Fellow Quilters,
I’m not much of a pre-planner, and my co-workers will certainly attest to this! My brother thinks I procrastinate, but that’s not true. I do a lot of last-minute stuff, however – maybe my name should be Last-minute Lucy. When I have a quilt to make for a show, display or magazine, the first question I ask is “When is it due?” Then I work back from that date, allocating time to the quilt project, and fill in other necessary activities/commitments around that. Problem is, I sometimes (okay, usually) don’t allocate enough time – to any of the commitments. The end result is that I still get the projects done, and in the time allotted, but I have to work much faster as the time runs out. I get so much done in that “11th hour”. A deadline is a real motivator! Just ask any quilter who has committed to having a quilt ready for an upcoming show – he or she is working on it daily, right up to the day before the show. Quilts always seem to take 10 or 20 hours longer than we plan, don’t they? Some of you are saying “No”, but a lot of you are saying “I’m with you, sister!”
That’s why, when I make a holiday or seasonal quilt, I like to make something that is really quick and easy – I want to get the quilt done and on the bed long before the holiday is over.
Take my Hootin’ Holidays quilt that is in the 2014 issue of Quilter’s Newsletter’s Best Christmas Quilts, on newsstands now. I used Northcott’s Holiday Hoot flannel collection, with its adorable owl border stripe.
Best Christmas Quilts 2014 cover
This stripe is doing most of the work in the quilt. I used it in the border, of course – great big 9” wide strips – and it makes a very interesting border. The effect is that it looks like I sewed lots of strips together, when in fact it is just the fabric. Then I also used the stripe in the blocks, cutting upper and lower triangles, and piecing them with bright flannel textures to create sashed square-in-a-square blocks. The flannel textures are from the Stonehenge Kids flannel coordinates, and I pulled colors from the border stripe – golden yellow, orange, chartreuse, turquoise, red, royal and dark green – not exactly Christmas colors! The end result is a cozy twin/double quilt that is cute and fun – just perfect for a kid’s bed.
Holiday Hoot flat shot
Northcott also designed a sew-easy advent calendar to coordinate with the Holiday Hoot fabrics, and it is the easiest advent calendar ever! You simply fold the panel along the lines indicated to make rows of pockets, and then stitch vertical lines between the columns to create the individual pockets for treats. My boys are 22 & 20 and they still look for their advent calendar every year, as they count down the days till Christmas.
Holiday Hoot advent calendar
Each December 1, I pull out the Christmas stuff and decorate my home for the holidays. This includes putting a special Christmas quilt on each bed. I started making these quilts several years ago, and have made one almost every year since. They usually include a panel or lengthwise border stripe, as the Hootin’ Holidays one does, so they really do go together quickly. I also have 5 holiday wall quilts that hang in place of pictures for the month of December. One of them was made by my Nana – hand-quilted, it is my first quilt, and I love it!
How about you? Do you decorate your home with holiday quilts? Is there one that is extra-special? Please post a comment on my blog, sharing your thoughts, for a chance to win a complimentary copy of Best Christmas Quilts. I will include some fabrics from one of Northcott’s Christmas collections – Holiday Hoot, Christmas Traditions, Old Time Christmas, Stonehenge Starry Night – or winter collections – Winter Wonderland, Alpine Getaway – if you tell me which collection is your favorite. See the collections on www.northcott.com. Comments received by midnight tonight are eligible. I will choose 1 winner for the magazine and fabric, and 2 more winners for just fabric. And enjoy this year’s Best Christmas Quilts – there are some fabulous projects in it.
Cheers,
Patti
pattispatchwork-blog.com 
Christmas Traditions or Starry Night in Blue, hard to choose. I would love to decorate with quilts at Christmas time but I’m usually making them for other people–up to the last minute, and mine haven’t gotten finished. And I’m never inspired to work on such things when the weather is hot.
Now that I think about it, I do have a quilted tree skirt that has some special significance, and there is also a poinsettia wall hanging. I’d forgotten all about them.
