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Christmas Sewing Pattern: Christmas Holly Patchwork Block

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I’ve still got a few Halloween themed makes to complete but got slightly distracted by the Christmas make I’ve been wanting to get started on for a while.

I have had an idea in mind to complete a patchwork design of a holly but apart from a few rough sketches haven’t had chance to make one.

I had a bit of time a few days ago and decided it was time to sit down and see if I could put this patchwork holly block together or whether the idea needed to be scrapped for good. After a few mistakes with sewing together (no matter how much I try and make sure I don’t see any pieces the wrong way around I always seem to get at least one mixed up) I got the block completed. I love this block – I have already got some ideas for a few more!.

Christmas holly patchwork block pattern


Materials:

  • Fabric – I used some scraps of fabric I had leftover from previous Christmas makes (by and gifted by The Craft Cotton Company).
  • Paper.
  • Ruler.
  • Pencil.
  • Thread.
  • Scissors.
  • Pins.

How to make the Christmas holly patchwork block:

  • I drew out my holly themed block measuring 18x18cm on paper to give me my templates to cut out my fabrics.
  • I then cut out the templates – numbering/shading the pieces prior to cutting make help to keep them all in the right place.

  • I cut out my fabrics adding a 0.5cm seam allowance.
  • Placing the pieces right sides together I sewed down the edges to join.
    • I started with the right hand side of the block first and began by sewing each individual block together, then I joined each row together. I repeated this with the left hand side of the block then joined the two sides together.
  • Next I added the side pieces.

  • Finally I added the two top pieces to finish.

This project is great for using up leftover fabric scraps – I’ve used some leftovers of fabrics gifted to me by The Craft Cotton Company.

I’m undecided whether to use this block for a Christmas themed cushion cover, quilt or table runner. Once I have made a few more blocks (hopefully I have enough time before Christmas arrives) I will make a choice.

Patchwork Arrow Pattern Quilt  

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I saw this pattern in Love patchwork and Quilting magazine issue 20 and really wanted to make it as a gift this year, however, I was really nervous to get started on it as it looked like it would be quite complicated to make.

 
However, the time came when I could no longer put it off and had to face my fears. I couldn’t believe it when I got started – it really wasn’t as bad to make as I had thought it would be! I didn’t encounter any major problems with it at all, it ended up being really great to make.  

I did change the pattern slightly and used individual arrows throughout rather than the long strips at the top in the plain fabric, as a result I also made my own template and cut the arrows out individually, rather than the method they used. I also didn’t add the different coloured fabric strips onto the tops of the arrows.  For the fabric I opted to use patterned fabric for inbetween the arrows rather than just the white used in the magazine.  

 
I also used a slightly thicker batting than I normally use as I wanted it to be a bit thicker, but this did make it a bit more difficult for quilting but I got their eventually with it. The worst part was the choice of backing fabric I used, I knew when I bought it it might put up a bit of a fight and it certainly did, with it being slightly silky it was slipping about with all the other layers no matter how many pins or tacking stitches I put in. But I got there eventually with it and never again will I pick a fabric like that for backing, especially when using thicker batting as that just added to the problems! 


Quilt Project: Sewing A Triangle Patchwork Quilt

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I decided early on in the year that I would make quilts this year for Christmas gifts, by deciding early on I knew I would have plenty of time to get them made. Unfortunately I have been so busy with other makes I completely lost track of time and forgot about getting started on these quilts. After this realisation I had a slight panic about whether I would be able to get them all made, but decided to try and see if I could get them finished alongside with the board of other makes I need to get finished for Christmas! 


I decided to do a triangular one first, which after my last battle with a triangle machine made quilt was quite a brave decision! I battled through however and despite a few problems and a lot (and I really do mean a lot!) of unpicking and re-sewing and a few minor meltdowns I managed to get it finished and I’m really pleased with it – there are a few little bits in not 100% happy with where some of my points haven’t lined up completely but I think thats just me being over critical, and considering it’s only the second machine triangle quit I have done it’s come out really great. 
Now this one is finished I can get on with my other quilts, hopefully these go a little more smoothly and as I won’t be using triangles for these I think they will be a little less problematic – although now I have just said that in sure they will cause me no end of stress! 

  
Triangle patchwork quilt:

Materials:

  • Fabric – in different shades.
  • Paper to draw your template.
  • Scissors.
  • Pins.
  • Needle.
  • Thread.


Assembly:

  • Draw your triangle template; 10cm long across the bottom and 10cm high, meaning the sides are 12cm long. 
  • Cut fabric into strips 10cm wide 
  • Take two strips of different fabric place right sides together and sew down each side 0.5 cm from the edge.
  • Now take your triangular template and lay it across the fabric, with the base on one sewn side and the point on the other, cut down the sides, unpick the point and turn right side out – here are your joined double triangles!
  • Layout your triangles into the colour layout you want, I chose to do a random pattern of the different colours.
  • Cut out some singular triangles to form the straight edges at the top and cut some joined double triangles in half to straighten the side edges. 
  • Start sewing the triangles together, working on the diagonal, place wrong sides together and sew down the seam. Once all the diagonal strips have been completed, sew these diagonal strips together. 

