Fellow Quilters,

We are closing in on the end of 2025 and, for many of us, heading into a busy few weeks – holiday shopping, parties/get-togethers with colleagues, family and friends, cooking/baking and, because we’re quilters, finishing up those handmade gifts.  Why does it almost always take several hours longer to complete them than we think it will?!?

Last Christmas was the first one without my Mom, so somewhat more somber than most.  This year, when I do my Christmas baking of our can’t-do-without shared favorite recipes, I will recall the many fond memories of baking together side by side in her kitchen or mine.  It brings a smile to my face!

Both of my local quilt guilds have special events for December, as do many other guilds.  We have a classic potluck – bring your favorite sweet or savory dish to share with your quilting circle of friends, for they are another “family” in our lives.  Quilting/stitching friends are the best, don’t you agree?  On a recent extended cruise, I met up regularly with a terrific group of creatives as we stitched our way through the sea days of our cruise.

The stitchery meet-up group on the Zaandam

Kay’s darling paper-pieced door quilt

During our time together, I completed my first stitchery project as we shared many laughs and chitchat.

My first attempt at Sue Spargo creative stitchery

During the holidays we often make a date with our extended family.  For years Hubby and I hosted a pre-Christmas dinner for my dad’s family (one year we had 43 people!), and then for my mom’s family.  When my kids were young, Christmas was spent at the family cottage and we played a round-robin game of Court Whist on New Year’s Eve to pass the time until midnight.  As our kids got older, we travelled to our skiing friends’ cabin and rang in the New Year with them.  We continue this tradition now – good friends, good food, good times 😊 Wherever we are, the tv is almost always tuned to a channel filming New York City’s Times Square for the official countdown.  We watch in anticipation as the ball drops, signalling the end of one year and the beginning of a fresh new year.  A few weeks ago, I visited the site of this renowned landmark – can you spot the ball?

The theme for this month’s Quilt Block Mania blog tour is New Years Sparkle, and I considered capturing this icon in a quilt block but – alas – 2 other designers beat me to it (their blocks are great!).  So, I put on my thinking cap and came up with a cap (ha-ha) and a flute of champagne (of course!) for my Cheers to New Years block.  You can find the pattern here.

My Cheers to New Years block

This is a fun one with a bit of embellishment for the cap’s tassel – choose some sparkly ribbon for a festive touch.

Just for fun, I made 3 blocks (one is mirror-image) and added 1” sashing and borders for a quick wall-hanging.

A 3-block wall quilt 15″ x 41″

You can find the links to the other 14 blocks below, including those “ball drop” blocks:

Sparkle Quilt Block by Carolina Moore
Ball Drop by Crafty Staci
New Year, New Quilt by Scrapdash
Cheers to New Years
Fireworks by QuiltFabrication
Christmas Crackers by Inquiring Quilter
All Dressed Up by Memory Barn Studio
Lover’s Lane by Sarah Marcina
Bayberry Candle by Emerald Falls Quilts
Father Time Nutcracker by Tourmaline & Thyme Quilts
Rising Star Block by Dragonfly’s Quilting Design Studio
Ball Drop by Stitching Across the Globe
Wishing on a Star Quilt Block by Ashli Montgomery
Happy New Year Words
New Year’s Mask by Appliques Quilts and More

On page 2 of the Cheers to New Years block pattern I’ve included a yummy easy-as-pie recipe to make and share with some special people in your life.  It’s one of my go-to recipes!  Enjoy!

May your holiday season be filled with joy and peace.  From my home to yours, Merry Christmas!

Patti

PS.  While in Bloomingdales, I spotted this quilt in a menswear display – how cool is that?!?

A display at Bloomingdale’s