I do decorate with holiday themed quilts and my first quilt ever was a Christmas Tree wall hanging that I still use, so it is extra special. I love your quilt and the owl prints, but I would be more likely to use them if they were cotton rather than flannel. If I were to choose my favorite of the Christmas/winter lines it would be Starry Night. This looks like a great magazine!
Hi Patti, love your post and especially Holiday Hoot. I decorate once the calendar goes double digit…Dec. l0 at the earliest.
Hey Patti, I wish I could produce half as much as your procrastination does! Tell your brother I’m sticking up for you. My Christmas quilts stay on the bed long into the new year because I love them so much.
My sister made us a queen-sized quilt for a Christmas present several years ago in holiday colors. It goes out on the bed during the holidays. I’ve made several Christmas table toppers as gifts. I should make & keep one for myself. Thanks for sharing your lovely quilt & thanks for the giveaway.
I have many Holiday items that are special to me. A Christmas throw given to me by a dear friend who is far away, but, is thought of often. Another throw that was my first adventure in free motion quilting. A hand made fabric ornaments collection that I add to each year by making some new ones. I really have a “quilt-y” Christmas. I’d love the Stonehenge Starry Night. This has been a great blog hop…as usual! Thanks!
I indeed decorate, but as a new quilter I hadn’t got around to making myself any holiday things yet! I’ve been focused on holiday gifts for everyone else! Over at Northcott I would have to say I’m drawn to more traditional collection of Christmas Traditions
Hi, Patti: I love to decorate for Christmas and usually start in November so we have lots of time to enjoy everything. I think I make a new quilted piece every year. Last Year’s was an Advent calendar that started from a panel as a Christmas tree with add-on decorations so our grandchildren could help decorate each time they came. By the time the baby Jesus is hung up, it must be Christmas!
I think my favourite Northcott fabric line for this season is Winter Wonderland and I love Wanda’s Forest Morning made up in it. Such a beautiful back page on AP & Q!
Thanks Patti.
OH yes! Christmas quilts all over the place, on the beds, on the walls, on furniture, under the tree, in the tree and of course under the tree as gifts. No Christmas is complete without quilts…but the best one is the one that has all the family names all over. It’s a quilt that looks like gift box’s and each box has a label with a special name on its label, so many memories:)
Lets put it this way…no one would want to steal this one, unless your family has the same names as mine!
My girls always looked forward to the candy in the Advent Calendar. Mine is an Avon one from the early 80’s. I have made Holiday quilts but have given them away as gifts. I do have a table runner I made and love that I display. I like the Stonehenge Starry Night collection.
I have made Christmas quilts for lots of family members through the years. I like to start decorating the house after the Thanksgiving weekend. I like Starry Night.
If I ever completed a Christmas quilt I would definitely display it. I like the “Starry Night” lighted pannel. I would make it for my brother and sister in-law who are usually in Phoenix for Christmas. That way they could take their “TREE” with them!!!
TTFN Betsey
My favorite Christmas item is the tree skirt my mother quilted before she passed. It is reversible and extra special to me.
I have made Christmas pillows and have Christmas table runner and mug rugs, also a small wall hanging.
I just love colorful quilts! I have a quilt I made from swapped blocks – last hung it when my daughter returned from Iraq but I haven’t seen it since. I would love to win!
No, we do not have any holiday quilts, but lots of other holiday fabric items. This is so cheery and delightful! Love the little hoot owls wishing everyone a happy holiday — I am sure it will bring smiles for years to come.
HI, Christmas Traditions is my favorite!
We like to decorate our LR for Christmas and I like to use my red+white tree skirt+a Christmas wall hanging too! Thanks!
I have 4 kids and over the years have made each something special for x-mas. Everything from tree decorations to each an advent calender. This year they will get a door greeting quiltlet! Love that owl fabric.. very tasteful and colourful.
Love the owls!
I love your work I’m a beginner quilter and I love the material you used its so nice to see all the quilts people make and they give me ideas
What a fun quilt! My mom made us a Christmas log cabin quilt as a wedding shower present. It has a home on our bed every holiday season!
I don’t have a collection of holiday quilts yet, but I am working on it. Perhaps next year.
Winter Wonderland is my favorite.
