Row, row, row your quilt

Fellow Quilters,

Fall is definitely in the air!  I was at a friend’s cottage last weekend, and the temperature of the lake was “refreshing” a.k.a. numbing.  The leaves are changing colour, providing a spectacular display.  It won’t be long before the leaves are down and snow is on the ground!

With that in mind, today I join 4 other quilt designers from around the globe in sharing our designs for the 2017 Christmas Caroling Row-along, coordinated by Marian at Seams to be Sew (great job, Marian!).  All told, there are 42 participants, each sharing their free pattern for a holiday row during the 5-week event.    Each participant was asked to design a row 30” x 8-12” – it could be wide or tall.  Last year, as part of the Road Home Row-along, I designed a tall row, so this year I chose a wide row.

My all-time favourite Christmas carol is O Holy Night, and I haven’t found a version I don’t like – Josh Groban’s is exquisite.  I wanted to capture the stillness of a winter night, and the beauty of breaking dawn, but how to create that glow?  I wondered if a bargello would work.  I would need a large range of lights to darks in the blue colour family.  Northcott’s Creative Director Deborah has built wonderful ranges of values into several Northcott Essential programs, including Toscana (suede texture), ColorWorks (solid cotton), and my favourite collection, Artisan Spirit Shimmer. I also selected any blue fabrics from Northcott’s holiday collections. Armed with a stack of fabrics from Northcott’s warehouse, I started my quilt, laying out the fabrics from light to dark.

To capture the glow of breaking dawn, I built my bargello in two directions at once – horizontally and vertically.  It ultimately changed the way I constructed my quilt so that it wasn’t a typical bargello – I had to build each column separately – but it was worth it.  The columns become narrower as they approach the center of the quilt, as do the rows.  I think it took me longer to cut the pieces than it did to construct the bargello!  My work surface quickly became filled with columns as I cut my way through the 16 fabrics required for the bargello.

Adding each fabric to the bargello layout

Each column is made from pieces more than twice the width required, and cut into 2 columns once the pieces are sewn together.  In effect, I pieced only half the columns, cutting each one into 2.

Cut each column in 2

To make the seams nest, I pressed the seams in alternate columns in opposite directions.

Press seams in alternate columns in opposite directions

The quilt still needed the main characters – the nativity scene, stable animals and wise men – and these were added as a quick-fused silhouette.  The star was also quick-fused.

O Holy Night by Patti Carey

My row remains unquilted for now – I may choose to wrap it to a wooden frame and hang it.  Alternately, I may quilt it and wrap it around a frame, or quilt and bind it to be used as a runner.  Or I may combine it with some of the other fabulous rows in the Christmas Caroling Row-along to make a larger wall quilt or lap quilt.  To download the free pattern for O Holy Night, please click here:Craftsy download or Payhip download

Some wonderful prizes have been donated by several generous companies for giveaways during the Christmas Caroling Row-along, and it is my pleasure to offer you the opportunity to win a new Ott-Lite Wellness desk lamp valued at $79.99, graciously donated by Ott-Lite.

Ottlite Wellness desk lamp

Who doesn’t love Ott-lites for better vision when quilting?  Simply click on this  Rafflecopter link here by September 27 to enter.

In addition, Northcott and Calibre Art have donated prizes for each day of the Row-along – a huge thanks to them!  Enter today to win here: Calibre Art Rafflecopter giveaway and Northcott Rafflecopter giveaway . Visit Marian’s blog at Seams to be Sew every day to enter via Rafflecopter for these prizes.  Shipping charges may apply for non-US residents. Rules for the contest are listed here (fine print).  Please review them, as some of the prizes have deadlines or restrictions.

Here is the list of the awesome participating bloggers – please be sure to visit to collect your rows.  You’ll be well on your way to a Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Quilting Affection
Any Pattern
Just Let Me Quilt
Quilt In Piece
Kissed Quilts

Thursday, September 7, 2017
Daydreams of Quilts 
Seams To Be Sew
Be A Quilter
Creatin’ in the Sticks
Fun Threads

Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Sew Incredibly Crazy
Masterpiece Quilting
Sugarlane Designs
Happy Sewing Room

Thursday, September 14, 2017
Barbara Dieges
Cynthia’s Creating Ark
The Quilted Snail
Ms. P. Designs USA   (sponsored by Just Let Me Quilt)

Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Jaded Spade Creations
Adventurous Applique and Quilting 
UlaSewing / SzycieUli
From Blank Pages

Thursday, September 21, 2017
Martina Latimer
Quilt Fabrication
Patchwork Breeze
Patti’s Patchwork
Miss Loreen’s Schoolhouse

Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Cheryl LaPlante  (sponsored byQuilt In Piece)
Morning Glory
Pampered Pettit
Fun Threads

Thursday, September 28, 2017
Mountain Meadow Designs
Quilt Art
Made By Marney
Renee’s Quilting Addiction

Tuesday, October 3, 2017
MaryMack’s Blog
Kathys Kwilts and More
Pamela Quilts
Duck Creek Mountain Quilting
Heleen Pinkster

Thursday, October 5, 2017
Seams To Be Sew
A Dream and A Stitch
Upstairs Hobby Room
Words & Stitches

Cheers,

Patti