  Or maybe an entire set of them as a gift for someone special.

Well, I think I’ll spend part of my week with some Christmas fabric and Christmas patterns.  I’ll think about the snow to come, and think cool thoughts.   Maybe then I won’t even notice that the heat wave is still here.