A wallhanging and a table runner decorate my dining room at Christmas. I may make a tree skirt this year. I liked the Winter Wonderland collection, though it was a tough choice.
No special quilts on the bed, still working on my 1st bed size one. Holiday Hoot is cute. Winter Wonderland looks good. The Advent Calendar is really cute. Good job on your quilt.
I can not decide between Stonehedge Medici blue or good Vibrations. All are beautiful
Holiday Hoot looks like so much fun and I can’t wait to start cutting. Thank you
I have a special quilted wall hanging that is an advent calendar that my mom made for my family. I love the Winter Wonderland or Old Time Christmas lines. Beautiful fabrics!
i haven’t decorated yet with holiday themed quilting, but plan to this year! would love to win this fabric stash!
‘Holiday Hoot’ is a unique collection for the holidays. Really love the advent calendar too. I have many Christmas wallhangings that decorate my home each year and this collection would make a welcome addition.
Cute quilt for Christmas and so soft. Really like the Advent Calendar.
I really like the Holiday Hoot patterns and quilt. It would be fun to have different themes in each room and this would be a fun one! I have a panel quilt that I love of a Christmas tree with bears under it that I keep making (I have several panels) and giving away. It is fun to use gold thread for some of the quilting in the tree and outline quilt the bears. Thanks for offering such nice gifts!
My dil made a beautiful quilted tree skirt for me. My daughter and I are working on quilted table runners. I’m working on Christmas quilts for all my kids and their families – shhh, don’t tell! I love the Holiday Hoot collection and the advent calendar is super cute!
Christmas is my favorite time of year, and it’s a week after my birthday. I love both projects, the owl quilt would be such a wonderful gift for my grandson.katn@bellsouth.net
we don’t celebrate Christmas but I still love the fabrics and quilts!
Love the primary colors, and the owls.
What an adorable quilt. Looks so soft and cuddly.
Love the simplicity of the quilt that looks so complicated. The flannel makes it a true Christmas morning snuggle quilt.
I decorate with quilts and wall hangings for Christmas. Last year I went back to the traditional colors of red and green for the holiday. Love your quilt it is very sweet. Thanks for the chance at the giveaway.
Like the feel of flannel at the holiday time
Patti, I have to say that I love your fabric line because of the very cute Owls but also the Bright colors that are not overpowering. They are Sunny, which makes me smile and I am sure whoever buys and uses it will be smiling all along their creating process. 🙂
Patti, you sound so much like my friend, Chris. She’s always short of time on projects, sewing into the wee hours.
I love the placement of the owl print. My daughter loves owls! Hmmmm…
I have several quilted items I use for holidays my favorite holidays being halloween and christmas.
I love to decorate with quilts for Christmas. I have made my tree skirt table runner and placemats plus many other things. I love your quilt
I love that quilt. It does look difficult.
I love holiday quilts. Your owl quilt is adorable. Looks warm and cozy.
I like to decorate with table toppers and wallhangings. I’m working on the Christmas quilts, but I haven’t finished one yet. I love the Starry Night Collection. I love your quilt! Thanks for the giveaway.
I like Old Time Christmas. I have two quilts that are special to me that I made. One is kind of a Thanksgiving related so it goes up in early November and then the other the first part of December.
What an addorable quilt and I love the matching panel that makes into a calendar.
Your quilt is so cute. I have some pillows, table runners and a tree skirt that I decorate with. I’m hoping to get a top quilted before December so I’ll have a quilt too. I like the Christmas Traditions collection.
wow here all cool but starry night………
I could have written the first paragraph as that’s how I operate too. Love Holiday Hoot, and think the flannel would be perfect for one of the grandchildren; all of whom live in one of the northern states. Judy M.
I really like the owl advent calendar idea – a change from the typical religious ones. Decorating for grandchildren is different from decorating for adults and adds another dimension to the joyous season. Thank you for your collections.
Christmas is MY time of the year. I usually start decorating the 1st of November and finish Xmas eve. My tree skirt, mantle cloth, tablecloths, table runners, ornaments etc. are everywhere. What I don’t yet have (not that I haven’t made the top, It’s just not quilted yet), is a bed quilt. I love the winter wonderland fabric. That would be a beautiful winter quilt, not just for Xmas.