    

  • Layout your backing fabric piece, make sure this is a few inches bigger then the batting and patchwork pieces, next lay your batting on top, then place your patchwork layer on top.
  • Pin everywhere to make sure it won’t move while quilting. You could also do a tacking stitch to really keep it together.  
  • Add your quilted detail, I sewed down the diagonal lines to create a diamond detail on the backing fabric. 
  • Bind around the edge by taking the backing fabric and folding it over to the front like you would when making a hem and slip stitch around. 

English Paper Piecing Patchwork Quilt Project: Part 6

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After falling short last time I’m back again to try and scale a bit more of this quilting mountain! Let’s hope I keep a tighter hold of the ropes this time! 

After the disappointing attempt at cracking on with my quilt last time I decided it was time to have another big push at trying to get it finished, and after 4 evenings of dedicated patch-working I have made quite a step forwards towards the completion of this project hand have got another 9 squares completed – to be honest I have actually surprised myself with how many I have managed to complete! My poor fingers are suffering slightly now from this however! 

 

This means I now have a total of 25 squares towards my quilt and as I am only doing it about the size of a single bed shouldn’t need too many more the complete it – hopefully only about 10 more! Think I might take a few days rest and do some other crafts so my fingers can recover before cracking on with these last ones!   I have got most of the paper templates ready for these last few so shouldn’t take me too long – hopefully.  My only concern is whether I have got enough fabric to do them all! 

Patchwork Applique Hearts And Houses Quilt: Part 3 – Finally Finished!

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After the quilted table top fiasco – which I still can’t bring myself to even look at let alone unpick l! I was reluctant to attempt to finish another quilting project incase that too turned into a disaster, however, I knew I had to get back on the quilting track before I put myself off doing it for good!, which would be silly as it was just one small hiccup (although at the time it seemed huge!).  

After thinking for a bit I started to agree with the fact that you have to make mistakes every now and then as you wouldn’t learn how to fix your mistakes and get better otherwise!    The project I took on to finish was the houses quilt I am making and have so far made the patchwork and appliqué front.  All I needed to do next was quilt it and bind the edges.   

For a backing fabric I choose a lovely Laura Ashley fabric I have had in my stash for a long time waiting for the perfect project for it! I thought the reds in the pattern were perfect to compliment the red on the front of the quilt and the white keeps the quilt looking nice and bright.  

With a mountain of pins I pinned the top, batting and bottom layers together and set about machine quilting them together.  I picked I nice bright red for the top thread and white thread the bottom, and decided to sew along the seams of each of the squares.  To do this I sewed along all the horizontal rows first, then did the vertical ones.  As a finishing touch to make the heart square stand out I also did a row of stitching a foots width away from the edge of the square.  

This time I made sure I checked the back early on and all was going fine, so I carried on and got it finished much quicker than I thought I would.  The next job was to bind the edges, I decided to use the technique I have used on my previous quilt makes whereby I use the backing fabric piece to form the binding rather than attaching a new piece of fabric.     To do this I make sure the backing piece is bigger than the front and the batting, then you fold over the edge of the backing piece so it is in half and the edge of the backing piece will now be touching the edge of the front piece, and then fold it over again (it’s a bit like doing a hem!) so that it is lying on top of the front piece and pin, then continue this along the edges, folding at the corners and slip stitching the binding edge down as you go.

Instead of using pins as I normally do for binding I thought I would test out some binding clips I got with Love Patchwork and Quilting magazine, they are fantastic so much easier to use than pinning the binding I will be using these again for sure!

I was a bit nervous about how this quilt would turn out since it was the first time I had attempted to do a quilt fully using just the machine to sew it together and no paper piercing. Turns out it has worked out even better than I thought it would do, I really like the finished pattern as the houses look great and really stand out against the background.  Also I am really pleased that the quilting stitching has turned out really well on both the front and the back and although pretty basic with it just being down the seams it adds a nice detail to it and really finishes off the quilt, something which I was really worried about!.  All the fears generated by the last project are starting to fade away now!    This is now all set ready for gifting at Christmas – long time away I know but I have quite a few more to make!

Patchwork English Paper Pieced Quilt Update: Squares And Triangles Are Taking Over The Place!

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As well as having a box starting to burst open full of granny squares wanting out, I am now starting to fill up my patchwork box with competed patchwork squares! However, the good thing is the sooner it fills up the sooner I can put the quilt together and get using it as it is needed very soon with all this cold weather!

I have been using some other shapes for these to keep all the squares different, I hope I don’t run out of ideas before I have enough squares made!