I’m fairly new, so I don’t have many quilts yet but I love your tradition! Maybe by this Christmas I will have a start on that! I love the Stonehenge Starry Night and your Hootin Holidays quilt, beautiful! Thanks so much for the giveaway and especially the inspiration!
tdkcarpenoctem@hotmail.com
I have a quilt and table topper that I use for decoration. Love the blue Starry Nights Collection. I want to make a blue themed quilt for Christmas.
i have several small quilted decorations in my collection…i often make cute holiday things then wrap them up and give them to others.
i hope they are enjoying a good life in my friends homes.
I love the fabrics you used on your Hootin Holidays quilt. Owls are so on trend and kids seem to love them, so this fabric would be great for the million pillowcase challenge.
That’s a fun design! I can’t wait to see more in the magazine. And yes, great to use the designs of the fabrics to help make things faster. I made a snowflake quilt last year, and loved using it all winter. It’s about a full size, but it’s on my couch. It may make it into the bedroom this winter, for an extra quilt. Thanks again.
Your quilt is quite dynamic with the black sashings. Love it!
Yes, I have a few Christmas quilts that I enjoy pulling out. My favorite is my new quilted Christmas tree skirt.
I don’t have any Christmas quilts yet – that advent calendar looks like fun!
I love to sew for Christmas and decorate my house with quilts, wallhangings, and small items. I love your design for the quick quilt!
The only Christmas quilt I’ve ever sewn was for my Dad and its gone missing. I love to decorate and we look forward to setting up our Advent calenders (Playmobile) every year. This year I might sew another Christmas quilt, I’ll have to see what time allows. I love the owls!
I have never made a holiday quilt for my house! This has inspired me to do one this year!
My grandson loves owls and this is the perfect quilt for him
I don’t go all out with decorating, but a few table toppers and stockings do the trick.
Thank you for the opportunity to win such beautiful fabric! I am currently sewing the binding on my 1st ever quilt & it just happens to be a Christmas quilt. I love it & I’m excited to use it in my decorating this year. I would love the Old Time Traditions collection. The starry night & Traditional Christmas collections are also gorgeous.
I decorate with holiday wall quilts and table toppers. Love the Alpine Getaway as I enjoy downhill skiing.
I would love to have any of the fabrics offered in this fun contest. The Stonehenge Indigo is gorgeous!
Love those owls! I made a Father Christmas quilt several years ago and look forward to getting it out each year. It’s my first medallion quilt and I really experimented with the borders. The flannels appeal to me as I have a new grandson to sew for!
I usually start decorating for Christmas the very last couple of days of November. I have a wide variety of holiday decorations. It’s a real hodge podge!
Holiday Hoot is so fun and colorful, I’d love to have some to play with! Thanks for sharing an honest bit about procrastination. I can relate!
I don’t decorate as much as I would like because the cats will undecorate as much as they like. The owl fabric is way cute! Love how you used it in your quilt.
I made a Christmas Dresden plate for our Christmas quilt, now to make a lap quilt for the living room
I like Winter Wonderland the best! Thanks! I made a Christmas star sampler last year that I love!
I do not decorate for Christmas with quilts because I haven’t made any yet! 🙂 I have a goal to make one by Christmas 2015. I really like the look of Stonehenge Starry Nights.
It’s all wonderful. I’m in love with Owls these days.
I’m getting ready to take our shop to the Int’l Plowing Match in Ivy. I love Northcott fabrics, so I bought them all. Oops – except one I missed. How did I miss the Owls??? Darn.
Oh Patti, I need owls! Enjoy reading your blogs.
I can’t wait to make the Alpine Getaway Downhill Run, seeing that we’re so close to Blue Mountain. Especially like the Fair Isle Knitted Pattern Flannels.
I love the Starry Night Wreath – I did something very different with it.
Visitor’s will get a sneak peek at another beautiful upcoming collection by Northcott when they visit our booth. Addicted to Northcott Fabric? Maybe.
I love decorating at Christmas with quilted runners, wallhangings and lap quilts. They are all my favourites that are so fun to fall in love with again year after year. Your quilt is absolutely fabulous. All of the fabric collections are wonderful but I especially love, Winter Wonderland.
I do use quilted items to decorate for the holidays. Mainly as table top or wall hangings. This is the year to finish a quilt that has been hanging around for 6 years. Wish me luck.
I love to decorate for Christmas as well and have many pieces that I have made over the years. My favourite is one I call JOY and It is one of my own design having a variety of blocks in various sizes in a medium size wall hanging. I love anything in the Stonehenge range. I am partial to any thing blue, but the red and green collection has such clear reds and greens that I like them best.
I just bought the Advent Calendar this afternoon. It is DEFINITELY the easiest Advent calendar ever! Thanks so much for the great / very easy design!
Sadly I don’t have any holiday quilts… YET! I just started quilting and this year is already dedicated to making gifts for family! Yours will be on my radar for next year!
The winter wonderland is beautiful! I am new to quilting and am just amazed at the beautiful creations people make!
Stonehenge Starry Night! Beautiful fabrics. Very hard to choose though. The Hoots would be so loved at my grands house. Thank you for doing giveaways. It’s a tough world out there and these blogs are so uplifting to read.
I love decorating for Christmas and I have lots of Christmas themed quilts in al sizes. My fav quilt is my Christmas sampler quilt, king size, the first quilt I finished and learned so much by making many different blocks. My fav quilt pattern is still sampler as I get to select, piece and admire many quilt blocks in one quilt.
I love this quilt!
I love to decorate the house for Christmas. I’ve made several christmassy quilts over the years along with ornaments and other decorations.
I really like the Adbent panel.
I’ve made the Christmas panel and added the lights behind it. I really like the Advent panel as well.
The Stonehenge Starry Nights collection is my hands down favorite!!
Love the owls. I always try to make a new Christmas wallhanging to either keep or give away each year. No favorites, but they’re all a favorite at the time.
The Holiday Hoot fabric catches my eye. Every Christmas I decorate the table with some Christmas placemats that mom made me.
Hi love your winter wonderland collection. And yes, I do use some quilted items for decorations in my home. My favorite is probably my tree skirt, made by a friend the year our house burn. And I did bought a panel of nativity scene that I hope to do this year. Thanks for your giveaway.
I really decorate for Christmas. I have quilted ornaments on my tree, I love my Nutcracker wallhanging, and many Christmas tablerunners around my home. The majority of the ornaments on my tree are home made by my mom and myself. I also have a Christmas quilt for my bed and so does my daughter along with Christmas pillows. I love Christmas and decorating.
The christmas quilts are beautiful. I am new to quilting but am doing small projects. When I get more experience I will try one for my bed.
I like Holiday Hoot and Stonehenge Starry Night. I made a Christmas tree skirt on year when my husband was very sick. When I get it out each year, I am reminded of how thankful we are that he recovered and is doing great now.
I love the Alpine collection because of the implied textures!
I wanna make a quilted jacket that looks like a sweater!
I love the owls, so cute! Yes I get my Christmas quilt out every year! I made it quite a few years ago. I would love to make another one and have been collecting Christmas fabric.
So happy to find your blog. I quilt for others so much that I don’t get my own done but next year I am taking time to make some Christmas quilts for my house. Love love the Stonehenge lines especially the one with the reindeer on it. Those fabrics would be perfect for my guest room. Happy holidays!
I have several small Christmas quilts that always go up as part of our décor for the holidays.
thanks!
I love making stuff to decorate the home at Christmas. Currently working on a table runner for one of our family tables. Really drawn to Starry Night……
The Stonehenge holiday collections, both Starry Night 2 and Reindeer Prance, made me want to start the Christmas season even before the Thanksgiving turkey was on the table.
I like starry Night. Thanks for the chance to win fabric:)
I love to decorate with Christmas Quilts all over the house. One of my favorites is a sampler quilt I made several years ago. Ursula
I do have a Christmas quilt that help make our house ready for the holidays. Since it is never seen much in the bedrooms I use it on a couch for a throw. Under the tree is my tree skirt everything is looking a lot like Christmas here.